In The Crease

Broad Street Dilemmas

I hate the Flyers. I wasn't around in the Broad Street Bullies days, but it doesn't matter. I had 1997, when I was still a Red Wings fan. I had Legion of Doom. And John Leclair's phantom goal, when Sabres fans learned that scoring through the side of the net is not only legal, but also series-changing.

Even one of my proudest moments as a fan came rooting against the orange and black. Amidst a 10-game winning streak to open the 2006-2007 season, the Sabres destroyed the Flyers, 9-1. Ken Hitchcock fired. Bobby Clarke resigned. Life couldn't get better.

But that was then. Now, former Sabres - former Sabres most fans absolutely LOVED - wear that evil sweater. They get cheered and booed by fans wearing "VENGEANCE NOW" t-shirts.

Despite all this, I'm struggling, as are many other Sabres fans. How can you hate Daniel Briere's face? The one that can't grow a playoff beard. He's leading the playoffs in scoring. When he scored last night to recapture the Flyers' lead, I screamed in agony. But I'm not sure if it was sincere. Because at the same time, it reminded me of Briere scoring against Carolina in Game 6 of the 2006 conference finals, which is as far from Philly hatred as you can get.

And then there's Buffalo-backup-now-Philly-starting-netminder Marty Biron. It's Marty. Goofy, loveable ... he's still the same, but he doesn't wear a goatlord anymore. Oh, and all of a sudden he's the biggest story of the playoffs. He looks borderline cocky (which of course, can't be true, because he's Marty) in the crease, but with good reason. He's been outstanding.

And that's just the Flyers/Habs series. The other Eastern Conference series has not just my favorite ex-Sabre, but pretty much my favorite player of all time, Chris Drury. He looked as if he popped his shoulder out of its socket the last game, but struggled back to play in the third period. In Game 4, I just watched him crouch on the ground to block a shot, cringe with pain, and then skate gingerly to the boards. But then he opens the door and sits on the bench, like nothing happened. Just like when he tied Game 5 with 7.7 seconds to go against the Rangers last year. Same Drury, different jersey.

So here's the dilemma: as sports fans, do we cheer for teams? Or do we cheer for individuals?

Or is it possible to do both without driving yourself crazy?

Fellow Michigan grads say they pick their NFL team based on which one has the most former Wolverines, probably since many Detroit natives couldn't find the strength to root for the Lions. This has always sounded absurd to me. But is it?

Cheering for the Sabres through the dark years, could you really have a favorite player? If you did, they probably left, retired or got traded. You were more worried with losing the TEAM. That's when I became a sports fan in camp one, leaving behind my individual player allegiances. I practically disowned Dominik  Hasek and Michael Peca.

Could there be middle ground? Can you root against the Flyers, yet cheer for Briere and Biron? It seems mathematically impossible. If Biron stops everything and Briere scores, Flyers win. (The Rangers will probably be eliminated this week, if not tonight, so I'm not as concerned with Drury.)

In sports, you can try to control your emotions. But in the end, it's just like love. Your true feelings will show through. I wonder if that's finally happening to me, and if it is, whether I can be a Sabres fan and live with that.

Playoff predictions: Finals

"No one remembers who came in second. There is no immortality for second best."

Yes, the "My Stanley Cup" commercials are really lame. But hey, the Lance Armstrong-imposed quote is dead on for the Final round. Neither of these teams were meant to be here. Both were picked to struggle to make the playoffs -- and the Edmonton Oilers did. Both cities should find the berth a well-deserved blessing. And whoever wins gets immortality, while the loser... is the loser.

I haven't decided who I'm going to root for yet. Let's be honest -- it's not like I can cheer for the team that beat my favorite team. And Edmonton? If you subtract Michael Peca, Chris Pronger and Dwayne Roloson, I'd love them to death. But those are arguably the three most valuable Oilers in this playoff run. And the pick...

(2) CAROLINA Hurricanes vs. (8) EDMONTON Oilers
Series Breakdown
Carolina (112 pts, 52-22-8), Edmonton (91 pts, 41-28-13)
Season series: Didn't face each other (ugh!)

Before I get on a rant on how every team should play each team in the league at least once, I'm just going to get to it: I'm picking Edmonton to win this thing. Edmonton's goaltending is better. Eric Staal, by far the best forward left in the playoffs, was running out of gas at the end of the Buffalo series. And even if he suddenly reemerges, Chris Pronger and Michael Peca are there. It's not that I don't give Carolina enough credit -- they are a great team, from top to bottom. But Craig MacTavish is bringing the Cup back to Edmonton.

Pick: Edmonton in 6

Playoff predictions: Round 3

More predictions. More nonsense from a hockey fan who couldn't pick a series in the West to save her soul... does that mean Anaheim is going to win the Cup?

Eastern Conference
(2) CAROLINA Hurricanes vs. (4) BUFFALO Sabres
Series Breakdown
Carolina (112 pts, 52-22-8), Buffalo (110 pts, 52-24-6)
Season series: Hurricanes (3-1)
It just feels right this year for the Sabres. But Ryan Miller will pretty much be looking at his reflection the entire series if Cam Ward can keep up his play. It'll be interesting to see how both of these rookie netminders -- who have barely blinked for a month -- can keep it up in the conference finals. There's no reason to think they won't, but goaltending is ALWAYS the key in any series. Both teams handled the favorites in the East, and now they're ready to face each other. Injuries could be a factor: Buffalo still has Ottawa-heartbreaker Tim Connolly out, along with defenseman Dmitri Kalinin and forward Adam Mair. Carolina will of course miss Erik Cole. But amidst injuries, both teams have risen to the occasion to make it this far -- including being a combined 7-0 in overtime. Hopefully, both teams play the up-and-down, high tempo game they're capable of playing. Slight edge to the Sabres here, especially with unflappable defensive pairing of Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder.
Pick: Buffalo in 6

Western Conference
(6) ANAHEIM Mighty Ducks vs. (8) EDMONTON OILERS
Series Breakdown
Anaheim (98 pts, 43-27-12), Edmonton (91 pts, 41-28-13)
Season series: Edmonton (4-0)
I'll admit, I still haven't figured out what makes Anaheim tick. And that's why they scare me. I know they have one of the best defenseman in Scott Niedermeyer (his style fits perfectly with the "new" NHL) and a resurrected Teemu Selanne. But looking down the roster, these guys stun me with anonyminity. And that convinces me that they are a team in the truest sense of the word. Oh but then there's Edmonton. The boys that beat the Detroit Red Wings, and then won four straight against the San Jose Sharks. Yes, the Sharks who looked absolutely dominant until the Oilers' Michael Peca became a breakaway specialist. Edmonton, much like Anaheim, seems to have that magic aura about it. I'll pick Dwayne Roloson over Ilya Bryzgalov, and Rexall Place over the Arrowhead Pond.
Pick: Edmonton in 7

Playoff predictions: Round 2

Let me preface this set of predictions by saying my first round showing was horrible. And while I'm looking to make up some ground in round two, I'm not guaranteeing anything. This set of series should be fun, but there are no gimmes. Each team has a legitimate chance to win, and all but New Jersey have unproven playoff netminders. So whether these predictions come true or not, I'm ready for another great round of spellbounding saves, heart-crushing goals and overtime thrillers.

Eastern Conference

(1) OTTAWA Senators vs. (4) BUFFALO Sabres

Series Breakdown

Ottawa (113 pts, 52-21-9), Buffalo (110 pts, 52-24-6)

Season series: Ottawa (5-1-2)

I'm really getting excited about these Sabres. And yea, they are "my" team, but everything turned right for the Sabres toward the end of the Flyers series. The defense was rock solid, Ryan Miller rebounded from two tough games, and the offense really starting clicking. The Sabres co-captains, Chris Drury and Daniel Briere, are averaging 1.5 points a game. Daniel Alfredsson still has a lot to prove as a playoff performer. I believe Miller clearly has an edge over Ray Emery. Buffalo's defense might be better collectively, but if Ottawa's top three defenders -- Wade Redden, Zdeno Chara and Chris Phillips -- log most of the ice time, you give the edge to the Senators. Both offenses are fast and skilled, with the Sens having another edge in star power. However, if Edmonton isn't the story of the playoffs, Buffalo very well could be. There's unbelievable chemistry in that room, and they proved to be gritty and resilient in these playoffs. Ottawa finished just three points ahead of Buffalo in the regular season. They hold the edge (2-0) in all-time playoff series head-to-head. Sabres will pull it out.

Pick: Buffalo in 7

(2) CAROLINA Hurricanes vs. (3) NEW JERSEY Devils

Series Breakdown

Carolina (112 pts, 52-22-8), New Jersey (101 pts, 46-27-9)

Season series: Tied (2-2)

Will the Devils ever lose again? Yes, and they won't sweep the Hurricanes. Cam Ward could be 2003's J.S. Giguere. He's going up against his childhood idol in Marty Brodeur. But oh those Devils. They have two great offensive lines going, and while their defense might not be top-notch, their goaltender certainly is. Carolina won four straight to stun Montreal, while New Jersey had no trouble in its series. What helps the 'Canes here is that they learned to win the tight games over the Canadiens.  They also have the speed and skill to pressure New Jersey's defenders, which means Brodeur will see a lot more work in this series. Ward over Brodeur? I guess I'm going for the upset here. Maybe it's just because I don't want to see any more Devils hockey beyond this round...

Pick: Carolina in 6

Western Conference

(5) SAN JOSE Sharks vs. (8) EDMONTON Oilers

Series Breakdown

San Jose (99 pts, 44-27-11), Edmonton (95 pts, 41-28-13)

Season series: Edmonton (3-1-0)

I'll put it right out front -- I think this series comes down to goaltending (as most playoff series do). Can Vesa Toskala (2.01 GAA, .927 save-percentage) keep up with Dwayne Roloson (2.49 GAA, .929 save-percentage), who kept the high-powered Red Wing offense at bay. Both teams made terrific in-season trades, Edmonton for Roloson and San Jose for Joe Thornton, which turned their teams back into contenders. Michael Peca can only shutdown one of the Sharks' top lines. Chris Pronger should be outstanding again. But you have to believe that Thornton will be able to break through. Both are solid teams from top-to-bottom, and Edmonton could very well be this year's Cinderella team. Another close one, but bet against Jonathan Cheechoo train whistles or Patrick Marleau magic? I think Edmonton will be chum.

Pick: San Jose in 6

(6) ANAHEIM Mighty Ducks vs. (7) COLORADO Avalanche

Series Breakdown

Anaheim (98 pts, 43-27-12), Colorado (95 pts, 43-30-9)

Season series: Colorado (3-0-1)

Both of these teams impressed me to no end in the first round. The Avalanche spanked the Stars, including two overtime wins in Dallas. Jose Theodore wasn't great, sporting a 2.64 GAA and the tenth-best save percentage (.910). Marty Turco was just worse. J.S. Giguere was replaced by rookie Ilja Bryzgalov, who allowed only one goal in the last two games of the Calgary series. Colorado had Anaheim's number in the regular season, but this series should be close. The Mighty Ducks silenced critics in the last round, beating Miika Kiprusoff, and Colorado reemerged as a Western power. I can't find anything to point at exactly, but something tells me that this series has a great chance in going to six or seven games. I'll give the Avalanche's Joe Sakic and Rob Blake a slight edge over the Duck's Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermeyer. But it's ever so slight.

Pick: Colorado in 7

First round ramblings

The first round is almost always my favorite. From the upsets, to the number of games, to the late nights... it is the best of what the NHL playoffs has to offer. Here's a few thoughts on the round that was:

-The key to winning in the East? Forget the higher seed theory... it was all about fashion. All four of the teams that advanced -- Ottawa, Carolina, New Jersey and Buffalo -- wear red, black and white. Makes you wonder if the Sabres should actually go back to the blue and gold.

-Forget about the favorites winning the East -- what the hell happened in the West? For the first time since the NHL adopted its current playoff format in 1994, the top four seeds were losers. I certainly didn't see that coming. I just think it's crazy that the Sharks, who had to win a lot down the stretch to even make the playoffs, now have home ice advantage for the next two rounds after not having the advantage in the first round. And no matter which team wins the West, whichever East team advances to the finals will have home ice advantage.

-When are the New Jersey Devils going to lose? They have won 15 in a row going back to the regular season, which is the second-best winning streak in NHL history. They are only two wins away from tying the record set by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992-1993 (17 games, all regular season). Devils forward Jamie Lagenbrunner on the streak, per the Mercury News:

"It's a huge surprise. You talk to any of our team in December, and we were worried about making the playoffs, let alone getting through the first round in four games and winning our division and everything else we did in that last little run."

I just remember that final night of the season, waiting to find out who the Sabres would play in the first round. New Jersey came back from a 3-0 deficit in the third period to not only beat the Montreal Canadiens, but also win the division. Unreal. And Marty Brodeur? He was pretty good in the first round: 1.00 GAA, .965 save-percentage. Not to mention he's by far the most experienced netminder left in the playoffs.

-Did anyone else find the Anaheim/Calgary series incredibly boring? I can appreciate great goaltending, which is why I don't mind watching a low-scoring series. I was pumped for the only game seven in the first round. And fans got a sleeper. Anaheim capitalized on the few chances it earned, and Calgary barely sniffed the net all night. I counted maybe two or three great scoring chances for the Flames. And a shutout? In game seven? Is this really the new NHL?

-Boy did I misjudge the Avalanche. Admittedly, I didn't watch that many of their games down the stretch. But Jose Theodore coming in? No Peter Forsberg? And while hindsight is always 20/20, why in the world did I ever pick against Joe Sakic? And Alex Tanguay. And Milan Hejduk. And Rob Blake. And... Wojtek Wolski? Colorado GM Pierre Lacroix rarely misses a beat. He found another gem, a guy who had three points in his first playoff game.

-Cheechoo train? Joe Cool? San Jose's first round series was all about captain Patrick Marleau. If you didn't see all the games, don't believe the writers who said that Joe Thornton didn't have a good series. There were a couple of games in which he was dominant. Jonathan Cheechoo netted two goals. But almost no team, and definitely not the Nashville Predators, can contain two great lines. Marleau had seven goals and one assist in five games. He's their captain, their heart, and the Sharks are peaking at the right time.

Look ma, no hands!

I've been scared of him since I was a kid, especially after he absolutely broke my heart in May of 1999.

My parents surprised me with game six tickets, Colorado vs. Detroit. After blowing a 2-0 series lead, the Red Wings were on the verge of being eliminated from the playoffs following two straight Stanley Cup wins in 1997 and 1998. And sitting in the nosebleeds of Joe Louis Arena, I saw one player -- Peter Forsberg -- take the game and the series into his own hands.

Forsberg's two-goal effort lifted his team to victory then. And last night, he gave the Buffalo Sabres their first taste of post-season defeat.

And the scary part was that Forsberg didn't even need to shoot the puck on net to score. On his first tally, Sabres defenseman Brian Campbell swung at the puck and ended up hitting the puck off Jay McKee's skate and into the net. For his second, Forsberg stationed himself behind the Sabre net and banked the puck off goaltender Ryan Miller.

“I didn’t know, I was just trying to hit something in front of the net, just trying to get it there,” Forsberg told philadelphiaflyers.com. “It was kind of my two luckiest goals ever, but we’ll take them and go from there.”

Lucky? I'm not fooled. Forsberg makes the plays happen through his hard work and superstar talent. Still not convinced? He now has 159 points in 136 playoff games. I've always been scared of him, but I just hope Chris Drury and the Sabres can contain him better in the rest of the series than they did in game two.

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Just like Forsberg: Forsberg isn't the only one using telekinesis to score goals in the playoffs. His old teammate, Alex Tanguay, banked the puck off Willie Mitchell's skate for the OT-winner in game three of the Dallas-Colorado series. Detroit's Robert Lang kept with the trend when his wrister hit both posts before bouncing off Jaroslav Spacek and into the net against the Oilers. Nashville's Paul Kariya added another off San Jose's Kyle McLaren.

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Philly fans have no class:

"Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Denis Gauthier used his stick blade as deftly as a surgeon.

And it hurt Sabres winger J.P. Dumont about as much as the scalpel that sliced him open on an operating table five months ago.

Dumont writhed on his hands and knees for several minutes and needed assistance to leave the ice in the second period." -TBN

But it wasn't the play -- which some perceived as an attempt to injure -- that really bugged me. It was the fans reaction at the Wachovia Center. With Dumont obviously experiencing pain on the ice, the Flyers' PA announcer said, "Ladies and gentlemen, Let’s show our class and cheer the man down on the ice." The fans did just the opposite, booing Dumont as he was helped off the ice by two teammates.

Sabres play-by-play man Rick Jeanneret commented, "You get the feeling they'd only cheer if someone was taken away in a hearse."

 

Oh yea, and these are the same fans that tossed hundreds of hats on the ice when Simon Gagne scored into the empty net at the end of the game, thinking that Forsberg had completed the hat trick. Hey fans: 12 is not 21. And an assist isn't a goal.

More NHL TV woes

For out-of-town Sabres fans during game two, the celebration of a then 5-0 rout was put on hold in the second period. Center Ice chose to go with the TSN feed for the Sabres/Flyers series. But with Buffalo out to a big lead, TSN chose to break away from the game and show the Rangers/Devils game instead. It briefly cut back to Buffalo at the end of the period, but then ended up switching to Avalanche/Stars. Finally, with eight minutes left in the third period, the brainiacs at the NHL switched the CI channel to the MSG feed.

Needless to say, I was outraged. As a fan who has waited five years for this, you can imagine what it's like for the game, the enjoyment, to be taken away without recourse. The message boards were up in arms, and I was on hold with DirecTV.

As a Center Ice subscriber, you're completely at the mercy of the NHL. This is the playoffs. You'd think they would be on top of this.

But that was the farthest from the truth. DirecTV had no idea what was going on, couldn't get me a number to call TSN (nor could I find one online), and furthermore, told me that there was really nothing they could do anyway. And finally when the feed switched to MSG, they didn't even know -- I had to tell my representative to spread the word.

I'm not sure exactly how Center Ice works. I do know that [stupid government)] blackout rules apply. And I understand that CI often chooses the "national" broadcast, such as TSN, which often provides great coverage. But TSN doesn't care about Sabres fans, or even Flyers fans for that matter. Why on earth CI wouldn't go with a dedicated, local feed, I have no idea. And why should fans that subscribe to both the sports package and Center Ice not be able to choose whether they watch the TSN feed on CI or the local feed on Comcast or MSG?

But as a fan, I did wakeup to some relief Tuesday morning. Center Ice replied to my distraught email:

"Thank you for your email.

NHL Center Ice took the TSN feed of the Buffalo-Philadelphia game. Unfortunately, when the score of that game got out of hand, TSN decided to switch to Devils-Rangers. We were unaware and unable to switch feeds quickly. In the future, we will be taking feeds from the local RSNs instead of the national networks to avoid this problem.

Thanks,

NHL Center Ice"

So rest assured -- this will not happen again during the playoffs. In an NHL season plagued by broadcast problems, there is some relief in sight.

Five years in the making

I forgot.

Sure, it's only been two years since the last round of NHL playoffs. But those were just the NHL playoffs. Now, it's Buffalo. In the playoffs. For the first time in five years. And needless to say, I forgot what that was like.

I'm that kind of fan that takes the game a little too seriously. An hour before the puck dropped between Phildelphia and Buffalo yesterday, I felt like I was going to throw up. And I wasn't even playing. But it's the butterflies, the nervous energy, the anticipation that makes this time of year the absolute best time of year -- at least when your favorite team makes it to the second season. And for the first time in five years, I'm feeling the high highs, the low lows and everything in between. And I'm loving every minute of it.

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Briere is just getting started: If Sabres fans were looking for an easy return to the playoffs, it was no where to be found on Saturday night. Robert Esche stood on his head, and Philly rallied late to tie the game and send it to overtime.

But what started as one overtime turned into a second, with the HSBC faithful growing more nervous.

With Esche's play, it seemed the Sabres were doomed to have a "great game," yet run into a hot goalie and lose. Still, looking down the bench, there was always Chris Drury -- the perennial clutch performer -- or Jochen Hecht, who seemed to have "OT winner" written all over him.

One guy who wouldn't have stood out was Daniel Briere. Yes, if he was healthy all season he would have had a terrific shot at 100 points. But last night's Briere looked nervous, out of kilter -- even though he had fired 13 shots at the Flyer netminer. Midway through the second overtime, Hecht slid the puck cross-crease to Briere on the doorstep. His 14th shot of the night found the twine and sent the sellout crowd into jubilation.

Esche played out of his mind -- probably the best possible -- and couldn't win the game for his team. Briere had an off night and managed to score the game-winner. Just imagine what could happen if he plays to his potential.

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The play that may end up winning the series: It's no secret that the Sabres team is young and inexperienced. It needed reassurance.

And the worst thing possible happened on the opening shift. Peter Forsberg (!) skated right over goaltender Ryan Miller, unscathed and staring at an empty night. While Miller wasn't there to make the first save of the game, defenseman Henrik Tallinder was. Tallinder reached his stick across to knock Forsberg's attempt out of harm's way.

It seemed innocent enough. Buffalo moved on, and scored five minutes later. But what if Forsberg, who had just returned from injury, had scored and ignited his team? The outcome probably would have been different. Instead, Tallinder kept the game scoreless, allowing his team to establish the pace of the game, get Miller a few saves and establish the lethal forecheck that caused the Flyer defense trouble all night long.

Just something to think about in a five period game and a possible seven-game series. (And oh yea, I think there should be some kind of siren to alert the fans every time Forsberg is on the ice.)

Playoff predictions: Round 1

The second season is upon us, and per tradition, predictions must be made. Below I examined each series. Make sure to post your feedback to let me know if I still have some assemblance of hockey wisdom left.

Eastern Conference

(1) OTTAWA Senators vs. (8) TAMPA BAY Lightning
Series Breakdown
Ottawa (113 pts, 52-21-9), Tampa Bay (92 pts, 43-33-6)
Season series: Ottawa (4-0-0)
Can the Lightning find playoff form again? If you hadn't watched the regular season, it would seem that Tampa Bay would be a no-brainer to win this series. But inconsistant goaltending and scoring has plagued the Lightning all year, as opposed to the Senators who went all season without many bumps (save a late-season slide). Both teams have a significant question in goal, with Dominik Hasek likely out for at least part of the series and John Grahame's up-and-down play. Still, the Senators just have too much firepower combined with some of the toughest defenders in the league (Zdeno Chara for Norris) to not come out on top in the first round.
Pick: Ottawa in 5

(2) CAROLINA Hurricanes vs. (7) MONTREAL Canadiens
Series Breakdown
Carolina (112 pts, 52-22-8), Montreal (93 pts, 42-31-9)
Season series: Carolina (5-0-0)
For me, this is probably one of the most difficult series to predict in the league. Carolina, who had been dominant all year, looked wobbly and inconsistant to finish the season, especially with Martin Gerber in net. Can the 'Canes overcome Erik Cole's injury, and can Erik Staal be the force he was all season long? And what about Montreal -- Cristobal Huet stole the job from once-beloved Jose Theodore, and ended the season with the best save-percentage in the league (.929). While the series is pretty much a tossup, I'll give Gerber and his Olympic experience the slight edge.
Pick: Carolina in 7

(3) NEW JERSEY Devils vs. (6) NEW YORK Rangers
Series Breakdown
New Jersey (101 pts, 46-27-9), New York (100 pts, 44-26-12)
Tied (4-3-1)
Watching the NHL season wind down last Tuesday night, it finally sunk in just how hot New Jersey is going into the playoffs. Yes, they won eleven straight to finish the regular season. But in span of less than 10 minutes, I watched an "offensively-challenged" team roar back from a 3-1 deficit against Montreal to win 4-3 in regulation and win the Atlantic Division (They were trailing the Flyers by 19 pts for first place on Jan. 6.). If Martin Brodeur and the Devil defense can contain the Jaromir Jagr line, I think it will be lights out in the big city.
Pick: Devils in 6

(4) BUFFALO Sabres vs. (5) PHILADELPHIA Flyers
Series Breakdown
Buffalo (110 pts, 52-24-6), Philadelphia (101 pts, 45-26-11)
Season series: Buffalo (3-1-0)
I really will try to put my bias aside for this prediction. Two things that scare me about the Flyers: Ken Hitchcock and Peter Forsberg. Ken Hitchcock builds his team systems for the playoffs, with toughness and a suffocating defense. Peter Forsberg? Let's just say living Detroit has taught me to fear him, regardless of injury. When he is healthy, he IS the best player in the world and can control a game on his own. But there is magic in Buffalo this season. While his team as a whole is relatively inexperineced, Lindy Ruff knows what it takes to go all the way and has the core group (including a healthy Jochen Hecht) ready to go. Ryan Miller will be up to the challenge, as will the Sabres power play. And as much as I'm scared about Forsberg, his old teammate -- Chris Drury -- is a clutch playoff performer and the right guy to lead Buffalo into the second round.
Pick: Buffalo in 6

(1) DETROIT Red Wings vs. (8) EDMONTON Oilers
Series Breakdown
Detroit (124 pts, 58-16-8), Edmonton (95 pts, 41-28-13)
Season series: Detroit (2-0-2)
While Edmonton is used to playing spoiler come playoff time in recent years, it will be difficult against these Red Wings. Coach Mike Babcock has his youngsters and veterans (even a resurgent Steve Yzerman) focused and hungry. But like most series, this one will ultimately come down to goaltending. Does Manny Legace have what it takes to win his first playoff series? Or will Dwayne Roloson prove that he is a true number-one netminder? Detroit’s power play should give it the edge it needs to win the series.
Pick: Detroit in 6

(2) DALLAS Stars vs. (7) COLORADO Avalanche
Series Breakdown
Dallas (112 pts, 53-23-6), Colorado (95 pts, 43-30-9)
Season series: Dallas (3-1-0)
Dallas is one of the best teams top-to-bottom in the entire league, with an all-star netminder to boot. Colorado, on the other hand, used to be that team. It doesn’t have the deadly one-two punch it used to with Peter Forsberg, and Jose Theodore is a big question mark in goal for a team that struggled to make the playoffs. Mike Modano’s team will prove too much for a once-great team in another down year.
Pick: Dallas in 5

(3) CALGARY Flames vs. (6) ANAHEIM Mighty Ducks
Series Breakdown
Calgary (103 pts, 46-25-11), Anaheim (98 pts, 43-27-12)
Season series: Tied (2-2-0)
It’s no secret: Calgary has struggled to score goals all season without Marty Gelinas and Craig Conroy, especially on the road. But anyone picking against Miika Kiprusoff and the Flames defense would have to be insane. Just reading the names – Roman Hamrlik, Jordon Leopold, Rhett Warrener, Robyn Regehr, Andrew Ference and Dion Phaneuf – gives me a headache. Still, Teemu Selanne has had as a magical season, as has Scott Niedermayer. I just can’t see the Flames going out this early in the game.
Pick: Calgary in 6

(4) NASHVILLE Predators vs. (5) SAN JOSE Sharks
Series Breakdown
Nashville (106 pts, 49-25-8), San Jose (99 pts, 44-27-11)
Series: Nashville (2-0-2)
I would love to say Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo would rip apart a Tomas Vokoun-less Predator team. But San Jose, while on fire going into the playoffs, has had trouble with inconsistency and often plays from behind, which is much harder to do in the playoffs -- especially against Nashville. If the Predators can shut down the top-scoring tandem, they still have to contend with Patrick Marleau and company, along with a rising star on defense, Matt Carle. Nashville is hard working and has a great team system, but can Chris Mason step in and deliver a series victory? It’s close.
Pick: San Jose in 7