Well I’ve ignored it too long. It’s the playoffs and I’m sure everyone is dying to know my predictions. Sounds conceited maybe, but it’s my job to pump my own tires. Right Tim Thomas?

So because I have limited space here, I’ll be brief. I’ll start in the west because that’s where we live. The Canucks are very fortunate in these playoffs and they’re also very unfortunate. The luck is with them because they’re playing good hockey without Daniel Sedin. And it gets better — they play the L.A. Kings. These two teams met two years ago. Back then L.A. was a better team. Vancouver in four. Unfortunately for the ‘nucks, they will be vulnerable in round two.

Red Wings versus the Predators is going to be a tough, grinding series. If this was January I say Red Wings easy. But my gut says the Predators home ice advantage wins out in six.

St. Louis had a great regular season, but it’s been a while since they’ve been here. Give the nod to San Jose. Look Sharks if you can’t win this series with all your playoff experience, blow it up!

Finally, with Chicago and Phoenix, I’m going with the ‘yotes. Chicago’s too banged up.

Now, the east is a beast. Philly versus Pittsburgh, is going to be a total slobberknocker. They hate each other. Philly has had Pittsburgh’s number this year but Pittsburgh is one of the hottest teams in the league. This is a toss up either team can win this in seven. I’m going to be a homer and say Philly.

Boston beats Washington easy, unless as Joe Yerdon says, Obama is in the stands behind Tim Thomas for games three and four.

New York against Ottawa is an interesting one. At first I was calling upset for the Senators. The Senators have won three of four games versus the Rangers. But the Rangers have been a very consistent and talented team all year. Ottawa’s starting goalie Craig Anderson is a career 6-0-0 at Madison Square Garden. But this is the playoffs. And the league desperately wants the Rangers to win. So pick New York.

Now New Jersey is the team to really watch out for. If they get past Florida, they could go all the way. Florida on the other hand should also not be taken for granted. They won the southeast division and although their point total isn’t what other division leaders were at, they are no slouch. This will be another grueling series. Expect six or seven games in this series, Panthers win.

Read ’em and weep that’s what I got.

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