2023 Playoff Predictions

[CentreHice]

RE-TALLY ROUND 2

ROUND 2 SUMMARY

x = Team or Game Total eliminated


SERIES A - TOR 1-FLA 4

TORx 5 - folatre (1)
TORx 6x - Tankdriver, seventeen, franko,
FLA 6x - CH (2)
FLA 7x - jkr (2), Willie Dog (2)


SERIES B - CAR 4-JERSEY 1

CAR 6x - jkr (2), franko (2),
CAR 7x - Willie Dog (2), folatre (2),
JERSEYx 6x - seventeen, CH
JERSEYx 7x - Tankdriver,


SERIES C - SEA 3-DAL 4

SEAx 6x - jkr,
DAL 5x - seventeen (2),
DAL 6x - Tankdriver (2), Willie Dog (2), franko (2),
DAL 7 - CH (3), folatre (3)


SERIES D - EDM 2-VEGAS 4

EDMx 5x - jkr,
EDMx 6 - Tankdriver (1), franko (1), folatre (1)
EDMx 7x - seventeen, Willie Dog,
VEGAS 7x - CH (2)

[CentreHice]

RE-TALLY ROUND 3

ROUND 3 SUMMARY

SERIES A - DAL 2-VEGAS 4

DALx 5x - seventeen
DALx 6 - franko (1), Willie Dog (1), CH (1)
VEGAS 6 - Tankdriver (3), jkr (3)
VEGAS 7x - halihab (2)

SERIES B - FLA 4-CAR 0

CARx 4 - CH (1)
CARx 5x - seventeen,
CARx 6x - franko, Tankdriver, jkr, halihab
CARx 7x - Willie Dog,

[CentreHice]

RE-TALLY--ROUNDS 1 + 2 + 3

Please go back through the last 3 tallies to see if I'm correct with your score...(I've triple checked, but..duh...)

CH - 21

franko - 18

jkr - 18

Tankdriver - 17

halihab - 17 (Rounds 1 and 3 only)

folatre - 17 (Rounds 1 and 2 only)

Willie Dog - 15

seventeen - 13

Polarice - 7 (Round 1 only)


======================================================================

Using the original scoring system of 1 pt. each for correct team and # of games. (i.e. no weighting of correct team)

CH - 13
folatre - 11 (Rounds 1 and 2 only)
franko - 11
jkr - 11
Tankdriver - 11
halihab - 10 (Rounds 1 and 3 only)
Willie Dog - 9
seventeen - 7
Polarice - 5 (Round 1 only)

[CentreHice]

FINALS PREDICTIONS (I'll update here as predictions come in. You can change your mind up until the start of Saturday's Game 1. I'll make sure to check.)

FLORIDA - VEGAS

FLA 5 - Tankdriver
FLA 6 - jkr, franko, halihab
VEGAS 4 - seventeen
VEGAS 5 - Willie Dog
VEGAS 6 - CH
VEGAS 7 - folatre

[Willie Dog]

I'll say Vegas in 5 because nothing would make Bettman happier than a Vegas win... NHL is heavy into gambling now... The capital of gambling need to win the cup to raise the NHLs exposure in the American Market. Having Tkajerk on Inside the NBA on TNT was huge from a US marketing point of view. That show averages about 1.5 million viewers

[franko]

May 31, 2023 12:40:16 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

I'll say Vegas in 5 because nothing would make Bettman happier than a Vegas win... NHL is heavy into gambling now... The capital of gambling need to win the cup to raise the NHLs exposure in the American Market. Having Tkajerk on Inside the NBA on TNT was huge from a US marketing point of view. That show averages about 1.5 million viewers

hmm. I wonder what the odds are you're right, Willie.

[seventeen]

I give up. At this point, I'm usually voting with my heart rather than my head. For example after Florida beat Boston, I've been picking them to lose and they keep winning. Naturally, they should have lost every series, but their opponents kept getting Bobrovskied. In this final, Bobrovsky is up against the juggernaut of back up goalies Vegas has thrown at everyone, so who the hell knows who will come out on top. Vegas may be the fastest team Florida has faced and that may throw them. Panthers have backchecked really well, but the Vegas speed may negate that. Regarding Bobrovsky, Vegas also has a lot of big forwards who are not going to let Forsling and Montour keep them from the front of the net. That may affect matters as well. Florida can score, though, and who knows how the Vegas backups will hold up? My had says Flip a coin and my heart says Vegas in 4, though my heart is broken anyways after all the teams I dislike made it to the semis.

[Andrew]

One interesting recent trend is that 3 of the last 5 cups were won by teams that had won the president's trophy the year before and faced early playoff exits (Colorado, Tampa, Washington). Florida are looking to add to that list.

[folatre]

Meh, I could care less about these two clubs. The only thing that could pique my interest level is a long, hard fought series. I guess I will try to be optimistic about that possibility. For whatever reason, I do not think the goalie with more pedigree will necessarily prove pivotal. I see Vegas imposing enough low-event hockey to grind out four -- Golden Knights in 7.

[jkr]

I think goaltending might be a factor that Vegas has to contend with. In the last 2 rounds they faced Skinner and Oettinger. Both of those guys played poorly & were pulled multiple times in their series against LV.

The Knights haven't faced anyone as good as Bobrovsky is right now.

[Tankdriver]

I am going for Florida in five. Need to be different to win right!

[halihab]

I will take Florida in 6. Bob is to good.

[Willie Dog]

May 31, 2023 12:55:51 GMT -5 franko said:

May 31, 2023 12:40:16 GMT -5 Willie Dog said:

I'll say Vegas in 5 because nothing would make Bettman happier than a Vegas win... NHL is heavy into gambling now... The capital of gambling need to win the cup to raise the NHLs exposure in the American Market. Having Tkajerk on Inside the NBA on TNT was huge from a US marketing point of view. That show averages about 1.5 million viewers

hmm. I wonder what the odds are you're right, Willie.

The magic 8 ball says 'Signs point to yes'

[NWTHabsFan]

The NHL playoffs are dead to me. I cannot remember being so apathetic about the playoffs, and especially the Finals. Thank goodness for the Memorial Cup and watching older junior games to gear up for the draft.

[jkr]

I'm still very interested but this gap doesnt help. I understand thatvthey dont want to compete with the NBA but Florida hasnt played in so long that they must think their season is over.

In years gone by, the Cup Finals were always over before the NBA finals. Looks like it will be the other way around this year.

[CentreHice]

Changed my prediction from VEGAS-7 to VEGAS-6.

Up 3-2, they stormed into Edmonton and Dallas and were dominant.

They're a better team overall...unless they go downHill.

[jkr]

That's true CH but I think they've benefitted by facing poor goaltending in the last 2 rounds.

Bobrovsky at this level is better than anyone that Vegas has faced.

[seventeen]

Jun 3, 2023 7:20:23 GMT -5 jkr said:

I'm still very interested but this gap doesnt help. I understand thatvthey dont want to compete with the NBA but Florida hasnt played in so long that they must think their season is over.

In years gone by, the Cup Finals were always over before the NBA finals. Looks like it will be the other way around this year.

I'm hoping their momentum is shot. There has to be some consequences for ruining our draft position.

[CentreHice]

Bobrovksky (like Price in '21) has faced and beaten heavy favorites all the way through. He's been THE story, IMO, as without his heroics, Tkachuk doesn't get the chances for his heroics at the other end. Carolina's injuries also leveled the ice in Round 3.

But I don't think it'll matter to Vegas. They were the West's top seed. Is it a case of Hellebuyck, Skinner, and Oettinger fizzling...or of Vegas's tenacious forecheck and finding open men? I'd have to look at their playoff goals, I suppose...but Cassidy has them dictating the play for the most part.

I don't see the Panthers being able to force the Knights to change that style...so it'll have to be Bobrovskitty-bar-the-door.

[PTH]

Jun 3, 2023 12:29:30 GMT -5 CentreHice said:

Bobrovksky (like Price in '21) has faced and beaten heavy favorites all the way through. He's been THE story, IMO, as without his heroics, Tkachuk doesn't get the chances for his heroics at the other end. Carolina's injuries also leveled the ice in Round 3.

But I don't think it'll matter to Vegas. They were the West's top seed. Is it a case of Hellebuyck, Skinner, and Oettinger fizzling...or of Vegas's tenacious forecheck and finding open men? I'd have to look at their playoff goals, I suppose...but Cassidy has them dictating the play for the most part.

I don't see the Panthers being able to force the Knights to change that style...so it'll have to be Bobrovskitty-bar-the-door.

Bobrovsky is their Roy and Tkachuk is their Leclair, apparently.

I'm all for Florida. Won't watch the games, though, but still hoping Florida wins, since it's hard to keep a winning team together in a cap era, and I want them to crash and burn by 2025 (when their first is likely going to influence what we get from Calgary).

[CentreHice]

Jun 3, 2023 13:38:59 GMT -5 PTH said:

Bobrovsky is their Roy and Tkachuk is their Leclair, apparently.

Great parallel.

[CentreHice]

FINALS PREDICTIONS
FLORIDA - VEGAS

FLA 5 - Tankdriver
FLA 6 - jkr, franko, halihab
VEGAS 4 - seventeen
VEGAS 5 - Willie Dog
VEGAS 6 - CH
VEGAS 7 - folatre

[seventeen]

That long layoff took away Bob’s mojo. An .879 save % is not going to cut it.

[CentreHice]

I don't think Bob could do much on the goals. He was solid down low.

Marchessault--alone in front, point-bank, just inside the post; Theodore--Howden screening, shot was high. Stone--alone in the slot, roofed immediately. Whitecloud--shot through a screen.

[CentreHice]

FINALS PREDICTIONS
FLORIDA 1 - VEGAS 4

FLAx 5 - Tankdriver (1)
FLAx 6x - jkr, franko, halihab
VEGAS 4x - seventeen (2)
VEGAS 5 - Willie Dog (3)
VEGAS 6x - CH (2)
VEGAS 7x - folatre (2)

=================================================

FINAL PREDICTION TALLY

CH - 23

folatre - 19 (Rounds 1, 2, and 4)

franko - 18

jkr - 18

Tankdriver - 18

Willie Dog - 18

halihab - 17 (Rounds 1, 3, and 4)

seventeen - 15

Polarice - 7 (Round 1 only)


======================================================================

Using the original scoring system of 1 pt. each for correct team and # of games. (i.e. no weighting of correct team)

CH - 14
folatre - 12 (Rounds 1, 2, and 4)
Tankdriver - 12
franko - 11
jkr - 11
Willie Dog - 11
halihab - 10 (Rounds 1, 3, and 4)
seventeen - 8
Polarice - 5 (Round 1 only)

Thanks for participating, guys.

Hopefully, the Habs will be near a Wild Card soon enough.