FIRST ROUND
Eastern Conference
#1 New York Rangers vs. 
#8 Ottawa Senators
Despite the excellent job Paul MacLean has his first season as head coach of the Senators the Rangers are simply far and away the better team. Top to bottom the Rangers have better goaltending, upfront scoring and defense.
Rangers in Five
#2 Boston Bruins vs. 
#7 Washington Capitals #7
There may not be a more disappointing team in the NHL than the Washington Capitals. After starting out the season strong it’s been pretty much a downward spiral for a team that has had Stanley Cup aspirations for some time now. Unfortunately for the Caps that disappointment will continue this postseason.
Bruins in Five
#3 Florida Panthers vs. 
#6 New Jersey Devils
Can New Jersey’s big names and experience detour a hungry Florida Panthers team? Sure they can but that doesn’t mean this isn’t going to be a very competitive series.
Devils in Seven
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 
#5 Philadelphia Flyers
What’s better than two teams that without a doubt hate each playing in the playoffs? In short, nothing. This very well may be the best series of the playoffs with all things considered. Here’s something else to consider too, Malkin and a Crosby that plays every day will carry the Penguins to the next round of the playoffs.
Penguins in Seven
Western Conference
#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 
#8 Los Angeles Kings
Unlike the Eastern Conference #1/#8 matchup, the Western Conference equivalent should be more entertaining. If the Kings are going to win this series they’re going to need Jonathan Quick to stand on his head and steal a couple of games. Unfortunately from top to bottom the Canucks are just a better team.
Canucks in Six
#2 St. Louis Blues vs. 
#7 San Jose Sharks
There might not be a team that’s a bigger mess in the playoffs than the San Jose Sharks. And for that matter there may not be a more put together team in the playoffs than the St. Louis Blues. The Blues rolled over the Sharks in the regular season winning all six games and with that said St. Louis will roll over the Sharks in the postseason.
Blues in Five
#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. 
#6 Chicago Blackhawks
Mike Smith has done an excellent job taking over for Ilya Bryzgalov who departed for Philadelphia this past offseason. Smith is also going to have his hands full with the scoring depth of the Blackhawks in this series. Now despite being a better than his counterpart Corey Crawford for Chicago it’s going to be that scoring depth that get’s Chicago to the next round.
Blackhawks in Six
#4 Nashville Predators vs. 
#5 Detroit Red Wings
Nashville may be the most dangerous team in the Playoffs and are very capable of beating the Wings this series. However the Wings are still capable of rolling out four productive lines, they still have Nicklas Lidstrom and a good goaltender in Jimmy Howard. Oh yeah, they’re also getting healthy too.
Red Wings in Seven
SECOND ROUND
Eastern Conference
#1 New York Rangers vs. #6 New Jersey Devils
The battle of the Hudson see’s Manhattan taking this one.
Rangers in Six
#2 Boston Bruins vs. #4 Pittsburgh Penguins
After Pittsburgh’s pyrrhic victory in Round 1, they simply run out of healthy bodies and gas against the Bruins.
Bruins in Six
Western Conference
#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Chicago Blackhawks
I’ve never been a fan of Roberto Luongo. He’s a common choke artist when it comes to the playoffs but he’s better than Corey Crawford. Couple that with Vancouver’s talent from top to bottom and they move onto the Western Conference Finals.
Vancouver in Seven
#2 St. Louis Blues vs. #5 Detroit Red Wings
As much as I want to pick the Wings in this series, I can’t. St. Louis is an extremely talented team that will take advantage of a Wings team coming off a hard fought first round against Nashville.
Blues in Six
CONFERENCE FINALS
Eastern Conference
#1 New York Rangers vs. #2 Boston Bruins
Upfront the Rangers have much more fire power however depth wise it would seem that the Bruins are a little better off.
Bruins in Seven
Western Conference
#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #2 St. Louis Blues
Here the Canucks run into one of their Achilles heels and that’s a hot goaltender who outplays their own.
Blues in Six
STANLEY CUP FINALS
#2 Boston Bruins vs. #2 St. Louis Blues
The Bruins’ attempt at a repeat runs into the two-headed monster that his Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott. Not to mention the St. Louis’ stellar top to bottom roster.
Blues in Seven
