NHL Playoffs Picks

It's time to sit back, crack a cold one, and grow out your playoff beards.

I have done my best to avoid being sucked in by the Bruins this winter following their disappointing playoff loss to the Flyers last Spring but after catching their win over the Blackhawks two weeks ago and with a continuation of their blood rivalry with the Canadiens on tap for the first round, they have put their hooks - or, in the case of the Bruins, their claws - back in to me.

A Bruins-Canadiens matchup in the playoffs is reason enough to be excited for the Stanley Cup playoffs but even the most casual of sports fans has to enjoy playoff hockey.  The stakes are high every single shift and if a team can play effective two-way hockey and ride the momentum of a hot goalie, they have a shot to have their names immortalized on the Stanley Cup.

As for the picks...

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Washington Capitals over (8) New York Rangers
(4) Pittsburgh Penguins over (5) Tampa Bay Lightning
(3) Boston Bruins over (6) Montreal Canadiens
(7) Buffalo Sabres over (2) Philadelphia Flyers

Western Conference Quarterfinals

(8) Chicago Blackhawks over (1) Vancouver Canucks
(5) Nashville Predators over (4) Anaheim Ducks
(3) Detroit Red Wings over (6) Phoenix Coyotes
(2) San Jose Sharks over (7) Los Angeles Kings

Eastern Conference Semifinals

(7) Buffalo Sabres over (1) Washington Capitals
(3) Boston Bruins over (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Western Conference Semifinals

(2) San Jose Sharks over (8) Chicago Blackhawks
(3) Detroit Red Wings over (5) Nashville Predators

Eastern Conference Finals

(3) Boston Bruins over (7) Buffalo Sabres

Western Conference Finals

(2) San Jose Sharks over (3) Detroit Red Wings

STANLEY CUP FINALS

Boston Bruins over San Jose Sharks

(Go ahead, call me a homer.  At least I'm a consistent homer!)