Pucks Picks (Round One Total Wimp Out)

Sorry people - my Playoff Picks are true wimp-outs as I seem to agree with Nugman on all 4 series. I prefer to think of this as an astounding coincidence rather than an admission that Nugs is much smarter than me. I'll try to partially redeem myself by also predicting the number of games each series will go. Anyway, here they are:

Bruins over Canadians. Montreal always plays Boston tough - but the Habs are lucky to be here and are banged up. Boston just too tough on defense. 5 game series.

Rangers over Caps. Heart over head on this one. Throw out the regular season meetings because the Rangers have a new coach, a new attitude, and Mr. Sean Avery now. Rangers have the better goaltender - a crucial factor in a long series. Our PK will (somewhat) neutralize the Caps greatest strength (their PP) which could lead to frustration and pressure on the Caps. Rangers will play tough at home. Rangers need to steal one of the first 2 and still may need to steal game 7 to scratch their way to round 2. One qualifier - if Drury's "undisclosed double-secret" upper-or-lower body injury puts him out for an extended period I'd have to revise my pick to Caps. If the captain plays at something approaching full strength he's good for at least one massive momentum shifting goal. I could give a past example... but it's too painful to recall.

Hurricanes over she-Devils. My hatred of all things Devil may be clouding my judgement here - but man, Newark has looked terrible lately. Maybe it's because they are terrible lately. Brodeur (the most over-rated "best ever" goalie of all time) is starting to show his age. Carolina takes this in 6 or less.

Penguins over Flyers. The battle for Pennsylvania. Come playoff time the refs watch matinee idol Crosby to make sure no one brushes against him. Even the announcers are prepped to refer to his "dives" as "great gamesmanship". So with two sets of rulebooks in play it can be hard to beat Pittsburgh in a playoff series. Flyers come in ice cold - having stumbled badly at the wire (thanks to our heroes) and have to be a little shaken coming in to this one. 'Guins have the ability to go on offensive tears that leave their opponents in the dust (or is it: in the ice chips?). Aquatic Birds in 5.

And there you have it. Go Rangers.