Larry Brooks
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Blog: Slap Shots
Even as Gary Bettman pumps Sidney Crosby’s tires, there are weeks to go and miles to travel before the parade.
The Penguins are good, all right, very good, but right at the very moment the East seemed theirs for the taking and a first-round meat-grinder against the Flyers would thus have become the Rangers’ burden, Pittsburgh lost two straight to the Islanders.
So imposing, yes, but unbeatable no, and certainly not with the very strong defending champion Bruins awaiting with second-round home ice if form generally holds in the NHL’s inequitable playoff format — unless the commissioner can push through a rule change via Amendment 87 over the fortnight.
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Artem Anisimov
An upset or two is likely in an early round, though the definition of such is unclear in this unfair system in which the team with the sixth-most points in each conference has home ice in the first round and would keep it in the second if able to advance.
It is true that a team has to be in it to win it, but this notion that once in it any team can win it is historical malarkey. Fact is, only one team that started the first round on the road since the NHL went to a conference-based playoff format in 1994 has won the Stanley Cup — the 1995 Devils team seeded fifth following a 48-game lockout-truncated season.
The Rangers have been ready for the playoffs since December. They have shined in the spotlight all season. Their goaltender is hockey royalty on a blue collar team that six weeks from now will service their own vehicles for the ride up the Canyon of Heroes, with those from NHL headquarters on Sixth Avenue invited to take mass transit to watch the ceremonies from behind the police barriers.
CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
Larry Brooks’ prediction: (1) Rangers over (8) Senators in 6
Mark Everson’s prediction: (1) Rangers over (8) Senators in 5
Brooks analysis: This talented, quick opponent will provide the strong test the Black-and-Blueshirts require as a springboard to bigger and better things. The East top seed’s playoff-made approach and superior goaltending will prevail despite the threat Jason Spezza poses on each shift.
Larry Brooks’ prediction: (2) Bruins over (7) Capitals in 5
Mark Everson’s prediction: (2) Bruins over (7) Capitals in 6
Brooks analysis: The Zdeno Chara-Alexander Ovechkin matchup does not favor Washington any more than the Tim Thomas -goaltender by committee match does unless, that is, the Caps play their home games at the White House. Tyler Seguin is the Cup break-out star waiting to happen for the defending champions, who should breeze given their talent and edge in commitment.
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