Round 3 Pix
Posted 8:14 PM ET | Comments 2
As promised...
1 Buf vs 4 Ott - Total toss-up. If either team wins, I am not surprised. Buffalo has the speed edge, and they're a bit more spread out in terms of offense. Ottawa has slightly better defensive depth, and their top line has been beastly in these playoffs. Goaltending, imo, is a wash. But I feel the Sens have played better in these playoffs, and the Sabres hae been kinda inconsistent. Before the season I picked Buffalo to win it all, but now I'm taking a risk and picking Ottawa in seven.
1 Det vs 2 Ana - Detroit has not yet convinced me they are Cup-worthy. Datsyuk has been absolutely incredible, but Hasek wories me a little too much..he likes to wander, and play the puck, which isn't good because he's bad at it. Also, most people will agree with me that Calgary and San Jose did not give anything close to their best effort. Anaheim has dispatched of Minnesota and Vancouver rather easily. Detroit will prove to be a stiffer test, but they will ultimately lose in 6.
Players to Watch:
Buffalo - Paul Gaustad. Having just come off injury, is he ready to check the hottest line in the NHL? Madden and Pandolfo failed miserably, and they are regarded as two of the best.
Ottawa - Daniel Alfredsson. The best player in these playoffs so far. He has never played as well as he is now. He seems like a man possessed. Can the Sabres stop him?
Detroit - Pavel Datsyuk. Has definitely shed his playoff bust image, emerging not only as a clutch scorer, but a dominant force when it counts. He'll be in tough against the Big Three of Anaheim.
Anaheim - Samual Pahlsson. Has outscored most of the guys he's being assigned to check. Quite possibly the best shutdown center in the game, I don't think there's anyone else I'd rather have checking the Datsyuk line.
1 Buf vs 4 Ott - Total toss-up. If either team wins, I am not surprised. Buffalo has the speed edge, and they're a bit more spread out in terms of offense. Ottawa has slightly better defensive depth, and their top line has been beastly in these playoffs. Goaltending, imo, is a wash. But I feel the Sens have played better in these playoffs, and the Sabres hae been kinda inconsistent. Before the season I picked Buffalo to win it all, but now I'm taking a risk and picking Ottawa in seven.
1 Det vs 2 Ana - Detroit has not yet convinced me they are Cup-worthy. Datsyuk has been absolutely incredible, but Hasek wories me a little too much..he likes to wander, and play the puck, which isn't good because he's bad at it. Also, most people will agree with me that Calgary and San Jose did not give anything close to their best effort. Anaheim has dispatched of Minnesota and Vancouver rather easily. Detroit will prove to be a stiffer test, but they will ultimately lose in 6.
Players to Watch:
Buffalo - Paul Gaustad. Having just come off injury, is he ready to check the hottest line in the NHL? Madden and Pandolfo failed miserably, and they are regarded as two of the best.
Ottawa - Daniel Alfredsson. The best player in these playoffs so far. He has never played as well as he is now. He seems like a man possessed. Can the Sabres stop him?
Detroit - Pavel Datsyuk. Has definitely shed his playoff bust image, emerging not only as a clutch scorer, but a dominant force when it counts. He'll be in tough against the Big Three of Anaheim.
Anaheim - Samual Pahlsson. Has outscored most of the guys he's being assigned to check. Quite possibly the best shutdown center in the game, I don't think there's anyone else I'd rather have checking the Datsyuk line.
Ottawa dismantled two 100 point teams to get to where they are. Buffalo struggled against two late playoff additions to get to where they are. Does that mean anything? Probably not but the Sens have definitley been the better playoff performers of the two. Sens in 7.
Ottawa dismantled two 100 point teams to get to where they are. Buffalo struggled against two late playoff additions to get to where they are. Does that mean anything? Probably not but the Sens have definitley been the better playoff performers of the two. Sens in 7.