2010 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS

By Chris Carrano

EASTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Capitals vs. #8 Canadiens- Montreal has no shot against the President trophy winning Capitals. The Caps are too deep and talented and will be way too much for the Habs to handle. Capitals in 4.

#2 Devils vs. #7 Flyers- These two Atlantic division rivals typically do not like each other and I expect an intense, physical, penalty filled series. Watching these two teams play each other in the playoffs is a Ranger fan’s worst nightmare. The playoff experience of Marty Brodeur and company should be enough to get the Devils through the first round. Devils in 6.

#3 Sabres vs. #6 Bruins- The Buffalo Sabres return to the post-season after their Eastern Conference finals run a few seasons ago. They’ll face a Bruins team that stumbled a little bit down the stretch, but still managed to finish in sixth place. The main attraction in this series will be the battle of Team USA net minders: Buffalo’s Ryan Miller against Boston’s Tim Thomas. Sabres in 5.

#4 Penguins vs. #5 Senators- Ottawa also makes its return to the playoffs after a brief absence, but unfortunately it runs into a talented and deep Penguins team that beefed itself up at the trade deadline. The defending champs will look to close out the Igloo in style and I expect Ottawa to be a small bump on their road. Penguins in 5.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

#1 Sharks vs. #8 Avalanche- The Avalanche were left for dead at the start of the season, then surprised everyone by being in contention for a postseason berth. They briefly fell out of the top eight, but managed to slip in over the Calgary Flames. The Sharks do not have the pressure of being the President’s trophy winners this time around, but they do have a history of choking in the playoffs. They’ll make it past the first round, but not without a little bit of a scare. Sharks in 6.

#2 Blackhawks vs. #7 Predators- The Blackhawks have been one of the best teams in the West all season long and they are poised for another run at the Western Conference finals. Despite their issues in goaltending, their offense should be enough to get them past the Predators. Blackhawks in 5.

#6 Kings vs. #3 Canucks- The upstart Kings, who haven’t been to the playoffs since 2002, will have to find a way to beat Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo, as well as limit the amount of times the Sedin twins end up in the box score. Luongo has fallen apart in big games and since I feel compelled to pick an upset, Im picking this one. Kings in 7.

#4 Coyotes vs. #5 Red Wings- On paper, this should be the best series of the first round. The surging Coyotes, who have no idea where they’ll be playing in the future, take on one of hockey’s premiere dynasties in the Detroit Red Wings. With all the young talent and acquisitions the Coyotes made at the deadline and all of Detroit’s veteran playoff warriors healthy and at the top of their game, this is a series a true hockey fan will love. Coyotes in 7.

STICK A FORK IN 'EM (for real this time)

(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

By Chris Carrano

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Henrik Lunqvist sat all alone in the goal,
While 46 shots eventually took their toll,
All Sather’s horses, and Tortorella’s men,

Left poor King Henry out to dry again

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That’s the story of the Rangers’ season folks. After a 7-1 start to the season, and a 7-1-2 run to end it, the Rangers found themselves on the outside looking in as they lost to the Philadelphia Flyers, 2-1, in a shootout yesterday afternoon at the Wachovia Center.

Henrik Lunqvist stood on his head, did cartwheels and landed back flips in making 46 saves, but it was all for nothing. As is always the case, he is their best player in their biggest games and it’s a shame that the guys in front of him played the way they did. Were the Rangers waiting for him to score goals too? The guy can’t do everything and by the time the game went to a shootout, he admitted he was “beat-up.” As he has done all season long, Lundqvist bailed out his teammates who turned over way too many pucks and couldn’t control their opponents through the neutral zone, as the Flyers out shot the Rangers 47 to 25. He basically gift-wrapped the game for them, but just like how the guy on the chess team can’t score with prom queen, the Rangers failed to close.

"We played well over the last 10 games and gave ourselves a chance, but it should never have come to this," a somber Brandon Dubinsky said in the Rangers' locker room after the loss. "The way we started the year [was good]; the start and the finish. What really hurt us was everything that happened in between [24-31-9 record]. It's tough to put it down to one goal and a shootout. We had our opportunities all year, and we just couldn't get it done."

Marion Gaborik, by far their best offensive player this season, did a pre-2009 A-Rod impersonation and was no where to be found yesterday. Granted he was left out of the shootout and thus didn’t have a chance to redeem himself, but a career 2-18 record in shootouts was probably why. Instead that honor was bestowed upon Olli Jokinen (you must be Joke-inen, right?), as coach John Tortorella tabbed him to go third in the skills competition.

After P.A. Parenteau tied the Flyers in the shootout, Claude Giroux put Philly back on top after a blistering wrist shot found its way to the back of Henrik’s net. Jokinen’s back-handed attempt was then pushed aside by the Flyers’ third-string goalie, Brian Boucher, to seal the deal for Philadelphia. It’s safe to say that Jokinen pretty much played his way out of the Big Apple. Jody Shelley, a 35-year old journeyman, was their best forward on the ice, scoring the Rangers’ lone goal just 3:27 into the game, his second in two games.

“We did what we could the past few weeks to get back in the race," said Lundqvist. "They were better than us tonight. It's tough to win two games against Philly when the fourth line is your best line. It's tough."

Maybe something good will come out of yesterday’s heartbreaking loss. Let’s face it; the Rangers have been on a steady decline since they swept the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round of the 2006-07 playoffs. With the Knicks wrapping up their miserable season this week, Madison Square Garden will now be collecting dust for the next few months, save for a few concerts and wrestling matches. This is best way to get through to James Dolan; hit him where it hurts. No, not a kick to the Dolan family jewels, but rather, in his wallet.

According to Ian Begley on ESPNNewYork.com, Dolan wore a look of disgust as he sauntered out of the bowels of the Wachovia Center after the game. History has shown that when Dolan is angry, the heads of his Garden employees tend to roll. Maybe this is the wake-up call to let go of Glen Sather?

If I’m Henrik Lundqvist this morning, I’m walking into Dolan and Sather’s office demanding that changes be made or I’m taking my services elsewhere. Like my friend Adam Bernard suggested one night, Lundqvist is too good of a goalie to waste away his talent with a team that plays the way the Rangers do. By the time Rangers are a true Cup contender, Lundqvist will be past his prime. And if Sather is still calling the shots, Lunqvist’s number will be hanging from the Garden rafters before the Rangers are in serious contention for any type of run at Lord Stanley’s Cup. Save for a few players, he really has no supporting cast and a lot of needs must be addressed this off-season. Maybe Rex Ryan can lend a hand as a special consultant for next season.

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RANGERS' STEADY DECLINE

2005-06- Got swept in the first round of the playoffs to the New Jersey Devils after being picked to finish last in the Eastern conference.

2006-07- Swept the Atlanta Thrashers in the first round of the playoffs, then lost in six games to the Buffalo Sabres in heart-breaking fashion, after originally falling down 2-0 and rallying to tie the series 2-2.

2007-08- Beat the Devils in five games in the first round of the playoffs and crapped the bed against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round after taking a 3-0 lead in game one.

2008-09- Lost in the first round of the playoffs to Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals after taking a 3-1 series lead on them.

2009-10- Lost to the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 in a shootout in Game 82 in which the winner is assured of a playoff berth.

"IT'S WITHIN US"

(Photo Credit: NY Daily News, Kmonicek/AP)

RANGER'S CRUISE TO VICTORY, SHOWDOWN IN PHILLY UP NEXT

By Chris Carrano

Goonies never say die, and apparently, neither do the Rangers. It took only 21 seconds for the Blueshirts to make a statement last night at Madison Square Garden; that it’s not over until the fat lady sings. Well the Rangers silenced the fat lady for one more night as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. The often inconsistent and sloppy play New York has shown this season was brushed off to the side last night, and now, they control their own destiny heading into the final two games of the season against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Erik Christensen, who has really raised his level of play since the Olympic break, scored two goals last night, his first opened the scoring 21 seconds into the game. His second came exactly 30 seconds after Vinny Prospal scored a goal to put the Rangers up 2-0. Christensen took Marion Gaborik’s feed and skated in alone on Leaf’s goalie Jonas Gustavsson, who was powerless to stop him.

"He was huge," said teammate Brandon Dubinsky, "He's been putting a lot of pressure on himself lately to find a way to put the puck in the net. A lot of guys have been telling him just relax, it's going to happen, it's going to come, and tonight he got rewarded with all the work he's been putting in leading up to this."

Olli Jokinen, who played one of his best games since coming to New York, gave the Rangers a 4-1 lead in the third period. Just 2:42 after Dion Phaneuf scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf, Marion Gaborik’s shot was blocked but it came right to Jokinen, who overpowered Gustavsson as he scrambled to get into position after the original shot changed directions. Aaron Voros put another nail in the Leafs coffin when he came off the bench and beat Gustavsson less than two minutes after Jokinen’s goal.

"That was as bad a first period as we played all season, simply put," Leafs coach Ron Wilson said.
With their season on the line, it all comes down to a home and home series against their bitter divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers. Tomorrow night, the two teams will face-off at Madison Square Garden and will finish the season on Sunday afternoon at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. The Rangers will clinch a playoff berth if they can get at least three points over the next two games.

"We wanted to make the Philly games count. And they do know," Rangers coach John Tortorella said. "It's within us. But we don't have to look at the board anymore, because it's right in front of us.

For Ranger fans, the playoffs officially begin tomorrow.

Information from NHL.com was used in this story

OTHER SCORES (home team in CAPS)

DETROIT 4, Columbus 3

CHICAGO 6, St. Louis 5

EDMONTON 5, Colorado 4

PHOENIX 5, Nashville 2

TONIGHT'S GAMES

Buffalo at Boston, 7 pm

Montreal at Carolina, 7:30 pm

NY Isalnders at Pittsburgh, 7:30 pm

Ottawa at Tampa Bay, 7:30 pm

New Jersey at Florida, 7:30 pm

Anaheim at Dallas, 8:30 pm

Minnesota at Calgary, 9:30 pm

Phoenix at Los Angeles, 10:30 pm

Vancouver at San Jose, 10:30 pm

FALLING FROM GRACE

(Photo credit: Michael Martin/Getty Images)

By Chris Carrano

For most of this season, the surprising Colorado Avalanche have had a tight grip on a playoff berth. After last nights 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, all their playoff hopes are dangling from a thread. With Calgary’s victory last night, the Avalanche only have a two-point cushion over the Flames for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West.

The two teams play each other on Friday night in what should be a monumental classic in the Rocky Mountains. For Calgary, and most of its fans, anything less than a playoff berth this season will be considered unsuccessful and would probably lead to the exiling of the Sutter brothers, GM Daryll and Head Coach Brent. The Avs, however, have been a surprise all season long and were never expected to make a playoff run.

The Avalanche have lost three straight games and six of their last seven. Much like how the stock market corrects itself, maybe the NHL’s Western Conference is doing the same. Teams like Detroit who were out of playoff positioning before the Olympic break now find themselves in thick of the race as they sit in sixth place and Colorado, who expected to be a bottom feeder this season, sees it’s stock falling rapidly.

Goalie Craig Anderson has given up 14 goals in this last three starts and surrendered five goals on the 27 shots he faced last night. "We're still leading the race," he said. "We have six games left and destiny in our own hands. We control our own fate. If we win Friday, we're looking pretty good. That's the bottom line. We need to focus for the next game and put this one behind us."

So what’s the problem with the Avs? "I certainly don't think that we're squeezing the sticks," Avalanche coach Joe Sacco said. "All season long, the couple things that we've done pretty consistently is play with passion and play with energy, use our speed. We've got to find a way to get that back for 60 minutes in our game. Right now that's lacking."Listen, we're fighting for a playoff spot. There's a lot on the line here, but we're still in a good spot. Are we playing the way we want to be playing? No, but it's a long season and you're going to face some obstacles along the way and we've got to face the challenge the right way."

At least the coach is positive. Colorado picked the wrong time to get into a slump and with six games left to play, time is running out.

AROUND THE NHL

Sabres vs. Panthers: Buffalo moved closer to clinching the Northeast Division last night with a 6-2 win over the Florida Panthers. Rookies Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe scored for the Sabres Tim Kennedy, Henrik Tallinder and Adam Mair also chipped in scores and Jason Pominville scored his team leading 24th goal of the season. Trade deadline acquisition Raffi Torres had three assists in his first game back since sitting out for six with a hand injury. He was also named the first star of the game. Goalie Ryan Miller made 13 saves for his 39th victory which pretty much eliminated the Panthers from making the playoffs.

Blackhawks vs. Wild: Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville decided to start Antii Niemi in goal last night and his decision paid off as Niemi and Co. blanked the Wild 4-0 last night in Minnesota. Niemi made four saves during a 91-second 5-on-3 power play for Minnesota late in the second period, and held off the Wild the rest of the way to improve to 21-7-3. "It's big, it was a nice response," Quenneville said. "It was nice to show him some confidence as well and he responded with the game we were looking for."

Coyotes vs. Flames: With their playoff hopes all but evaporated less than a week ago, the Flames held on for a 2-1 victory over the Phoenix for their second straight win. Ian White started the scoring with a second period power play goal and Ales Kotalik netted the game winner at 3:46 of the third. Lee Stempniak pulled the Coyotes to with one when he scored on a feed from teammate Wojtek Wolski, but despite pressing hard in the closing minutes, the Coyotes couldn’t get the equalizer. The Flames also stunned the Washington Capitals in their prior game and head to Colorado tomorrow with a chance to tie the Avalanche for the eighth and final playoff spot. We know what the stakes are," said coach Brent Sutter said. "We knew going in ... if we did our job and got some help that we'd have an opportunity to go down there two points behind. It's a big difference from where we were last Saturday."

OTHER SCORES

Carolina 2, MONTREAL 1
Tampa Bay 2, PITTSBURGH 0
DALLAS 5, San Jose 1

TONIGHT'S GAMES (All times EST)

Florida at Boston 7pm
Buffalo at Toronto 7pm
Philadelphia at NY Islanders 7pm
Atlanta at Washington 7pm
Carolina at Ottawa 7:30pm
Columbus at Detroit 7:30pm
St. Louis at Nashville 8pm
Vancouver at Los Angeles 10:30pm