2007 NHL Playoffs Recap and Video Highlights - May 16th

An o'fer yesterday, okay I didn't make a prediction but I lost the transmission on my car and it's gonna cost me $2k. So I'd say that was an o'fer. The Sabres are on the brink of elimination and I can now see them heading quietly to the golf course. It looks like they have a transmission problem too, they can't get into 4th gear.

Tonights Game :

Buffalo Sabres (0) at Ottawa Senators (3) : Ottawa has managed to do everything that they identified as required to win this series. The Sabres have not. Simple as that. Much like my Taurus' transmission, Buffalo can't find their top gear and it is going to cost them a shot at the Stanley Cup. Ottawa will probably lose tonights game, merely as a point of pride for the Sabres. But rest assured, I screwed this prediction up, Ottawa will win the series in 5 games but lost tonight at home to Buffalo.

Last Nights Game :

Detroit Red Wings 5 (2) at Anaheim Ducks 0 (1) : Wow, Tomas Holmstrom and the Wings completely dominated the Ducks last night. Holmstrom had two goals before being crunched along the boards by Rob Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. Niedermayer received a 5 minute boarding penalty and was ejected from the game. To me it looked like it was Pronger who should have received the penalties and you can be sure that the NHL will be reviewing the play. I would expect Pronger to receive at least a 1 game suspension. Domink Hasek made 28 saves for his second shutout of this years playoffs and the 14th of his career.

From the NHL Highlight Machine

2007 NHL Playoffs Video Highlights



Round 3 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 2 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Players to Watch
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 1 Predictions:
Round 1 Playoff Predictions and Hot Players
Complete Playoff Predictions

2007 NHL Playoffs Recap and Video Highlights - May 14th

1-1 last night. The Ducks were in control of the puck for much of this game but still needed a disputed goal in overtime to win and even up the series before heading home. The Sabres play game 3 tonight in Ottawa and unless they can scratch out a win their season is pretty much done. So much for the vaunted depth of the Sabres.

Tonights Game :

Buffalo Sabres (0) at Ottawa Senators (2) : The Sabres are deep behind the 8 ball tonight. Unless the Sabres win tonight they will be going home, forget the 7 game series that most experts (and me) predicted this could be a very short series. Ottawa is winning all of the important battles and dominating on special teams. Buffalo is 0-12 on the power play and has given up a short handed goal. In losing game 2 at home the Sabres squandered a 2-0 lead for the first time this season, including both regular and playoff games. Watch tonights game closely, if Buffalo doesn't dominate for significant stretches tonight they are going home early. I pick Buffalo to win tonight just because I cannot see them getting swept.

Last Nights Game :

Anaheim Ducks 4 (1) at Detroit Red Wings 3 (1) : It took two reviewed goals and a Niedermayer brother hook up in overtime but the Ducks managed to split the opening games on Detroit's home ice. The Wings were dominated for most of the game by Anaheim but still managed to hang close throughout the game forcing the Ducks to win it in overtime. Domink Hasek was the reason that the Wings were even in this game, he made 29 saves including some vintage Hasek flopping and was dealing with traffic all night long without losing his cool. Game 3 in Anaheim on Tuesday should be fun to watch.

From the NHL Highlight Machine

2007 NHL Playoffs Video Highlights



Round 3 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 2 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Players to Watch
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 1 Predictions:
Round 1 Playoff Predictions and Hot Players
Complete Playoff Predictions

2007 NHL Playoffs Recap and Video Highlights - May 13th

0-1 last night. Buffalo seems determined to make these playoffs as difficult as possible for themselves. Meanwhile, Ottawa is simply concentrating on doing what they need to do to win.

Last Nights Game :

Ottawa Senators 4 (2) at Buffalo Sabres 3 (0) : The Sabres took an early 2-0 lead in the first period but decided not to compete in the second and third periods to require a goal from Daniel Briere with 5.8 seconds left to send the game to overtime. Joe Corvo ended the game at 4:58 of the second overtime period with a skipping shot that fooled Ryan Miller. Buffalo simply hasn't managed to show up for an entire game. Forget my past predictions, Buffalo is out in 5 and Ottawa plays Anaheim in the final, only to lose in 6 games.

Tonights Game :

Anaheim Ducks (0) at Detroit Red Wings (1) : The Wings managed to take control in game 1 but Anaheim is going to snap back tonight. Expect the Ducks to push the Wings tonight and take game 2 in Detroit to even the series up before it heads to Anaheim.

Round 3 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 2 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Players to Watch
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 1 Predictions:
Round 1 Playoff Predictions and Hot Players
Complete Playoff Predictions

2007 NHL Playoffs Recap and Video Highlights - May 12th

1-1 last night and 1-2 for the first two games of round 3. Detroit managed to win game 1 with some inspired play by the Dominator and another dominating performance from Niklas Lidstrom. Tonight Buffalo is already desperate to win a game.

Tonights Game :

Ottawa Senators (1) at Buffalo Sabres (0) : Believe it or not it is already do or die time for the Sabres. If they go down 2-0 in the series at home their odds of getting to the final round are slim indeed. Tonight the Sabres need their leaders to step up. Keep an eye on Chris Drury tonight, he will lead the Sabres by example and Buffalo will post a convincing win in game 2.

Last Nights Game :

Anaheim Ducks 1 (0) at Detroit Red Wings 2 (1) : Detroit got great performances from key players last night. Dominik Hasek and Niklas Lidstrom stepped up and ensured that the Wings would win despite the fact that they only managed 19 shots on Anaheim. The Ducks tried to physically dominate the Wings last night but it didn't seem to work. Both of Detroit's goals were lucky deflections and both went off Francois Beauchemin before entering the net. Expect the Ducks to come after Detroit even harder in game 2.


From the NHL Highlight Machine

2007 NHL Playoffs Video Highlights





Round 3 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 2 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Players to Watch
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 1 Predictions:
Round 1 Playoff Predictions and Hot Players
Complete Playoff Predictions

2007 NHL Playoffs Recap and Video Highlights - May 11th

o'fer last night. Buffalo surprised me last night by not showing up for game 1 of their third round series with Ottawa. Ottawa did exactly what I expected and they got the win because of it. Tonight Detroit hosts Anaheim in the opener of the other semi-final series.

Tonights Game :

Anaheim Ducks (2) at Detroit Red Wings (1) :

The Red Wings are going to miss Mathieu Schneider on defense in this series. Anaheim has demonstrated some flashes of brilliance in the playoffs and is making a strong case why they should be the team to watch in the west. The Wings have home ice advantage and I have to go with them tonight for game 1. While Hasek remains healthy the Wings have a chance to upset my predictions for round 3 and they should start that off with a solid win tonight at home.

Last Nights Game :

Ottawa Senators 5 (1) at Buffalo Sabres 2 (0) : The Senators came out poised and ready and the Sabres were disorganized and lacking in focus last night. It cost them the game. Despite the lackluster effort Buffalo managed to make a game of it until Oleg Saprykin scored at 7:41 into the third to take the lead. The major difference in the game was special teams. Buffalo went 0-5 on the power play and gave up a short handed goal on their first PP to Mike Fisher. The Senators on the other hand went 2-6 on their power play opportunities. That is a 3 goal advantage to the Ottawa Senators, the same as the 3 goal difference in the final score.

From the NHL Highlight Machine

2007 NHL Playoffs Video Highlights




Round 3 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 2 Predictions:
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Players to Watch
NHL Playoffs - Round 2 Previews and Predictions

Round 1 Predictions:
Round 1 Playoff Predictions and Hot Players
Complete Playoff Predictions