Revisiting my NHL Predictions

In the blink of an eye, the abbreviated 48 game NHL season ends tonight. The greatest postseason in all sports, the Stanley Cup Playoffs, will begin Tuesday.

So, as I did with the end of the NFL season, it's time to revisit my late January regular season predictions and see how much of a genius or idiot I am.

Atlantic
NYR (1)
PIT (4)
PHI (5)
NJ (7)
NYI

Well, the Rangers didn't quite reach the regular season heights they did last year, but they still get in as the 6 seed and will face a rejuvenated Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals. Again. They have played much better since the Marian Gaborik trade, but as is every year, they will go as far as Henrik Lundqvist takes them.

Everyone knew the Penguins would be good, but not THIS good. Even with Sidney Crosby missing a month, they don't miss a beat. Oh, and they added Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray, and Brendan Morrow at the trade deadline. They are built to win now.

The Devils and Flyers didn't come close to a playoff berth. The Devils missed because the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk to injury sent the team on an April swoon in which they never recovered. I predicted the goaltending of Ilya Bryzgalov would be the Flyers' fatal flaw, and it was. However, they did not supplement this lack of goaltending with enough scoring firepower from Giroux, Hartnell, Briere, Simmonds, et al.

And as for the Islanders, they are the surprise team in the NHL according to many "experts". However, as I cautioned in my predictions, their young talent could squeak them into the playoffs. And it did. John Tavares may be the Hart Trophy winner. If they get Pittsburgh in Round 1, how much fun of  a series will that be to watch?

Northeast
BOS (2)
OTT (6)
BUF
MTL
TOR

Boston did their part, and can win the Northeast with a win over Ottawa tonight.

As for Ottawa, Paul Maclean is my choice as Jack Adams award winner. How he managed this team through injuries that would have decimated other teams is remarkable. They missed their goalie, Craig Anderson, for half the season. Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek have missed a lot of time. Their best player, Erik Karlsson, tore his Achilles after getting spiked by Matt Cooke. And they still made the playoffs. And Karlsson is back. If he is healthy, the Sens will be ultra-dangerous in the playoffs.

The end of an era occurred in Buffalo Friday night, as goaltender Ryan Miller may have played his final game as a Sabre. This team underachieved once again.

As for Montreal and Toronto, I predicted them to be the two worst teams in the conference. Boy, do I look stupid. Montreal can still win the Northeast, and Toronto is the 5 seed. Crow eaten.

Southeast
WAS (3)
TB (8)
CAR
FLA
WPG

Dead on with the Capitals pick, but for the longest time it didn't appear that way. Until Alex Ovechkin became Alex Ovechkin again, and the team came together under first year head coach Adam Oates. They are ready for the playoffs this time.

Tampa Bay boggles my mind. They probably the best player in the game, Steven Stamkos, and an ageless wonder in Martin St. Louis, who may be the league's leading point getter this year. Yet they can never seem to put it all together. Just proves that talent alone doesn't win in the NHL.

Carolina's playoff chances died with the injury to goalie Cam Ward. They never recovered.

I said Florida overachieved mightily last year. Yes, they battled a myriad of injuries this year, but were still the worst team in the league point wise. They do have a stud goaltender in Jakob Markstrom, though, so they'll be back.

Winnipeg made a very nice run, but fell just short. Now that they will be in a more geographically-friendly division next season, I expect them to make the playoffs next year.

Central
CHI (3)
DET (4)
STL (6)
NSH
CBJ

Chicago was projected to be good, but not THIS good. For half the season, it appeared they would go undefeated in regulation. Sports Illustrated even ran an asinine cover story about how the Hawks' streak saved hockey. Please.  They didn't save hockey, but they are the Cup favorites. The goaltending platoon of Corey Crawford and Ray Emery was nearly flawless. Jonathan Toews is a hart candidate. They aren't guaranteed a Cup like two months ago, but they are built to win it.

Detroit's playoff fate came down to the final day of the regular season, but they are in. Again. Never underestimate this franchise. Ever.

The Blues got the 4 seed, and proved last year was no fluke. Their reward is a first round date with the defending champs.

Even though they broke the bank to bring back Shea Weber, the Preds' lack of scoring doomed them this year, as predicted.

I thought Columbus would win single digit games. They came one tiebreaker away from making the playoffs. I guess all those former Rangers inspired them to overachieve! Oh, and Sergei Bobrovsky playing like a potential Vezina Trophy winner doesn't hurt, either.

Northwest

VAN (2)
EDM (7)
MIN (8)
COL
CGY

Vancouver pretty much did its part in winning the Northwest. But they need to prove they are not mentally unstable in big spots before I predict them to go far in the playoffs.

Edmonton's young supertalents didn't spark them to a playoff berth this year, as predicted. But watch out for them the next couple of years.

Dead on with my Minnesota pick. But only because of Parise and Suter.

Colorado massively underachieved again, and it cost coach Joe Sacco his job today. But hey, at least Ranger immortal John Mitchell broke out for them this year!

And another dead on prediction with Calgary: no playoffs, and Jarome Iginla was traded to a contender. Let the rebuilding begin.

Pacific

LA (1)
PHX (5)
ANA
SJ
DAL

Like the Rangers, the Kings didn't have the greatest regular season. But as they proved last season, it doesn't matter how you finish the regular season, as long as you get in the playoffs. I expect them to make noise again.

The one team I didn't think overachieved, Phoenix, massively underachieved this season. But don't worry, Coyotes fans, Gary Bettman will make sure your team sticks around.

Wow, was I dead wrong about Anaheim. What a season they had. For a short time, it appeared they would overtake Chicago in the West. But that top line of Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan will make this team a very difficult out in this postseason.

San Jose found their way in, but I'm still not convinced with them. They draw Vancouver in Round 1.

And let the rebuilding begin in Dallas, too.


So, all in all, the majority of my predictions panned out as expected, except for a few putrid ones (MTL, TOR, ANA).

Before Tuesday, I will give you my first round predictions, with a full preview of the Rangers' first round series vs Washington!