NHL hockey playoffs predictions

Nothing fancy here...it's playoffs time and here are my picks.  I usually do pretty good in the first round but I haven't picked the right Cup winners yet.  Let's see if I get it right this time!



Numbers before each team name are their seeds.  Two conferences with 8 seeds each.  After each round, the teams are "reseeded", meaning that this isn't a bracket-style format.  In each round, the highest-seeded team faces the lowest-seeded team, etc.  Each round is a best-of-seven.

ROUND ONE
EASTERN CONFERENCE
1) Washington Capitals vs. 8) Montreal Canadians
Washington should coast through the first round.
2) New Jersey Devils vs. 7) Philadelphia Flyers
Flyers inconsistent all year and frankly lucky to be here.  Devils, probably a sweep but Flyers may take a game.
3) Buffalo Sabres vs. 6) Boston Bruins
Buffalo was an early Cup favorite but have struggled in the second half of the season, despite goalie Ryan Miller becoming a fan favorite around the world from his incredible work in the Olympics.  They've rebounded nicely though.  Boston can't be overlooked.  This one could go seven games but I see Buffalo winning the series.
4)  Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5) Ottawa Senators
Pittsburgh hasn't been nearly the force they were a year ago when they won the Cup.  Ottawa, I feel, has actually overachieved this year.  Usually with a seed #4 vs. seed #5 matchup it couldn't be deemed an upset if the #5 team wins, but I'm thinking Ottawa has a shot here and I would call it an upset.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
1) San Jose Sharks vs. 8) Colorado Avalanche
Colorado is one of several teams to be in the playoffs from the stronger-conference West this year who are surprises.  Actually, the more surprising element of it is that the usual playoff-makers (Anaheim, Dallas, Calgary) didn't just miss the playoffs this year, but missed them pretty clearly.  San Jose wound up stealing the #1 seed due to Chicago's late-season collapse, and San Jose is NOTORIOUS for early playoff exits.  It won't happen here though.
2)  Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7) Nashville Predators
Chicago has been a fun team to watch over the last several years as their young talent has groomed into big-timers and the fans have really fallen in love with the team.  They seemed destined for an easy #1 seed and prognosticators had them at least in the Cup Finals easily.  However, in the last month they've not at all looked like the 'Hawks we've been seeing and expecting.  They should recover and take this series, however.
3)  Vancouver Canucks vs. 6) Los Angeles Kings
Roberto Luongo, Canadian Olympic goalie, has had a very memorable year to say the least.  Even with the Olympics, Vancouver always seems to be overlooked.  I hope I'm not doing that here, because I'm going with the Kings to pull off the upset.  After years of subpar regular-season records, this team has erupted this season into a viable contender, and I think they have the most likely shot to surprise us.
4)  Phoenix Coyotes vs. 5) Detroit Red Wings
This has been an ugly year for Detroit, and it looked for awhile like they'd miss the playoffs for the first time in about 600 years, but they finished strong.  Phoenix, after finally ditching legendary-player-but-really-awful-coach Wayne Gretzky, played through a tumultuous year that still has the franchise and its fans wondering where they'll even be playing next year and who will own the team.  It's been a great story, but the book closes on the Coyotes here.

ROUND TWO
EAST
1) Washington vs. 5) Ottawa
Capitals move on.
2) New Jersey vs. 3) Buffalo
Devils have had problems in the playoffs the last few seasons.  They get through the first round most of the time but afterwards they just seem to tire out.  Last year's nightmarish season-ending loss squarely due to Martin Brodeur was something you couldn't even script.  Buffalo doesn't want to ultimately have this season in which they were called conference favorites end this early either though.  Tough matchup to call, but I'm giving Buffalo the edge.
WEST
1) San Jose vs. 6) Los Angeles
I don't think the Sharks have gotten past the second round in the last several years, even when the ultimate favorites to win it all.  I think they'll finally break through this time.
2) Chicago vs. 5) Detroit
Detroit's been a headache for the 'Hawks this season.  This is the favorite rivalry in the West right now by far.  I can't wait for this series.  I'm really having trouble shaking off how poorly Chicago finished the season, but I'm still picking them here.

CONFERENCE FINALS
EAST
1) Washington vs. 3) Buffalo
This seems to be Ovechkin's year.  At the midway point of the season I was picking a Buffalo-Chicago Cup final.  I'm not at this point.  Washington wins.
WEST
1) San Jose vs. 2) Chicago
Here, however, I'm sticking with Chicago.  The Sharks' playoff reputation precedes them at this point.

STANLEY CUP FINALS
Washington vs. Chicago
The sports franchises in Washington DC have had a rough go the last few years.  The Capitals are about to make everyone there forget about Gilbert Arenas, Albert Haynesworth and the NATINALS.

Capitals in 5.