The Colorado Avalanche are long out of the playoffs, but we hockey fans still have our ideas about how the race for the Stanley Cup can go.
The Colorado Avalanche players have presumably cleaned out their lockers — the team doesn’t cover that aspect of the season like some other NHL teams do, so I’m not sure. They’re probably also in the midst of finishing up their exit interviews.
This is a tough time to be a Colorado Avalanche fan. Not only did the team not make the playoffs, but their 48 points were an utter embarrassment. We’ve now got to wait until September and the preseason for any glimmer of hope.
Well, it’s not summer yet, so there’s actually still plenty of hockey. In fact, the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs start tonight.
Here is my bracket — feel free to laugh when it gets blown apart.
New York Rangers vs Montreal Canadiens
This can be seen as the battle of the goalies. New York’s Henrik Lundqvist and Montreal’s Carey Price are two of the best goalies in the NHL right now.
However, this can ultimately come down to what goes on right in front of the goalie — the defense. As an Avalanche fan, I’m not used to seeing a lot of good D. However, even I can see the Canadiens have a lot more of it going on that New York. You know the old saying — defense wins championships.
In this case, I think defense wins the series.
Prediction: Montreal wins in 6
Ottawa Senators vs Boston Bruins
As a Colorado Avalanche fan, I definitely like the Senators better than the Bruins. There was that whole Brad Marchand getting captain Gabriel Landeskog suspended. Yet the Senators provided the canvas for Erik Johnson to get crowned the Condor.
That said, hockey-wise it’s an interesting matchup. For a while there Boston was getting kind of old. However, they’ve had an infusion of youth. And they’re a mean team. Mean can go far in the series.
Both Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson and Boston’s Brandon Carlo got injured toward the end of the season. Carlo’s great, but Karlsson carries his team. That could be the deciding factor in this series.
Prediction: Boston wins in 5.
Washington Capitals vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Full disclosure — the Washington Capitals are my playoff team.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are the darling underdogs. Last year they were so bad they won the first-overall pick. They got forward Auston Matthews, who started off his career by earning four goals in his first-ever NHL game.
Yeah, that’s all nice and dandy, but the Capitals look ready to crush it this year. I attended their game here in Denver a few weeks ago, and they are machine-like in how precisely they approach hockey.
It’s a Cinderella story that Toronto even made it into the playoffs. I think Washington is going to be the wicked step-mother — one who wins in this storyline.
Prediction: Washington sweeps Toronto
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Columbus Blue Jackets
You all know my little prejudice against the Columbus Blue Jackets because we keep getting their sloppy seconds. However, they had an amazing run this season, and I could wish for us to have that much success.
That said, the Pittsburgh Penguins are the reigning Stanley Cup champions. And as far as I know, superstar Sidney Crosby is healthy and ready to dive his way through the playoffs. If the Jackets are lucky, they’ll make it through the playoffs without losing any digits.
Prediction: Pittsburgh wins in 6.
Chicago Blackhawks vs Nashville Predators
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As a Colorado Avalanche fan, I should be cheering for the Nashville Predators. After all, our one-time alternate captain, old Double Nickels, Cody McLeod is on the Preds now.
Plus, Avalanche fans hate the Chicago Blackhawks. Their fans treat the Pepsi Center like it’s the United Center South.
That said, the Hawks are a playoff machine. No NHL team knows how to churn their way through the playoffs better. You shouldn’t bet against the Chicago Blackhawks in the playoffs.
So, I’m not going to.
Prediction: Chicago wins in 6.
Minnesota Wild vs St. Louis Blues
Colorado Avalanche fans everywhere wish both these teams would implode and find a way to both forfeit being in the playoffs. We just hate them so much.
I think we all hate the Minnesota Wild just a little bit more than the St. Louis Blues. Plus, the Wild had a terrible last few weeks when only their strong start kept them in the playoffs to begin with.
Doesn’t matter — the Blues are perennial chokers in the playoffs, especially when playing the Wild.
Prediction: Minnesota wins in 7 remarkably ugly games.
Anahiem Ducks vs Calgary Flames
This series seems poised to answer the question of which will prevail in the playoffs — big and gritty vs. small and speedy.
The Ducks have skill no doubt, but they’re known for playing a big, heavy game. The Flames, on the other hand, have as their prized possession Johnny Hockey, a.k.a. Little Johnny Goudreau. He’s fleet of skate for sure.
The Colorado Avalanche were heading toward being built in the Ducks model when they changed horses midstream last summer. Now they’re going for small, speedy players.
The playoffs are a grind. I think that’s going to work in Anaheim’s favor.
Prediction: Anaheim wins in 5.
Edmonton Oilers vs San Jose Sharks
Edmonton is a Cinderella story. They’re finially getting their chance after all those years of disappointment. The once mighty team is back in the playoffs. Reportedly the good people of Edmonton are so excited you can buy tickets to just stand in the concourse and be part of playoff hockey again.
The parallels with the Colorado Avalanche are clear. We all remember how jubilant we were at the end of the Why Not Us when our shiny new first-overall draft pick seemed poised to lead us into the glory that once seemed our birthright.
Well, we all know how that turned out. The Oilers are a deeper team than the Avs were three years ago, but the Sharks are a much better team than the Minnesota Wild have been.
Prediction: San Jose wins in 6.
Next: Key Points About the Draft Lottery for the Avs
So, Avs Nation, who is your playoff team this year?