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MacGregor: Going with the Sens

Paul Attfield, today at 6:15 PM EDT

By Roy MacGregor

EAST     

Montreal over Boston in six.

Ottawa over Pittsburgh in seven.

Washington over Philadelphia in six.

New York Rangers over New Jersey in seven.

WEST

Detroit over Nashville in six.

Calgary over San Jose in seven.

Colorado over Minnesota in seven.

Dallas over Anaheim in six.

Shoalts: Remarks stir up Penguins

David Shoalts, today at 5:07 PM EDT

Down here in steel country, the Pittsburgh Penguins are mightily exercised about some yapping up in Ottawa. None of them are too impressed with Senators head coach and GM Bryan Murray's charge that the Penguins tanked their season-ending game against the Philadelphia Flyers because they would rather play the Senators in the playoffs.

Penguins head coach Michel Therrien said Murray's remarks were “so ridiculous I don't even want to comment.”

But what really got the Penguins dressing room in an uproar after Tuesday's practice was an incredibly stupid demand from a columnist in the Ottawa Sun that one of the Senators should make like Bobby Clarke on Valery Kharmalov in 1972 and take a two-handed slash at Sidney Crosby's tender ankle.

We'll have more on that in Tuesday's column, but suffice to say it did stir up the Penguins, who should fare far better against the Sens this year than they did in the first round a year ago.

Here's how things should go in the first round:

EAST         

Montreal over Boston in five.
Pittsburgh over Ottawa in six.
Washington over Philadelphia in six.
New Jersey over New York Rangers in six.

WEST

Detroit over Nashville in five.
San Jose over Calgary in six.
Minnesota over Colorado in seven.
Anaheim over Dallas in six.

Wharnsby: Predictions

Tim Wharnsby, today at 4:14 PM EDT

WEST

Detroit over Nashville in four
San Jose over Calgary in seven
Colorado over Minnesota in six
Dallas over Anaheim in seven

EAST

Montreal over Boston in four
Pittsburgh over Ottawa in five
Washington over Philadelphia in six
NY Rangers over New Jersey in six

Duhatschek: Sticking with the Sharks

Eric Duhatschek, today at 12:57 PM EDT

I see where a lot of Johnny-come-lately prognosticators are picking the San Jose Sharks to win the Stanley Cup this spring. Well, to them I say, get in line: I've been picking the Sharks consistently for three, or maybe four years in a row now, and I'm going to keep picking them until they either win or fire their coach, one of which is bound to happen this year. Here are my other first-round picks:

WEST

Detroit over Nashville in six
San Jose over Calgary in five
Colorado over Minnesota in six
Anaheim over Dallas in five

EAST

Montreal over Boston in four
Pittsburgh over Ottawa in seven
Philadelphia over Washington in seven
New York Rangers over New Jersey Devils in five

 

Wharnsby: Koivu still missing from Habs practice

Tim Wharnsby, today at 12:43 PM EDT

Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu (fractured left foot) did not participate in his team's noon-hour practice, but defencemen Mike Komisarek (hip) and Francis Bouillon (ankle) did as well as forward Michael Ryder (leg).

The line combinations for the Canadiens were as follows (left-centre-right):

A.Kostitsyn-Plekanec-Kovalev
S.Kostitsyn-Higgins-Ryder
Latendresse-Lapierre-Dandenault
Begin-Smolinski-Kostopoulos

Sekeres: My picks

msekeres, today at 12:43 PM EDT

Western Conference

Detroit in four over Nashville
San Jose in six over Calgary
Minnesota in seven over Colorado
Anaheim in five over Dallas

Eastern Conference

Montreal in seven over Boston
Pittsburgh in four over Ottawa
Washington in seven over Philadelphia
NY Rangers in seven over New Jersey

Wharnsby: Boudreau deserves recognition

Tim Wharnsby, today at 11:30 AM EDT

Members of the NHL Broadcasters' Association vote for the Jack Adams Trophy as the league's coach-of-the-year. But I'm interested to see which head coach my Globe and Mail colleagues would choose this season.

With my Eastern Conference partiality, my top-five would include: 1. Bruce Boudreau (Washington); 2. Guy Carbonneau (Montreal); 3. Claude Julien (Boston); 4. Mike Babcock (Detroit); 5. Craig MacTavish (Edmonton).

It's uncommon that a mid-season replacement wins the Adams Trophy, but don't forget that the Capitals were 30th in the 30-team league when Boudreau replaced Glen Hanlon on Nov. 22. Washington rolled to a 37-17-7 under their new coach to not only clinch the Southeast Division and a playoff spot, but finished 12th overall.

Maki: And the winners are …

Allan Maki, today at 10:59 AM EDT

Ah yes, Stanley Cup predictions or, as some of you have noted, the futile act of trying to look educated when you haven't a clue as to what you're doing.

With that in mind, here are my picks. Please don't remember them, unless I'm right.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Montreal Canadiens over the Boston Bruins in five games
Pittsburgh Penguins over the Ottawa Senators in five games
Philadelphia Flyers over the Washington Capitals in seven games
New York Rangers over the New Jersey Devils in six games

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Detroit Red Wings over the Nashville Predators in six games
San Jose Sharks over the Calgary Flames in six games
Colorado Avalanche over the Minnesota Wild in seven games
Dallas Stars over the Anaheim Ducks in seven games

 

Wharnsby: Yzerman hopes to have first crop of players soon

Tim Wharnsby, 07/04/08 at 10:44 PM EDT

Canadian general manager Steve Yzerman stated on Monday that he hopes to soon reveal the first wave of players for his roster for the IIHF world championship next month, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

Expect Chicago Blackhawks outstanding rookie Jonathan Toews, Columbus Blue Jackets all-star Rick Nash, St. Louis Blues sniper Brad Boyes, Carolina Hurricanes centre Eric Staal, Phoenix Coyotes veteran Shane Doan and Florida Panthers defenceman Jay Bouwmeester as well as Carolina goalie Cam Ward to be named to the team this week.

Also under consideration to return from last year's gold medal-winning team are speedy forward Jason Chimera of Columbus, Los Angeles Kings forward Mike Cammalleri, gritty St. Louis forward Jamal Mayers and his teammates Eric Brewer, Barret Jackman and Jay McClement.

Wharnsby: Huet and his replacement finish strong

Tim Wharnsby, 07/04/08 at 3:14 PM EDT

The Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals can't meet in the playoffs until the Eastern Conference final. If both teams manage to advance that far, rookie goalie Carey Price would go up against his mentor, Cristobal Huet.

Since Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey sent Huet packing at the trade deadline, both netminders finished the season with wonderful runs.

Huet went 11-2-0 with his new club, posted a 1.63 goals against average, two shutouts and a .936 save percentage. When Price was handed the No. 1 billing in Montreal, he responded with a 12-3-0 record, 2.10 goals against average, two shutouts and a stingy .955 save percentage.

 

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