Scariest Playoff team

burn1down · Post #1 » by **burn1down** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:04 pm

Team that you think no other team wants a part of in the playoffs.

My vote is Calgary. . . obviously.
THey are a fast team, they are a strong team, they are a big team, they have star scoring, star defensmen, and star goaltending. I think they are built for the playoffs. . .just a team that will wear down other teams. . .kind of like what Anh did a few years ago.

Det is so good on so many levels, but thier goaltending may come into question this year.
SJ is a pretty great team, they have the offense, they have the defense, they have the goaltending. Even have added some grit at the deadline. . . but just cant see them holding up against the Flames in a 7 game series this year. They beat Calgary last year, and added some talent at the blue line. . .but Calgary got rid of the guys that dissappear in the playoffs, and have added a ton of toughness.

As for dark horses, Vancouver is a tough match for anyone. If Luongo gets hot, there really isnt anything anyone can do. Scoring is an issue for them, but if they get the tending they are capable of, it wont be easy for anyone.
Columbus may be one too. They remind me of the teams like the Flames in 04 or the Oil in 06. Hot tending, star scorer, scrappy role players who are doing what they have to to get wins. They could really surprise in the playoffs

In the East, NJ is really the only team that i think other teams would be afraid of. Boston has been very interesting to watch this year, and their + - has amazed me. . . but Tim I think will struggle come playoff time. He is good, but staring down a Brodeur who is well rested and on fire is intimidating to anyone.
Washington. . defense and goaltending. They need it, and dont have it. I really want to see them go as far as possible, but cant see too much happening with them.

Post #2 » by **Celtics_Champs** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:45 pm

In the east it is NJ. What's that goaltenders name they have? Kevin Weekes, yeah I think it is him. he scares the crap outta me.

On a more serious note, to comment on the no trust in timmy, I have complete faith in him. When he gets on a hot streak, he is unstoppable. That game 7 performance last year against montreal was because of complete exhaustion from the whole team.

WEFFPIM · Post #3 » by **WEFFPIM** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 5:06 pm

Calgary or Columbus in the West.

If Florida ever gets healthy then they're pretty scary in the East, and with how balanced Philly is then they have to be up there, too.

sh00n · Post #4 » by **sh00n** » Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:32 pm

Calgary in the West, New Jersey in the East.

Montreal is the darkhorse in the East if they ever put it together. Last year wasn't a fluke, they just had the chemistry which has been non-existent this year. Edmonton always makes noise in the playoffs in the West, so they're my darkhorse there.

Post #5 » by **timd1218** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 12:09 am

In the East, it is simple, the Devils. They have the best balanced them in the league. They have a very scary top 3 lines. Their defense and goaltending is the tops in the league.

Philly will never be that team just because in the post season, you need good goaltending and defense to win. You saw how the Pens man handled Philly last year because of that.

In the West, it's Detroit to me. They are the team to beat.

It's so hard to chose though, because any 5-8 seed can defeat any 1-4 seed in today's NHL because of how balanced the teams are. It will come down to experience and who wants it more.

Post #6 » by **ajaX82** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:07 pm

Detroit. You may deny it, but i know no one here wants their team to face them

WEFFPIM · Post #7 » by **WEFFPIM** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:18 pm

ajaX82 wrote:Detroit. You may deny it, but i know no one here wants their team to face them

Indulge us this once and try to not be an insufferable homer.

Post #8 » by **ajaX82** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:37 pm

WEFFPIM wrote:
ajaX82 wrote:Detroit. You may deny it, but i know no one here wants their team to face them

Indulge us this once and try to not be an insufferable homer.

Not be a homer? hmmmmm.....i can try

OK

Reasons why Detroit is a scary team to face, in as unbiased a way as i can:

Babcock is a very good coach

We can play our 3rd and 4th lines comfortably, something some teams certainly have trouble doing

Great defenseman in Lidstrom and Rafalski. rest of D-core is also solid

Hossa, Franzen, Zetterberg, Datsyuk; a menacing set of top forwards to say the least

Veteran team wont get rattled, wont get forced to get away from their game. Teams try to outhit us, to out-physical us, but it usually does not work

Thats why.
BUT goaltending is the make or break here. If Ozzie sucks and Conklin isnt doing much better, we are toast. Our run will depend on if Osgood is competent.

But come on, we are the defending champs, when do you ever want to face the defending champs? I hope that wasn't too biased.

WEFFPIM · Post #9 » by **WEFFPIM** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:37 pm

I agree with you, facing Detroit will suck for whoever gets the pleasure. But there isn't a team out there as a Red Wings fan, in either conference, that scares you a little?

burn1down · Post #10 » by **burn1down** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:14 pm

ajaX82 wrote:
WEFFPIM wrote:
ajaX82 wrote:Detroit. You may deny it, but i know no one here wants their team to face them

Indulge us this once and try to not be an insufferable homer.

Not be a homer? hmmmmm.....i can try

OK

Reasons why Detroit is a scary team to face, in as unbiased a way as i can:

Babcock is a very good coach

We can play our 3rd and 4th lines comfortably, something some teams certainly have trouble doing

Great defenseman in Lidstrom and Rafalski. rest of D-core is also solid

Hossa, Franzen, Zetterberg, Datsyuk; a menacing set of top forwards to say the least

Veteran team wont get rattled, wont get forced to get away from their game. Teams try to outhit us, to out-physical us, but it usually does not work

Thats why.
BUT goaltending is the make or break here. If Ozzie sucks and Conklin isnt doing much better, we are toast. Our run will depend on if Osgood is competent.

But come on, we are the defending champs, when do you ever want to face the defending champs? I hope that wasn't too biased.

Went to the Flames vs Det on Monday. What i saw was a really underrated defense. . .the size of Det's 3-5th defensman really surprised me, forwards who can fly, vet team that kept to the plan. . . .and downright terrible goaltending. I know teams or goalies have off nights, but for the playoffs, 7 game series. . .if they have just a few of those bad games they will be out. Their forwards can score in bunches, but if Ozzie is not standing on his head, they will have to score 4+ goals per game. I know just about every team that deos well in the playoffs has a goalie that gets hot at the right time, and certainly Ozzie has done that in the past. . .but that kink in the armour is a lot bigger this year than it was in years past. I think that alone gives teams confidence. Add to that their normal dominance isnt there as it used to be. I dont know about other top teams, but they only split the season series with the Flames. . .not something that happened in the past. It will be great, there are so many good teams this year, almost everyone has a shot

Post #11 » by **ajaX82** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:49 pm

WEFFPIM wrote:I agree with you, facing Detroit will suck for whoever gets the pleasure. But there isn't a team out there as a Red Wings fan, in either conference, that scares you a little?

oh for sure.

Im not necessarily excited about San Jose, i know we have their number but those boys can score. And Nabokov is nasty. Im hoping they get dropped

Calgary worries me a little as well. They are just bastards. They are very physical and that could be a problem. And if Kipper is on...well....

Never like seeing the Ducks, especially not in the first.

Columbus, Chicago, Vancouver, Edmonton, the rest dont scare me too much. Its those three in the west

Coming out of the East, im not as worried. The top teams are scary though (Boston, NJ).

GswStorm3 · Post #12 » by **GswStorm3** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:19 pm

Calgary is still way too inconsistent for me. One game they look great and the next they look like garbage.

I'll go with Detroit because of that downright scary offense.

Post #13 » by **timd1218** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:02 am

GswStorm3 wrote:Calgary is still way too inconsistent for me. One game they look great and the next they look like garbage.

I'll go with Detroit because of that downright scary offense.

The thing with Calgary is if you shut down their top line, there isn't much left after that that will put fear in the other defenses eyes.

Columbus will be a team to watch out for. Steve Mason is a beast and should win ROY, and the Hart. Columbus would be no where without him.

Post #14 » by **Mr Swagtastic** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 10:42 pm

If the Nuckle heads ever get it together they could be a scary team in the West. Anytime you have Loungo in net your pretty sure your going to be in 2 to 3 goal games. If Mats and the Twins ever get it together they could be pretty damn scary when it comes down to it add a supporting cast of Barnier, Pavel Demtria and Kessler.

I still think the Wings and Sharks are the teams to beat in the West. I see the Wings vs Sharks in the West final and the Bruins vs Devils in the East

nanomodo · Post #15 » by **nanomodo** » Wed Apr 1, 2009 3:06 pm

Detroit, the experience counts if one can still remember last year's finals.

Griff83 · Post #16 » by **Griff83** » Tue Apr 7, 2009 7:44 pm

Calgary is a team that yes is built for the playoffs but they are WAY too sloppy with the puck and take too many undisciplined penalties. Im sorry but when the games get heavy and you get into the later rounds theres no way I'd feel comfortable with Phaneuf eating up that many minutes considering he's bordering on bad defensively. Perfect example was last night when you have a rookie in Wayne Simmonds who totally undress's him and if not for a crazy save by Kipper would have scored a highlight reel goal. Way too many of these plays with Phaneuf and its going to cost the flames if they get into the 2nd or 3rd round. They are a good team, but the mid season injuries to Bourque and Bertuzzi really took alot of steam out of there offence and they have been struggling to score. I think they win a round but get bounced in the second round.

San Jose and Detroit are clearly the two best teams in the west but I wouldnt be one bit shocked to see the Canucks in the finals. They have the best goalie in the west. There offence looks healthy in the last quarter of the season (Sedins, Sundin, Demitra, Kesler, Burrows) and they have one of the better defences in the league. The problem with this team is they dont always come to battle and it leads to alot of defensive zone breakdowns, but if they can play to there full potential from game one they will be a very tough out.

Still think it will be a San Jose vs Boston final

WEFFPIM · Post #17 » by **WEFFPIM** » Tue Apr 7, 2009 10:32 pm

Let me tell you, 95% of Blackhawks fans want the Flames in the first round over the Canucks. Vancouver has dominated the Hawks this season.

Post #18 » by **MAS** » Wed Apr 8, 2009 2:38 pm

Scariest team.... for me it has to be the Canucks, they're just hitting the prime time of their stride now, combine that with a goalie that has the ability to win a 75 shot against game, and a defense that usually doesn't let that happen and you're in good shape

burn1down · Post #19 » by **burn1down** » Wed Apr 8, 2009 4:15 pm

WEFFPIM wrote:Let me tell you, 95% of Blackhawks fans want the Flames in the first round over the Canucks. Vancouver has dominated the Hawks this season.

And let me tell YOU. . . .92% of Flames fans want no part of either team in the playoffs!! Flames are a strong team, but Chicago has owned them all year, and Van is the playoff team nobody wants early.

Regardless, this is shaping up to be a great playoffs

RoyceDa59 · Post #20 » by **RoyceDa59** » Mon Apr 13, 2009 5:28 pm

East: Boston then Washington.
West: Vancouver then San Jose.