Eastern Conf. Finals: (3) BOS vs (5) TBL

[horrorfan]

88/89 Flames beat the Canucks in seven games in the first round as well.

That being said, I like the Bruins, simply because I picked them to win the Cup.

Bruins in 6.

[4T2]

According to history it doesn't matter who wins this series. San Jose is the only team so far that has a legit shot at winning the Cup since they haven't played a game 7 in the first or second round. (TAM, BOS and VAN (assuming they win) all went 7 in the 1st round).

According to history... here is the breakdown of Stanley Cups in years of existence current to their last cup. Thus we can average out how often the franchise is likely to go all the way.

Vancouver Canucks - 41 years - 0 Cups
San Jose Sharks - 20 years - 0 Cups
Tampa Bay Lightning - 12 years - 1 Cup = 1 Cup every 12 years
Detroit Red Wings - 81 years - 11 Cups = 1 Cup every 13.5 years
Boston Bruins - 48 years - 5 Cups = 1 Cup every 9.6 years

Therefore... Vancouver and San Jose have no shot at winning the Cup. Tampa Bay is not due to win the cup again until the 2015-2016 season. Detroit is not due to win again until 2020-2021.
Boston are by far overdue, historical statistics indicate that they should have won the cup again in the 1982-1983 season. Therefore, the only team that has a legit shot at winning the Cup is the Boston Bruins

Statistics can be used to prove any outcome you want my friend

Take them with a grain of salt.

[4T2]

Schedule for this series:

Saturday, May 14 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 17 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Thursday, May 19 at Tampa Bay, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Saturday, May 21 at Tampa Bay, 1:30 p.m. NBC, TSN, RDS
*Monday, May 23 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, May 25 at Tampa Bay, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Friday, May 27 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

[Dutch]

Schedule for this series:

Saturday, May 14 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Tuesday, May 17 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Thursday, May 19 at Tampa Bay, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN, RDS
Saturday, May 21 at Tampa Bay, 1:30 p.m. NBC, TSN, RDS
*Monday, May 23 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Wednesday, May 25 at Tampa Bay, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
*Friday, May 27 at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS

Give me boston to win the series... This schedule is impossible... they said on the radio that the stadium is booked from the 20th till the 23d or something like that, and it was gonna cause some problems with game 4 in Tampa...

anyone know more about that?

[4T2]

That could be why the game is so early on Saturday. But thats just speculation on my part

[playmaker26]

Changing my prediction to Bruins in 7.

[InForAPenny]

Since I put this in the Van thread. Bos/Van final. Bruins in 6.

[andrewklassen]

Won't be surprised if this went either way...and I too believe much could hinge on the health of Bergeron. Ultimately though I agree with much of what McGoo said earlier...the Bs have faced the stiffer tests against teams with deeper talent and size [PHI], stifling D and elite G [MON].

PIT is the Eastern Conference version of NAS this year offensively. WAS can't dump, chase and retrieve a puck to save their life and their down-low cycle often doesn't generate good scoring chances...they were always better creating off the rush. BOS on the other hand can outwork a team down low and get the puck to the front of the net with bodies there. We'll soon find out how good this TB defense really is.

BOS in 6 for me too.

[Baron Nicko]

Boston is the team I did not want my Nucks to have to play for the cup from the start. They have been getting better as the series progress and I think they're going to take this in 6. Tampa won't go down without a fight(unless Chara concusses Gagne and co.) Canucks have a lot of guys that I'm not comfortable taking those kind of hits and it would be a grueling series.

[MoreCanadianTeams]

Bruins in 6, aggressive forecheck will beat the 1-3-1.

[TeamRamrod]

Bruins in 6, aggressive forecheck will beat the 1-3-1.

I agree, but they better figure it out soon.

What a goal by Seguin!

[bondon]

Yeah that goal by Seguin was pretty dirty..entertaining first period.

[Baron Nicko]

Great goal by Seguin good for him.. I have Boston in 6 but would love nothing better than my Nucks to beat SJ and somehow TB to beat Boston. What an entertaining Game 1. Boston is the team I said from the start I did NOT want to play for the cup. Good on Tamba Bay for this playoff run though, wow. My brother has this Bergenheim character in our playoff pool, grrr...

[Dean Youngblood]

Yeah that goal by Seguin was pretty dirty..entertaining first period.

ya....ya....but....but....Datsyuk's was better and Byfuglien would've stopped him

[Bomm Bastic]

Hockey playoffs, grillin in the pourin' rain at 10:30pm (EST), beers...man, I f-in love Saturdays!