And Now....The Playoff and Award Prognostications

In the last of the league-wide prognostications, we get to the playoffs and the awards…Let’s start with the important stuff, first.

EAST:

First Round

(1) Ottawa over (8) Toronto
(2) Pittsburgh over (7) Carolina
(6) New Jersey over (3) Washington
(5) NY Rangers over (4) Buffalo


Conference Semi-Finals

(1) Ottawa over (6) New Jersey
(5) NY Rangers over (2) Pittsburgh


Conference Finals

NY Rangers over Ottawa



WEST:

First Round

(1) San Jose over (8) Nashville
(7) Vancouver over (2) Detroit
(6) Anaheim over (3) Minnesota
(5) Dallas over (4) Colorado


Conference Semi-Finals

(1) San Jose over (7) Vancouver
(6) Anaheim over (5) Dallas


Conference Finals

San Jose over Anaheim


Stanley Cup Finals

San Jose over NY Rangers


And, the awards:

Hart: Sidney Crosby (Dany Heatley, Alexander Ovechkin). Crosby will be the default choice for the next dozen years. He has to “lose” the award. No one else will “win” it.

Ross: Sidney Crosby (Dany Heatley, Joe Thornton). Purely numbers, and Crosby will have more than anyone else.

Norris: Nicklas Lidstrom (Chris Pronger, Chris Phillps). Lidstrom has a stranglehold on this thing. Someone will have to pry it from his dead, stiff fingers.

Calder: Erik Johnson (Nicklas Backstrom, Jonathan Toews). Or maybe the other Johnson (Jack)

Pearson: Sidney Crosby (Dany Heatley, Alexander Ovechkin). See “Hart”

Richard: Alexander Ovechkin (Dany Heatley, Vincent Lecavalier). More numbers, and Ovechkin is looking like he’ll have a big year.

Vezina: Roberto Luongo (Henrik Lundqvist, Martin Brodeur). He’s the best, playing in a difficult situation with the prospect of so little offensive support.

Selke: Rod Brind’Amour (Samuel Pahlsson, Chris Drury). Three in a row…

Adams: Glen Hanlon (Barry Trotz, John Paddock). If the Caps win the Southeast, Hanlon should be at least a finalist.

Conn Smythe: Joe Thornton. To the victors go the spoils.


…with a few of our own…

Billy Martin Award (first coach to be fired): Bob Hartley

Celine Dion Award (most overrated): Daniel Briere

Avis Car Rental Award (most underrated): Ray Whitney

Chico Resch Award (best “backup” goalie): Ilya Bryzgalov

Dave Schultz Award (rookie most likely to make an impact…literally): Milan Lucic

Scarecrow "If I Only Had a Brain Award" (most inept front office): Columbus Blue Jackets

Tin Man "If I Only Had a Heart Award" (player most likely to pout when things go bad): Jaromir Jagr

Cowardly Lion "What Do They Got That I Ain't Got" Award (player least likely to exhibit courage in a skirmish): Daniel Briere