Prediction Time!!!!
Leafs lost the season series to the Isles. losing 3 of 4 games against them.... the playoffs are an entirely different matter though.
The Isles just don't match up with the Leafs very well, and Yashin has a habit of disappearing come playoff time.
I think the Isles are happy just to be in the playfoss this year, and they'll be hard pressed to match up to a more talented leafs club.
The Leafs have been devestated by injuries... team star defencemen Dmitry Yushkevich out for so long, and still questionable at best. Leafs depend heavily upon the success of their best defencemen, and Yushkevich is that. Defence is the teams biggest weakness, their a much better team with Yushkevich playing.
Star goalie Curtis Joseph just recovering from a broken hand... he clearly isnt at his best yet and probably a little rusty from being laid off for so long. Luckily Corey Schwab has pretty much shocked everybody, and played stellar hockey in Joseph's absence and they need not worry should Joseph falter. Tom Barasso is injuried, but may yet recover further down in the playoffs and add more depth in net.
Big sniper Alexander Mogilny was out for awhile, and is still trying to recover his score touch... also not at his best yet.
Gary Roberts and Robert Reichel, two big parts of the Leafs offence are still of questionable health.
Shayne Corson, who was a huge benefit in shutting down Yashin in the playoffs last year is also of questionable health.
Despite all the injuries tough, the Leafs simply have too much talent.... against an unexperienced Isles club that is glad to be in the playoffs for the first time in a few years. Isles star Yashin, tends to quietly disappear come playoff time. Goalie Osgood just can't match up to Cujo, and maybe not Schwab either given his brilliance during Cujo's absence.
Leafs shut down Yashin last year, I'm betting they do so again.
Peca and Osgood can't carry the Isles alone, and they need Yashin in top form.
the Isles rely way too much upon their top 3 defencemen, and that's not going to work out against a Leafs team with so many potential goal scorers on offence and defence.
Prediction: Leafs in 6. A healthy Leafs could've taken the Isles in 5 games, but that won't happen here.
Yashin absolutely has to shake off his playoff ills if the Isles are to have any chance.
Boston-Montreal:
Boston is a big offensive team, but I'm not at all convinced offence alone can carry them beyond the second round.
They had an excellent season, and their certainly a more talented team then the Canadiens.
Defence is questionable, and Byron Dafoe is essential to Boston making it deep in the playoffs.
Montreal wants a win badly, they've missed the playoffs for a few years running. Jose Theodore has had an undeniable Vezina calibar season in goal and has stolen game after game for the Canadiens all season long.
Normally goaltending alone wouldnt be enough to give the Canadiens much of a chance against boston's overwhelming offence though.
But this time they have star player Saku Joivu beating cancer to come back and play for the Canadiens. That HAS to give the team a huge morale boost. Something like that is bound to pep up a team for some impressive hockey.
Perrault has had an excellent season offensively for them, and Gilmour has provided some much needed leadership qualities.
Prediction: Montreal to pull of the big upset in 7.
Theodore will remain brilliant in goal, and the team will be hyped up to play their best after Koivu's return.
Team chemistry, Jose Theodore's brilliance in goal, and Koivu's retrun have set the stage for a big Canadien upset.
Miscellaneous predcictions without synopsis:
Ottawa over Philladelphia in 7.
New Jersey, Carolina series might be interesting. Don't care to place any predictions on that one though.
Leafs lost the season series to the Isles. losing 3 of 4 games against them.... the playoffs are an entirely different matter though.
The Isles just don't match up with the Leafs very well, and Yashin has a habit of disappearing come playoff time.
I think the Isles are happy just to be in the playfoss this year, and they'll be hard pressed to match up to a more talented leafs club.
The Leafs have been devestated by injuries... team star defencemen Dmitry Yushkevich out for so long, and still questionable at best. Leafs depend heavily upon the success of their best defencemen, and Yushkevich is that. Defence is the teams biggest weakness, their a much better team with Yushkevich playing.
Star goalie Curtis Joseph just recovering from a broken hand... he clearly isnt at his best yet and probably a little rusty from being laid off for so long. Luckily Corey Schwab has pretty much shocked everybody, and played stellar hockey in Joseph's absence and they need not worry should Joseph falter. Tom Barasso is injuried, but may yet recover further down in the playoffs and add more depth in net.
Big sniper Alexander Mogilny was out for awhile, and is still trying to recover his score touch... also not at his best yet.
Gary Roberts and Robert Reichel, two big parts of the Leafs offence are still of questionable health.
Shayne Corson, who was a huge benefit in shutting down Yashin in the playoffs last year is also of questionable health.
Despite all the injuries tough, the Leafs simply have too much talent.... against an unexperienced Isles club that is glad to be in the playoffs for the first time in a few years. Isles star Yashin, tends to quietly disappear come playoff time. Goalie Osgood just can't match up to Cujo, and maybe not Schwab either given his brilliance during Cujo's absence.
Leafs shut down Yashin last year, I'm betting they do so again.
Peca and Osgood can't carry the Isles alone, and they need Yashin in top form.
the Isles rely way too much upon their top 3 defencemen, and that's not going to work out against a Leafs team with so many potential goal scorers on offence and defence.
Prediction: Leafs in 6. A healthy Leafs could've taken the Isles in 5 games, but that won't happen here.
Yashin absolutely has to shake off his playoff ills if the Isles are to have any chance.
Boston-Montreal:
Boston is a big offensive team, but I'm not at all convinced offence alone can carry them beyond the second round.
They had an excellent season, and their certainly a more talented team then the Canadiens.
Defence is questionable, and Byron Dafoe is essential to Boston making it deep in the playoffs.
Montreal wants a win badly, they've missed the playoffs for a few years running. Jose Theodore has had an undeniable Vezina calibar season in goal and has stolen game after game for the Canadiens all season long.
Normally goaltending alone wouldnt be enough to give the Canadiens much of a chance against boston's overwhelming offence though.
But this time they have star player Saku Joivu beating cancer to come back and play for the Canadiens. That HAS to give the team a huge morale boost. Something like that is bound to pep up a team for some impressive hockey.
Perrault has had an excellent season offensively for them, and Gilmour has provided some much needed leadership qualities.
Prediction: Montreal to pull of the big upset in 7.
Theodore will remain brilliant in goal, and the team will be hyped up to play their best after Koivu's return.
Team chemistry, Jose Theodore's brilliance in goal, and Koivu's retrun have set the stage for a big Canadien upset.
Miscellaneous predcictions without synopsis:
Ottawa over Philladelphia in 7.
New Jersey, Carolina series might be interesting. Don't care to place any predictions on that one though.
