Are you ready for the playoffs?   

Boston will take out Montreal in what should be the best series of the opening round. I cannot wait for that series to kick off Thursday!! Washington should handle the Rangers pretty well. Lundqvist may get them a game or two, but the series belongs to Washington. I look for Carolina to upset New Jersey and Pittsburgh to beat Philadelphia. That should be another great series. Had Philly won home ice on Sunday I would have went with them but they didn't and I'm going with Pittsburgh. It's that close of a series. San Jose and Anaheim will be a good, physical, tight series. That is, that each game will be played out that way because I think San Jose can finish them off quick in 5 games or less. I think Columbus will upset Detroit. Vancouver and St. Louis a lot of people I know have been saying will be really close but this is the one series I see a possible sweep in favour of Vancouver. Chicago should have little trouble Calgary. Calgary just seems to be in quite the downward spiral at the moment and Chicago has put together some nice momentum that should carry over to a convincing series win there despite the inexperience of the Hawks.

let the play off bantering begin... I agree with a lot of your picks then on others couldnt disagree more.. I can see Columbus up setting Det, Boston should beat Montreal, Calgary will be lucky to win one game I think. Washington in 6... Carolina, I agree could upset NJ, but stomach tells me Brodeur could steal one more series... you can see my disagreement with SJ ANH, and forgot ur STL VAN pick.. im saying tight series.. Luongo finally proves he is a primier goalie stealing the deciding game and Vancouver wins

STL has been fighting for there lives.. it could have wore on them and could be drained.. have you heard anything on the rumor Kariya may be back soon? that could give them the life they need...

I was just reading that earlier today actually. Kariya is expected to be back for game 1. Though not 100% he will play. So St. Louis will get a boost and has come a long way from when they were in last place in the West at Christmas. They've played great hockey up to this point but I see Vancouver as a far superior team in most categories and definitely a better team in others. The only thing I will give St. Louis the edge in is offense and Luongo has the abiity to steal that away from a team. St. Louis won't just lay down but if there is going to be a series sweep it's going to be here in my opinion. I just don't see Vancouver falling here, especially on home ice where they have been so dominant as of late. Take the first two in Vancouver and they're definitely in the drivers seat and in a position to command that sweep going back to St. Louis.

Only thing i really have to say is I have seen a lot of anti Detroit people picking them. They all are saying the same thing, IF Detroit shows up and plays then no one can stop them, but if they keep in the bad habits they could get knocked out. Several players have said their main mission was to get to the playoffs healthy, which beside Lilja, they are. And honestly Ericsson is a HUGE upgrade over Lilja, so I don't see that hurting them. Remember this almost exact team made Pittsburgh look very bad in the Finals last year. If any team can flip a switch and say its go time, this is the team.
Sorry for homering out there for a second..

I have been a Red Wings fan since 1997 and I agree with the non Red Wings fans. A healthy Wings team can beat any other team.So this should be interesting to see.Welcome aboard TJ! All season long I have watched the Caps in amazement.Ovie and the guys can score. They are playing as a team not just a star ad a few good men.It would be great to see them in the finals.