NHL Quarter Finals Playoff Predictions

Despite the Buffalo Sabres missing the playoffs this year, this should be a very entertaining playoff round for the Quarter Finals for both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Not surprisingly the defending Stanley Cup champions the Boston Bruins are back and they are the #2 seed, and could be a favorite to repeat as champions. While the defending co-champions, the Vancouver Canucks, are back again as they are the #1 seed in the West again for the second year in a row. There has also been a lot of surprises in this years playoff seeding as the Florida Panthers, who not only snapped a playoff drought that dated back to the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but also won the Southeastern division. The surprise in the West was the Coyotes and there new veteran goalie,  Mike Smith. Despite bankruptcy and a possible relocation of the team, they won the Pacific Division and hope that a Stanley Cup run in in there future.  And there was some disappointment too. The Washington Capitals fired Bruce Boudreau earlier last season, and then hired a Capital great, or known as a instigator to the rest of the league during his career, Dale Hunter. Hunter, who is a rookie head coach in the NHL, got the Capitals in the playoffs after almost missing it based on the play of the team and having goalie issues, and they are starting rookie goalie Braden Holtby against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Boston Bruins.The San Jose Sharks who are a #7 seed this year had a few issues, as they were the Western Conference runner up champions. The playoffs begin today, and it looks to start out on the right foot as a very anticipated series in the East between the #4 and #5 teams, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers square off again after six very exciting times in the regular season. The division rivals start the series in Pittsburgh. While in the West the Canucks take on the #8 Los Angles Kings in Vancouver as the #4 and #5 teams the Nashville Predators take on the Detroit Red Wings in Nashville. Here is the playoff schedule for each series

x-=if necessary
TBD= To Be Determined

Eastern Conference

#1 New York Rangers Vs #8 Ottawa Senators
Game 1: Senators @ Rangers April 12th 7:00
Game 2: Senators @ Rangers April 14th 7:00
Game 3: Rangers @ Senators April 16th 7:30
Game 4: Rangers @ Senators April 18th 7:30
x-Game 5: Senators @ Rangers April 21st 7:00
x-Game 6 Rangers @ Senators  April 23rd TBD
x-Game 7: Senators @ Rangers April 26th TBD

Predictions:
Tony- Rangers in 5

#2 Boston Bruins Vs #7 Washington Capitals
Game 1: Capitals @ Bruins April 12th 7:30
Game 2: Capitals @ Bruins April 14th 3:00
Game 3: Bruins @ Capitals April 16th 7:30
Game 4: Bruins @ Capitals April 19th 7:30
x-Game 5: Capitals @ Bruins April 21st 3:00
x-Game 6: Bruins @ Capitals April 22nd TBD
x-Game 7: Capitals @ Bruins April 25th TBD

Predictions:
Tony-Bruins in 6

#3 Florida Panthers vs #6 New Jersey Devils
Game 1: Devils @ Panthers April 13th 7:00
Game 2: Devils @ Panthers April 15th 7:30
Game 3: Panthers @ Devils April 17th 7:00
Game 4: Panthers @ Devils April 19th 7:00
x-Game 5 Devils  @ Panthers April 21st 6:30
x-Game 6: Panthers @ Devils April 24th  TBD
x-Game 7: Devils  @ Panthers April 26th TBD

Predictions:
Tony-Devils in 5

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers
Game 1: Flyers @ Penguins April 11th 7:30
Game 2: Flyers @ Penguins April 13th 7:30
Game 3: Penguins @ Flyers April 15th 3:00
Game 4: Penguins @ Flyers  April 18th 7:30
x-Game 5: Flyers  @ Penguins April 20th 7:30
x-Game 6: Penguins @ Flyers TBD
x-Game 7: Flyers @ Penguins TBD

Predictions:
Tony- Penguins in 7

Western Conference
#1 Vancouver Canucks Vs #8 Los Angles Kings
Game 1: Kings @ Canucks April 11th 10:30
Game 2: Kings @ Canucks April 13th 10:00
Game 3: Canucks @ Kings April 15th 10:30
Game 4: Canucks @ Kings April 18th 10:00
x-Game 5: Kings @ Canucks April 22nd TBD
x-Game 6: Canucks @ Kings April 24th TBD
x-Game 7: Kings @ Canucks April 26th TBD

Predictions:
Tony- Canucks in 6

#2 St Louis Blues Vs #7 San Jose Sharks
Game 1: Sharks @ Blues April 12th 7:30
Game 2: Sharks @ Blues April 14th 7:30
Game 3: Blues @ Sharks April 16th 10:00
Game 4: Blues @ Sharks  April 19th 10:30
x-Game 5: Sharks @ Blues April 21st 7:30
x-Game 6: Blues @ Sharks April 23rd TBD
x-Game 7: Sharks @ Blues April 25th TBD

Predictions:
Tony- Sharks in 7

#3 Phoenix Coyotes Vs #6 Chicago Blackhawks
Game 1: Blackhawks @ Coyotes April 12th 10:00
Game 2: Blackhawks @ Coyotes April 14th 10:00
Game 3: Coyotes @ Blackhawks April 17th 9:00
Game 4: Coyotes @ Blackhawks April 19th 8:00
x-Game 5: Blackhawks @ Coyotes April 21st 10:00
x-Game 6: Coyotes @ Blackhawks April 23rd TBD
x-Game 7: Blackhawks @ Coyotes April 25th TBD

Predictions:
Tony- Coyotes in 6


#4 Nashville Predators Vs #5 Detroit Red Wings
Game 1: Red Wings @ Predators April 11th 8:00
Game 2: Red Wings @ Predators April 13th 7:30
Game 3: Predators @ Red Wings April 15th Noon
Game 4: Predators @ Red Wings April 17th 7:30
x-Game 5: Red Wings @ Predators April 20th 8:00
x-Game 6: Predators @ Red Wings April 22nd TBD
x-Game 7: Red Wings @ Predators April 24th TBD

Predictions:
Tony- Predators in 7