2007 NHL Playoffs Recap and Predictions - Apr 27th

1-2 last night as both home teams lost the opening game of round 2. Detroit couldn't muster any offence and Martin Brodeur played like Andrew Raycroft. Ah well.

Tonights Games:

New York Rangers (0) at Buffalo Sabres (1) : The Rangers were simply outclassed by the speed and depth of the Sabres in game 1. I expect that to continue tonight. New York managed to limit the top two lines from Buffalo but couldn't handle the 3rd line and Thomas Vanek made them pay with two goals. The Rangers will likely be without defenseman Michal Rozsival who left game 1 with a leg injury. Expect Vanek to produce again and the Sabres to win this one tonight.

Vancouver Canucks (0) at Anaheim Ducks (1) : The size and strength of the Ducks was too much for a weary Canucks team in game 1. It didn't help that Vancouver was missing Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa, two of their more dependable defensemen, in game 1. Salo should be back tonight but Bieksa is day to day. Andy McDonald got his first career hat trick and will make his presence felt again tonight. The Ducks take a 2-0 series lead tonight.

Last Nights Recaps:

Ottawa Sentors 5 (1) at New Jersey Devils 4 (0) : The game certainly didn't start well as it looked like Brodeur simply misplayed a Tom Preissing shot 1:30 into the first period, replays later showed that Jason Spezza tipped the shot past Brodeur. The Devils were down 4-0 before they got on the board with a goal from Travis Zajac late in the first period and they made a game of it by clawing back to a 1 goal deficit. Wow, tough game, tougher call tonight. The Devils were blown out early but managed to gut it out and make a game of it. If Brodeur improves even slightly on Saturday, and I expect he will, the Devils will even up the series. The good news for the Senators is that they know they can get past Brodeur, the good news for the Devils is that they proved they can make a game of it even when Brodeur isn't sharp. Going forward this series is tough to call, the Senators could upset my predictions in round 2.

San Jose Sharks 2 (1) at Detroit Red Wings 0 (0) : The first shutout of round 2 should be awarded to the Sharks defensive core, San Jose blocked 18 shots in game 1 to help Evgeni Nabokov along in the 2-0 win in game 1. Detroit seemed at a loss without Tomas Holmstrom in front of the net and they simply were unable to compete with the size and strength of San Jose's forwards. This series could be over quickly.