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As some of you know - mostly the Canadians on the board - the Stanley Cup playoffs are starting on Friday. After the lockout, this NHL season has been a great success, and the playoffs should be fantastic. So, I'm running an unofficial pool for KJ, that will last throughout all four rounds. Each round, every participant picks the winner of each series and in how many games. In addition, there are a number of questions about each round that should be answered. Furthermore, I'm setting up a set of questions for the entire playoffs that should be answered before the first round begins. Anyone who wants to join can, just post your predictions here. Please don't PM anything to me, there should be no worries about cheating with this.

Rules:

1. Predictions for round one and the whole-playoff questions are due by 6:00 pm Eastern on Friday, April 21 - an hour before the games start. No exceptions.

2. For the series predictions, please choose both which team you think will win and in how many games (remember, it's best-of-seven, so the first team to win four wins the series).

3. For the questions, just choose one answer (it'll either be a player, a team, or a series). There may be ties for some of the questions, but just choose one answer.

4. The scoring will be done as follows:
1 point for choosing the correct team
2 points for picking the right number of games (only if you also picked the right team)
5 points for each round question right
10 points for each full playoff question right

Any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know. Without further adieu, here's round one:



ROUND ONE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Detroit Red Wings vs. 8 Edmonton Oilers

2 Dallas Stars vs. 7 Colorado Avalanche

3 Calgary Flames vs. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 San Jose Sharks

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators vs. 8 Tampa Bay Lightning

2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens

3 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers

4 Buffalo Sabres vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games?
2. Which series will last the most games?
3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out?
4. Which series will have the longest game?
5. Which team will score the most goals?
6. Which team will allow the fewest goals?
7. Which player will score the most goals?
8. Which player will score the most points?
9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average?
10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage?



FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first?
2. Which team will play the most games?
3. How many seven game series will there be?
4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to?
5. Which player will score the most goals?
6. Which player will score the most points?
7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average?
8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage?
9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)?
10. Who will be the Western Conference champion?
11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion?
12. Who will win the Stanley Cup?


That's all for now, I hope lots of you predict and tell others to, as well. Good luck to everyone and GO OILERS GO!

I thought there were going to be 20 teams in the NHL playoffs? (not that Im complaining, I think 16 is way too many too)

Nope, just 16 - 8 in each conference. There's only 30 teams in the league.

Which is why I thought it was so stupid! (though I still think 16 is dumb too. Having over 50% of the teams in, meh)

I guess 20 wouldnt work, though, unless some teams had a by-week.

Well, we also have to keep in mind that the NHL is business, so more teams involved = more money.

So is baseball!

Basketball has the same problem, which is why it lasts 10 months of the year. (of course, Hockey is leagues better than Basketball)

ROUND ONE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Detroit Red Wings vs. 8 Edmonton Oilers... In 6 games

2 Dallas Stars vs. 7 Colorado Avalanche... In 7 games

3 Calgary Flames vs. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks... In 5 games

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 San Jose Sharks... In 6 games

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators vs. 8 Tampa Bay Lightning... In 5 games

2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens... In 7 games

3 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers... In 4 games

4 Buffalo Sabres vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers... In 6 games

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games? New Jersey Vs. New York
2. Which series will last the most games? Tie: Carolina Vs. Montreal, Dallas Vs. Colorado
3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out? Detroit Vs. Edmonton
4. Which series will have the longest game? Dallas Vs. Colorado
5. Which team will score the most goals? Ottawa
6. Which team will allow the fewest goals? Calgary
7. Which player will score the most goals? Henrik Zetterberg
8. Which player will score the most points? Joe Sakic
9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Miika Kiprusoff
10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Manny Legace



FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first? New York Rangers
2. Which team will play the most games? Ottawa
3. How many seven game series will there be? 6
4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to? 3
5. Which player will score the most goals? Dany Heatley
6. Which player will score the most points? Pavel Datsyuk
b]7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Miikka Kiprusoff
8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Manny Legace
9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)? Manny Legace
10. Who will be the Western Conference champion? Detroit
11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion? Ottawa
12. Who will win the Stanley Cup? The Detroit Red Wings

ROUND ONE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

8 Edmonton Oilers in seven

2 Dallas Stars in seven

3 Calgary Flames in six

5 San Jose Sharks in five

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators in four

7 Montreal Canadiens in seven

3 New Jersey Devils in five

5 Philadelphia Flyers in six

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games? Ottawa/TB
2. Which series will last the most games? Detroit/Edmonton
3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out? Ottawa/TB
4. Which series will have the longest game? Calgary/Anaheim
5. Which team will score the most goals? Ottawa
6. Which team will allow the fewest goals? Calgary
7. Which player will score the most goals? Eric Staal
8. Which player will score the most points? Joe Thornton
9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Mikka Kiprusoff
10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Martin Brodeur



FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first? Tampa Bay
2. Which team will play the most games? Calgary
3. How many seven game series will there be? Seven
4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to? 3
5. Which player will score the most goals? Dany Heatley
6. Which player will score the most points? Daniel Alfredsson
7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Mikka Kiprusoff
8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Martin Brodeur
9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)? Daniel Alfredsson
10. Who will be the Western Conference champion? Calgary
11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion? Ottawa
12. Who will win the Stanley Cup? Ottawa


Come on, I need more than two people predicting!

ROUND ONE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Detroit Red Wings vs. 8 Edmonton Oilers - Detroit in 5 games

2 Dallas Stars vs. 7 Colorado Avalanche - Dallas in 6 games

3 Calgary Flames vs. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Calgary in 6 games

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 San Jose Sharks - San Jose in 5 games

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators vs. 8 Tampa Bay Lightning - Tampa Bay in 7 games (NO GUTS, NO GLORY.)

2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens - Carolina in 6 games

3 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers - New Jersey in 4 games

4 Buffalo Sabres vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers - Buffalo in 6 games

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games? New Jersey vs NY Rangers
2. Which series will last the most games? Ottawa vs Tampa Bay
3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out? - New Jersey vs NY Rangers
4. Which series will have the longest game? - Carolina vs Montreal
5. Which team will score the most goals? - Ottawa
6. Which team will allow the fewest goals? - New Jersey
7. Which player will score the most goals? - Cheechoo
8. Which player will score the most points? - Eric Stall
9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? - Brodeur
10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? - Kipursoff

FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first? - NY Rangers
2. Which team will play the most games? - Calgary Flames
3. How many seven game series will there be? - 3
4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to? - 4
5. Which player will score the most goals? - Cheechoo
6. Which player will score the most points? - Thorton
7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? - Brodeur
8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? - Brodeur
9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)? - Brodeur
10. Who will be the Western Conference champion? - San Jose Sharks
11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion? - New Jersey Devils
12. Who will win the Stanley Cup? - New Jersey Devils

ROUND ONE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Detroit Red Wings vs. 8 Edmonton Oilers - Detroit in 6 games

2 Dallas Stars vs. 7 Colorado Avalanche - Dallas in 6 games

3 Calgary Flames vs. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Calgary in 6 games

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 San Jose Sharks - San Jose in 6 games

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators vs. 8 Tampa Bay Lightning - Ottawa in 5 games

2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens - Montreal in 6 games

3 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers - New Jersey in 5 games

4 Buffalo Sabres vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers - Philadelphia in 6 games

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games? New Jersey vs NY Rangers
2. Which series will last the most games? Dallas vs Colorado
3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out? - Ottawa vs Tampa Bay
4. Which series will have the longest game? - Dallas vs Colorado
5. Which team will score the most goals? - Dallas
6. Which team will allow the fewest goals? - NY Rangers
7. Which player will score the most goals? - Eric Stall
8. Which player will score the most points? - Daniel Alfredson
9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? - Martin Brodeur
10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? - Martin Brodeur

FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first? - Tampa Bay
2. Which team will play the most games? - Dallas
3. How many seven game series will there be? - 3
4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to? - 2
5. Which player will score the most goals? - Eric Stall
6. Which player will score the most points? - Daniel Alfredson
7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? - Martin Brodeur
8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? - Martin Brodeur
9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)? - Eric Stall
10. Who will be the Western Conference champion? - Dallas
11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion? - Ottawa
12. Who will win the Stanley Cup? - Dallas

ROUND ONE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Detroit Red Wings vs. 8 Edmonton Oilers
Detroit in 4

2 Dallas Stars vs. 7 Colorado Avalanche
Dallas in 6

3 Calgary Flames vs. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Calgary in 5

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 San Jose Sharks
Nashville in 6

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators vs. 8 Tampa Bay Lightning
Ottawa in 5

2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens
Montreal in 7

3 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers
New Jersey in 4

4 Buffalo Sabres vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers
Phil. in 6

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games? New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers (4)
2. Which series will last the most games? Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens (7)
3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out? New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers
4. Which series will have the longest game? Carolina vs Montreal
5. Which team will score the most goals? Ottawa
6. Which team will allow the fewest goals? Ottawa
7. Which player will score the most goals? DANY HEATLEY
8. Which player will score the most points? DANY HEATLEY
9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Huet
10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Brodeur



FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first? Rangers
2. Which team will play the most games? Detroit
3. How many seven game series will there be? 6
4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to? 3
5. Which player will score the most goals? Heatley
6. Which player will score the most points? Heatley
7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Brodeur
8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Brodeur
9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)? Heatley
10. Who will be the Western Conference champion? Detroit
11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion? Ottawa
12. Who will win the Stanley Cup? Ottawa

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Detroit Red Wings vs. 8 Edmonton Oilers -- Detroit in 6 games

2 Dallas Stars vs. 7 Colorado Avalanche -- Dallas in 5 games

3 Calgary Flames vs. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks -- Calgary in 6 games

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 San Jose Sharks -- San Jose in 6 games

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators vs. 8 Tampa Bay Lightning -- Ottawa in 5 games

2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens -- Montreal in 6 games

3 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers -- New Jersey in 6 games

4 Buffalo Sabres vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers -- Philadelphia in 7 games

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games? -- Dallas vs. Colorado
2. Which series will last the most games? -- Buffalo vs. Philadelphia
3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out? -- Ottawa vs. Tampa Bay
4. Which series will have the longest game? -- Calgary vs. Anaheim
5. Which team will score the most goals? -- Detroit
6. Which team will allow the fewest goals? -- Calgary
7. Which player will score the most goals? -- Jerome Jagr
8. Which player will score the most points? -- Joe Thornton
9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? -- Mikka Kiprusoff
10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? -- Cristobal Huet


FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first? -- Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Which team will play the most games? -- Dallas Stars
3. How many seven game series will there be? -- 4
4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to? -- 2
5. Which player will score the most goals? -- Daniel Alfreddson
6. Which player will score the most points? -- Joe Thornton
7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? -- Mikka Kiprusoff
8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? -- Martin Brodeur
9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)? -- Marty Turco
10. Who will be the Western Conference champion? -- Dallas Stars
11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion? -- Ottawa Senators
12. Who will win the Stanley Cup? -- Dallas Stars

PEACE, Mike.

And that's the deadline. Six players, not bad, though I would've liked more. No matter, we'll just see how it goes now.

Sorry I'm late, but since all series are either tied 1-1 or have just basically started, I'd like to get in. If not, no worries: You'll see with my preditions that I am trying to be honest here. This is what i predicted in my other playoff pool. So please let me in.


1. Predictions for round one and the whole-playoff questions are due by 6:00 pm Eastern on Friday, April 21 - an hour before the games start. No exceptions.

2. For the series predictions, please choose both which team you think will win and in how many games (remember, it's best-of-seven, so the first team to win four wins the series).

3. For the questions, just choose one answer (it'll either be a player, a team, or a series). There may be ties for some of the questions, but just choose one answer.

4. The scoring will be done as follows:
1 point for choosing the correct team
2 points for picking the right number of games (only if you also picked the right team)
5 points for each round question right
10 points for each full playoff question right

Any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know. Without further adieu, here's round one:



ROUND ONE

WESTERN CONFERENCE

1 Detroit Red Wings vs. 8 Edmonton Oilers 6 games

2 Dallas Stars vs. 7 Colorado Avalanche 6 games

3 Calgary Flames vs. 6 Anaheim Mighty Ducks 7 games

4 Nashville Predators vs. 5 San Jose Sharks 6 games

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1 Ottawa Senators vs. 8 Tampa Bay Lightning 5 games

2 Carolina Hurricanes vs. 7 Montreal Canadiens 5 games

3 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers 6 games

4 Buffalo Sabres vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers 5 games

QUESTIONS

1. Which series will last the fewest games? Ottawa vs. Tampa- 5 games Sens win

2. Which series will last the most games? Calgary vs. Anaheim 7 games

3. Which series will have the biggest blow-out? I would have said Carolina vs Montreal with Carolina being the victor, looks like I'll be wrong on this one

4. Which series will have the longest game? Calgary vs Anaheim- three OT

5. Which team will score the most goals? Ottawa

6. Which team will allow the fewest goals? Calgary

7. Which player will score the most goals? Danny Heatly

8. Which player will score the most points? Daniel Alfreddson

9. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Kipper

10. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Kipper



FULL PLAYOFF QUESTIONS

1. Which team will be eliminated first? Montreal Canadians

2. Which team will play the most games? Calgary Flames

3. How many seven game series will there be? 6

4. How many overtimes will the longest game go to? 3

5. Which player will score the most goals? Heatly

6. Which player will score the most points? Alfreddson

7. Which goalie will have the best goals against average? Kipper

8. Which goalie will have the best save percentage? Kipper

9. Who will win the Conn Smythe Award (playoff MVP)? Kipper

10. Who will be the Western Conference champion? Calgary

11. Who will be the Eastern Conference champion? Sens

12. Who will win the Stanley Cup? Sens


[size=12]These questions are based on the entire playoff run? Right?[/size] (This is my edit btw)

I'll let you in baumer, unless any of the fellow players have a problem with it. It looks like you are being honest, so I'll let it go this time. Do try and be on time for the next round, though.

As a side note, I've decided to change the scoring, just a bit. Instead of 5 points for the round questions and 10 points for the playoff questions, I'm changing it to 2 points and 5 points respectively. The reason is because I would like the scores to be close to each other, and not separated by lots of points. Since you only get a single point for predicting the correct winner, it seems only fair that there should only be a maximum of 5 points for getting a question right.

I have no problem with baumer's entry. It's all just for fun anyways. It's so early in the playoffs, that it really doesn't matter, because anything can happen.

PEACE, Mike.

If he wins, we can put #1 (asterisk). At least that'll make my horrible predictions less horrible. I forgot about Hasek not even playing at first, and he was the basis of a large part of my entry at first.

MwAHAHAHA!!!

I am the ONLY person that predicted Colorado to win... and now they're up 2-0 in their series... woot!

GO STARS!!

Tampa Bays gonna win tonight! Wooo!

Ottawa in 5

Lightning in 7

Rangers are the first casualty!!

Yep, and O, Shack, and Chip all got it right.

Stars are gone in 5!!! WOW!!