NHL Round 1 - 3 Game 7's
 

It's the final two days of the First Round, and we are left with three game 7's happening. I thought it might be interesting to hear who people think will come out alive.

The matchups, as they currently stand are:

Boston v. Montreal
Vancouver v. Calgary
Toronto v. Ottawa

It's tough to predict who will end up victorious, and who will end dusting off their golf bags, but here's what I think.

Boston v. Montreal

If Boston keeps playing like Boston has been playing, and Montreal keeps playing like Montreal has been playing, then it will definitely be Montreal coming out of this one. The only way Boston can advance is if Raycroft has a brilliant game, and Thornton manages to get himself out of this funk he's been in. It says something when your second line is the only line that's truly producing. Boston also needs to find an answer to Montreal's speed. It's obvious that hitting them isn't working, so they might want to consider focusing on defence, and wait for Montreal to screw up (which has happened several times during these series).

Vancouver v. Calgary

What can I say about this series? It's been absolutely amazing to watch. It's sad that one of these teams will have to be eliminated, because they both truly deserve to move on to the next round. I fully expect the theme for this next and final game will be "Hit 'em hard, and hit 'em fast". While this game will mostly likely come down to which team can outwork the other, in the end, I believe Vancouver's experience will give them the edge that will let them go on to the second round.

Toronto v. Ottawa

There is one single factor in this series that will determine it all, and that factor is Eddie Belfour. If Eddie Belfour decides to come up with another brilliant game, then Eddie Belfour will win the series, and Eddie Belfour will move on to the next round. The rest of the Leafs will just be tagging along for the ride, possibly to score a goal or two, because that's about the only thing that Eddie Belfour can't do himself. I still believe the Sens stand a chance, so long as they stay out of the penalty box, and play like they did during period 3 and both OT's in Game 6. It's really hard to determine who will win this series without making a blind stab in the dark.

So, there's my humble opinion. Tell me what you think.

I love that there's 3 game 7's to watch here in the next 2 days. It's been a great round all around this year.

I don't have a lot to say about the Montreal vs. Boston series since I've only really watched a few periods and the highlights but I believe that Montreal will win. I'm not a fan of some of the drama that a few have shown on the ice, but overall I'm going for Montreal.

Sens vs Leafs has been a great series to watch. I agree with pretty much everything you said about it. Belfour's kept them alive in this one. If the Sens can get one on him early and Lalime has a good game, they can take this series and advance to the 2nd round. I'm going with the Sens on this one.

As for the Flames vs Canucks, it's been an amazing series. I'm biased towards my Flames, but I think anyone can tell that there has been some great hockey played in this matchup. I of course am picking the Flames to win tonight. Kipper's been strong in every game after he's allowed that many goals and they were gathering momentum during game 6 right up until the OT goal. Coming back from 4-0 to send it in to OT was huge for building the teams moral. They've got what it takes despite their lack of experience and they play some strong hockey on the road.

Buckle up kids, it's gonna be a bumpy ride. Go Flames Go!!

I believe with your take completely. I think that the Sens will do it. The Canadiens should be able to punch the bruins out, but I wouldn't put money on that. And yes, for the Canucks/Flames, it is ashame one of the teams has to go home, it has been a great series.

The Sens only held off their fate to lose, the Habs will win, and the Canucks-Flames I really don't care anymore.

good game in boston right now... most exciting 0-0 game ive seen in a while

The Boston-Montreal game is 0-0 no longer. Zednik just scored two goals, one an empty netter, and Montreal is moving on to the next round.

Boston did just like I thought they would. They played the trap, and waited for an oportunity to jump up, and for a while it looked like it was going to work. Raycroft was having a good game, but Thornton still came up unbelievably flat. Unfortunately, the game ended with a lousy bounce in front of Boston's net late in the third, and Boston had no chance of recovering.

Good game, it could have gone either way. Can't wait for the Vancouver-Calgary coming up.

Unbelievable! For the first time in history, Montreal came back from being down 3-1.

I predict the Montreal / Tampa Bay game will be the best of the playoffs no matter who wins. Going to be awesome hockey with Speed vs Speed.

GO HABS GO!

Wow, awesome game, the Habs did what many (including myself) thought that they would'nt be able to do. Congradulations to them.
Big game coming up in under 15 minutes. I am looking damn forward to it, and I am praying that Vancouver gets off to a good start and can pull it off. If calgary wins I will give them kudos, and cheer for them in the next round.
GO CANUCKS GO!!!

I knew the Habs would take it tonight

that game could have easily been 4-0 if some bounces had gone in

they just out-hustled Boston on this night

good job habs

Oh mon Dieu!! The Habs did it!!

These guys are true warriors. I hope Tampa vs Montreal will be as much excitement to watch that this one was.

Now come on Sens and send those Map'Old Leafs out.

Yep, Tampa/Montreal should be a crazy series. I think the Habs have a good chance of winning it.
I'm watching Calgary/Vancouver in the 2nd, and it still pains me to choose between them. Couldn't we just drop Colorado and let them both advance?
I've gotta pick Ottawa for tomorrow, only cause the curse has to be broken. Either one of the teams can take Philly out in 5 games though.

Ottawa doesn't have a prayer the curse isn't even a curse it's called the Sens brain-fucking themselves into thinking they can't beat the Leafs, which is fine by me,!!!!!!!!!!! GO LEAFS GO!!!!!!

You should be glad you're not coaching the Leafs right now, because if that was your message to the players, they'd be screwed even before they touched the ice.

Wow. Didn't see that one coming. With the exception of the second period, the Vancouver-Calgary game delivered as expected. It's too bad that it all had to be decided by a power-play goal, but what can you do? I hope Calgary gives Detroit hell.

Screw up the team how?explain. Or is this all you came up with.

You see if you have ever coached before there are things you say and things you don't say, and how would this message screw the team, if anything it would provide motivation for the team to preform (trust me I know how coaches motivate people) better, and believe that game 7 is theirs, now do you see or should I draw some pics for you. Oh yeah I notice you are from Ottawa so your statement really has no bearing on if the Leafs would or would not be screwed. Although the Sens do suck pretty bad. hehehe

Im trying to get some leafs fans over for the game tonight so my roommate and I can cheer for ottawa and they can cheer for toronto

love that friction in the room

but i dont know if they'll show... so we might need to get drunk by ourselves

ya i hung out with an ottawa fan on friday night for the game he kept punching me in the shoulder, 3 Leafs fans and 1 Sens fan poor guy.

I'm just saying, if the Leafs rely solely on the fact that Ottawa has some mindset against them, then they won't get anywhere. And there's no guarantee that Ottawa even has that mindset right now.

Besides, the Leafs have been laying back too much in this series, and eventually it's going to bite them in the ass. If I were Quinn, I would be advocating a hard fought, get to the puck first, finish your checks type of speech rather than relying on some voodoo curse to take over. Actually, he's been saying the hard-hitting message all along, but no one on the Leaf's bench seems to be listening.

And for the record, what makes you think I'm a Sens fan, simply because I'm from Ottawa. Have you even seen the number of Leafs fans in the Corel Centre. For all you know, I could be cheering the same team, and you just took a snipe at a fellow brother in arms, so to speak ;)

FLAMES WIN IN OVERTIME..... WOO HOOOO......

the teams I wanted to win are winning..... first San Jose, then Montreal, and finally Calgary...... great playoff season so far

Well, I was right in the Montreal-Boston series, I was sort of wrong in the Vancouver-Calgary series, and I was definitely right in the Toronto-Ottawa series. That's 2-for-3. I think that's a pretty decent track record so far.

While I can say that both Montreal and Calgary deserved their wins, Toronto on the other hand really had no business winning their's (with the possible exception of game 2 and 7). They managed to squeak by only with the help of Eddie Belfour, but I'm sure that doesn't matter to them anyway. It's too bad that Belfour couldn't get a fourth shutout. He played really solid in that series.

edit: The only thing I'm dreading now is having to go to work tomorrow and listen to a lot of moaning and complaining. I'm not looking forward to that.