[Tuco]

Sabres/Isles: Buff in 5.

Forwards? Huge edge to Buff
Defense? Buff
Goaltending? Buff
Special teams? Buff
Intagibles? Buff

The fisherman have been playing playoff hockey for a couple weeks now, but this is a mis-match. Isles D is god awful and is up against the most complete set of forwards in the playoffs. Sabres D is nothing to get excited about, however, and may cost them on their way to the cup.

Devils/Lightning: TB in 6

Forwards? Huge edge to TB
Defense? Small edge to NJ
Goaltending? OMG why ask
Special teams? small edge TB

This is one of my upset picks. Gomez, Elias and Gionta have struggled most of the year. TB is going to have to bring it's A game, but I think they will. Their D is somewhat suspect, but adding O'Brien helps. Holmqvist is certainly going to have to play well, but it's not like NJ comes at you in waves. TB was 3-1 against the Devils this year so they seem to match up well.

Thrashers/Rangers: NYR in 6

Forwards? Small edge to ATL
Defense? Edge to ATL
Goaltending? Big edge to NYR
Special teams? Big edge to NYR
Intangibles? Edge to NYR

Atlanta made a good aquisition in Tkachuk, but a more important one was picking up Zhitnik to bolster what was a pretty weak D. Thrashers have been pretty hot down the stretch, but NY has been on fire. Most importantly, their goaltending has been great. Shanahan back is huge as well.

Penguins/Senators: Ott in 7

Forwards? Even
Defense? Edge to Ott
Goaltending? Even
Special teams? Even
Intagibles? Edge to Pitt

These teams are so evenly matched. I think the difference comes in the fact that when these games go to overtime, the Sens have a wealth of playoff experience to draw on. Sens are also a bit deeper up front in terms of playoff type players like Mike Fisher. Defense isn't really close. Sens much better with Redden and Phillips. The one guy that could change this outcome is MA Fluery. If he stands on his head the Pens could be moving on.

Wings/Flames: Cal in 6

Forwards? Big edge to Wings
Defense? Big edge to Flames
Goaltending? Edge to Flames
Special Teams? Even
Intagibles? Big edge to Flames

Detroit is a good team, but feasting on a weak division all year makes them look better than they are. Calgary is a team with a style built for the playoffs. Add in Kiprusoff to the mix and you have a tough team to play against, especially for a team that tends to implode in the playoffs like Detroit. Bertuzzi and Hasek are wild cards, but I think Calgary really likes their matchup here.

Ducks/Wild: Ana in 6

Forwards? Edge to Min
Defense? OMG why ask
Goaltending? Even
Special teams? Even
Intagibles? Edge to Ana

Yes the Wild have been playing well. But they now have to face a big, tough and mean team game after game. Anaheim will pound the Wild's somewhat weak D into submission. Contrast with two of the best all-time defensemen in history still in their prime and that is where this series is decided.

Canucks/Stars: Van in 6

Forwards? Even
Defense? Big edge to Van
Goaltending? Edge to Van
Special teams? Even
Intangibles? Even

Both teams don't score much. Look for these games to all be 2-1 type affairs. Vancouver is scary good in one-goal games and has Luongo. Canucks D is very good with the emergence of Bieksa and will shut down. The big win over SJ at the tank when they needed it tells you that Van is going to be focused for this series.

Preds/Sharks: SJ in 6

Forwards? Even
Defense? Even
Goaltending? Edge to SJ
Special teams? Even
Intagibles? Even

While Nashville is probably deeper up front, they can't match the Sharks combo down the middle of Thornton and Marleau. This series is going to be a war with tons of hitting. Both teams like to intimidate and neither will back down. Goaltending is going to be the difference here with Nabokov.

Tuco.