2009 NHL playoffs. Who are you picking in the round 1 matchups?

(1)BOS vs (8)MTL: The Montreal "Harvey Dent" Canadiens: a very skilled, very fast, very fun to watch team or a flat-out abysmal team, which will show up? The baby bears however have been the picture of consistency all year.

BOSTON in 6.

(2)WAS vs (7)NYR: High power offence and good D with questionable goaltending vs mediocre everything and great goaltending. Lundqvist can steal a game, maybe even 2, but the Caps O will be too much in the long run.

WASHINGTON in 6.

(3)NJ vs (6) CAR: Two streaky teams, both with plenty of playoff experience, I'd give the edge to the devils though.

NEW JERSEY in 5.

(4)PIT vs (5)PHI: If Martin Biron stands on his head like he did last playoffs, the Flyers could push this to 7 games, but I doubt it. Two of the leagues 3 leading scorers will prove a bit much.

PENGUINS in 5.

(1)SJ vs (8)ANA: President's Trophy winners with a rep for choking in the playoffs. This is not that same team from years past though.

SAN JOSE in 5.

(2)DET vs.(7)CBJ: The best run franchise in hockey, the only team in NHL history to have 9 consecutive 100+ point seasons pitted against a team making it's post-season debut! I love Cinderella story as much as the next guy, but Detroit, despite their questions in goal, will be too much for a young inexperienced Blue Jackets team. Goaltending will definitely make this a fun series to watch though.

DETROIT in 6.

(3)VAN vs (6)STL: The Blues quietly worked their way into the playoff picture and their strong play of late gave them the 6th seed to many a fans surprise I'm sure. A very good, very, very underrated team, with, in my opinion, one the very best and underrated head coaches in Andy Murray, ST Louis has all the makings of being this years darkhorse Cup contenders.

ST LOUIS in 6.

(4)CHI vs (5)CGY: Chicago has flat-out owned Calgary this season going 4 and 0 and outscoring them 19-7. And those all came before the Flames blueline crashed and burned. Khabibulin, coming fresh off a shut-out against a potent Detroit offence, is 22-5-2 lifetime vs Calgary. All signs point to Chicago, but Calgary has an A team and a B team much like Montreal, and Kipper is more than capable of single handedly winning couple games per series.

CHICAGO in 7.

BOS vs. MTL: Boston, solid team all around, too much for Montreal.

WAS vs. NYR: Rangers. This is the best chance for an upset. Goaltending is huge in the playoffs and the Rangers will than battle.

NJ vs. CAR: Jersey. Canes have come on strong, but NJ is good in just about every aspect

PIT vs. PHI: Pens have turned 180 degrees since coaching change. They will win this one.

SJ vs. ANA: Close, but not enough from Anaheim. Sharks win.

DET vs. CBJ: Mason will make it close, but DET is so good up front

VAN vs. STL: Vancouver is coming in strong, solid team.

CHI vs. CGY: I'm biased, but I think that the underdog status will help the Flames here. If they get some players back from injury, they will win it.

West: San Jose 4-games-to-2 over Anaheim

Detroit 4-games-to-1 over St. Louis

Vancouver 4-games-to-3 over Columbus

Chicago 4-games-to 3 over Calgary

East: Montreal 4-games-to-3 over Boston

Washington 4-games-to-1 over New York

Carolina 4-games-to-2 over New Jersey

Philadelphia 4-games-to-3 over Pittsburgh

Montreal in 7.

Washington in 5.

New Jersey in 6.

Pittsburgh in 7.

San Jose in 6.

Columbus in 6. (Detroit's goaltending is just horrible)

Vancouver in 5.

Chicago in 6.

EAST:

boston in 5 vs montreal

washington in 7 vs new york

carolina in 6 vs new jersey

pittsburgh in 6 vs philadelphia

WEST:

san jose in 6 vs anaheim

detroit in 5 vs columbus

vancouver in 7 vs st louis

calgary in 7 vs chicago

EDIT: ManUtd detroit is playing columbus and vancouver is playing st louis.

SJ in 5

STL in 6

DET in 5

CHI in 5

BOS in 6

WAS in 7

PHI in 7

NJ in 4

EAST, HURRICANES, HABS!

East

NY

PIT

NJ

BOS

West

S.J.

DET

STL

CGY