I'm not asking that this be based on anything BUT interesting/exciting match-ups. If you want to make it so that your favorite team would make it all the way through, then that's expected, but don't create your match-ups based on what would be easier for your team to win. Keep in mind that reality/stats need not be important as far as you making a particular team a particular seed.


East:

Round 1 (winners in bold)

Pens(1) vs Flyers (8)
Montreal (2) vs Toronto (7)
Atlanta (3) vs Ottawa (6)
Rangers (4) vs Capitals (5)

I took this approach to the first round since I think a Flyers/Pens match-up has great potential for a playoff round. These teams hate each other, the fans hate each other, and the coaches even trade comments in the papers. Montreal vs Toronto really needs no explanation, and I'd like to see Ovechkin make the playoffs and take a round or 2. To do it against the Rangers would be sweet. I'd also like to see Atlanta's Recchi, Armstrong, and Christensen get some playoff time as they got screwed out of that this year by trades/waivers.


That'd leave:

Round 2

Pens vs Caps

Montreal vs Atlanta

I went with this since while I'd love to see Atlanta see the Pens in the playoffs, there's just too many other teams that I'd rather see first. Almost every analyst has talked about how they'd love to see the Caps vs the Pens, and with good reason. Ovechkin and Malkin seem to step things up when they play each other, and the hitting gets fierce. Having Crosby back in the line-up would also further the career-long competition that he has with Ovechkin, and makes for yet another good story line. Having Ovechkin in the playoffs would be good for the game - too bad it'd have to end here.

Montreal vs Atlanta is really just a filler series, here. I'd love to see it go 7 games, but we all know realistically that the Thrashers have no business even dreaming about making it this far, let alone having success vs Montreal.

Round 3

Pens vs Habs

I think this is the most intriguing match-up in the East. Both teams at times have looked unstoppable, and probably scare each other as far as a playoff series. This series alone could help validate whether the Habs made a good choice about not going for Hossa, and whether the Pens made a good choice in getting him. The Pens are reportedly very popular in Quebec, so this would be a match-up that'd be most likely welcomed by hockey fans. The Pens also have a large contingent of local players, not to mention their owner. Price is highly touted, but can he handle the pressure of the playoffs? Can Fleury finally take that step forward and be the goalie the Penguins hoped he'd turn into? Will Hossa finally stop being considered a playoff choker, and will Kovalev continue his output?



I'd do the West as well, but I don't know as much about those teams, and this took longer than I thought as it is. Anyone else?

I think a Rangers/Habs playoff series would be intense as heck. Our games have been pretty out of control this season and have always been exciting. They were ahead by three and we answered with 5 in a row to win. We were ahead by 5 and they came back with 5 to tie. It certainly would be good hockey, but it would also certainly make me throw up on an almost daily basis.

In the West, any matchup in the 1st round consisting of Dallas vs San Jose, SJ vs Anaheim, or Anaheim vs Dallas will be good. I'd like to see Detroit vs. Colorado, just for the rivalry value. Eventually I'd like to see Detroit vs SJ in the WCF, though I know that would be a tough (but awesome) matchup. Then in the Stanley Cup Finals, Detroit vs Pittsburgh.

I like the matchups as they are now in the west.

1. detroit vs 8. colorado

2. sharks vs 7. vancouver

3. calgary vs 6. minnesota

4. anaheim vs 5. dallas


1. detroit vs 4. anaheim

2. sharks vs 3. calgary (conf finals revenge. kinda)


2. sharks vs 4. anaheim


sharks vs (order of excitement preference) montreal - new york - pittsburgh - ottawa

As long as Vancouver doesn't finish 7th, I am excited for every possible playoff matchup, east and west. I would like to see Washington get in over Boston though, I just think they would make for a better series with either potential opponent (Mtl or Pit).

Washington vs Pittsburgh would be super fun to watch.

Plus, the Pens own the Caps in the playoffs.

Agree.

I don't think we've seen anything out of Ovechkin yet, however much of a monster he is in the regular season, in the playoffs I think he'll be a whole different kind of beast.

I hope they make it, Washington would be a much more interesting team to watch in the playoffs than Boston.

I seriously don't think you can do any better with the current matchups in the west.

1v8 revisiting a classic late 90's rivalry. colorado even has some of the old band back together.

2v7 vancouver trying to hit back at a team that's dominated them in the regular season the past few years. luongo could be quite dangerous here.

3v6 divisional rivalry. two teams that have gone deep in the playoffs in the past.

4v5 the best one (and the worst for fans of these teams). two top contenders meeting in the first round. everyone but these two teams loves it.

Montreal(1) - Boston (8)
Pittsburgh(2) - Washinton(7)
Carolina (3) - Ottawa (6)
NJ(4) - NYR (5)

That would be 1st round magic. Montreal would sweep the bruins obv. pitts/washington would get everbodies attention (you're right about the attention pittsburgh gets in Quebec doox, has a lot todo with Crosby playing in Rimousky). Carolina/Ottawa would be the interesting because of the trade they made this season, trade looks to be favoring Carolina thus far. NJ/NYR should be huge but I don't think they have the rivalry they should.

Montreal - Washinton
Ottawa - NYR

Montreal vs Ovy/Huet !!ZMOG!! they played good games vs each other this season, this would be a 6 or 7 game series, montreal would exploit knowing Huet's weakeness in the end and win. The rangers wouldn't be able to stop Ottawas offence, as long as their goaltending can somehow find a way to be stable they'll go far.

Montreal - Ottawa

HUGE FINALS! This would be intense, i can hardly think about it because it will get me too worked up. Their goaltending would fall apart at this point and Montreal takes it in5, at home infront of a home crowd, gets a few day rest before...>

Montreal - Anaheim

that would be a really exciting match-up, same thing for Vancouver, Detroit would be historic, Minesota would match up the Koivus, any candian team would be epic. Colorado and theodore would be sick too. But just having the Habs in the Stanley cup finals with a 20 year old goaltender would have everyone talking about '86 all over again, Kovalev would be leading the playoffs for points, ratings in quebec would be retarded.

cue parade on St-Catherine

I want Minnesota and Anaheim to face. I just hope Boogaard, Simon and Fedoruk kill someone on ANA.

They (Minnesota) traditionally don't have much success in the playoffs against Anaheim...and wasn't there a shot on someone on Minny last year in the playoffs that knocked him out for a game or something...I'm trying to remember...I think someone hit Kim Jonssen or someone like that...the Ducks may lose a series, but I doubt they will be the ones in the series with more bruises if it gets ugly.

much success? I would say no success. I would like to see MN vs Vancouver or Anaheim. It would be a great series either way if the refs don't start calling everything. I don't wan't MN and Calgary to finish 1-2 in the NW division and face each other in the first round. I think that is how it will finish now.

Detroit vs Edmonton
San Jose vs Vancouver
Minnesota vs Calgary
Dallas vs Aneheim

Detroit vs Anaheim
San Jose vs Calgary

Detroit vs Calgary

Calgary vs Pitt for the cup.

I would like to see Anaheim and Edmonton in the first round.

Me too. Oh wait...they're actually one of the hotter teams around. Boo-urns.