The Syndicate

Round 1

Eastern Conference
Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lighting vs. Detroit Red Wings
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals vs. New York Islanders

Western Conference
St. Louis Blues vs Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Anaheim Ducks vs Winnipeg Jets
Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames

Personally I am more excited about the eastern conference matchups because there are teams I like and teams I hate. I'm having a tough time deciding between Pens and Rangers because I like both, but as for the rest of that conference I'd like Montreal, Tampa Bay, NY Islanders. keys is rooting for my most despised team, Detroit. I think he likes to pick what will annoy me the most. For the western conference, I'd like Chicago, Anaheim, and Vancover to continue on. I do not care enough about St. Louis or Minnesota to have a preference there but if I had to I guess I'd go with the Wild.

I fell asleep while watching last night. It is really hard to keep up with this sport on this timezone

leggyorlyb wrote:

Bass_the_Clever wrote:Man the Caps are getting no love.

Ovie!!!!!

Looks like the Jets are the first team eliminated. The ducks have grown on me this year, so am happy to see them move on.

DisgruntledPorcupine wrote:BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Sorry DP At least you have had your favorite teams playing.

Lol I know your favorite is still there. I said favorites because both my favorite teams did not even make the playoffs.
(Probably should pick a new second favorite if I ever want them to go haha )

yay go Habs ^_^

comeon NY and TB.
only two spots left and some teams I don't like yet to be eliminated haha

I want a playoff cupcake!

Round 2

Eastern Conference
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lighting
New York Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

Western Conference
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames

This round is easy for me. Montreal. NY. Chicago. Anaheim.

I could probably elaborate on my picks more as well.

I started taking more of an interest in Montreal before the playoffs, and during even more since my favorites didn't make it. I've liked following them, and I liked discussing them with leggy so I want to see them continue on.

I am not a fan of Ovechkin (as everyone from irc knows) and am from NY state so that matchup was especially easy from me. My boss back in Rochester for about the past 8 years was a Rangers fan, so I have always paid special attention to how they were doing.

I chose Chicago because I used to live there. Also the last time I was in Canada I met a young Blackhawks fan. He was so cute and passionate about it that I have been paying extra attention to that team since.

Ducks reminds me of keys.

DisgruntledPorcupine wrote:I'm more afraid of Tampa than any other team in the league by quite a wide margin, but I still think Montreal has a good chance. Picking them obvs. I vote a Caps upset over the Rangers, I think people underestimate them. Wild > Hawks, I'm thinking Dubnyk carries the Wild past them. Ducks > Flames, but hoping otherwise. I think the Flames have a chance to upset but I don't think they'll achieve it.

The Hawks have eliminated the wild the past two years, so they will probably have a bit of fight in them. This should be a very interesting matchup.

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leggyorlyb wrote:

fingersplints wrote:I want a playoff cupcake!

Here you go!!

I want to eat all five. They look so good!

juliets wrote:I am from Tampa and there is no representation here for the Lightning except for me. I will continue to cheer them on no matter who they play and no matter how many people are rooting for that other team. If they lose, they lose and I will congratulate the winner but until that time I will be rooting for them. There is no right and wrong here - only fans.

People can cheer on whoever they want. Growing up in western NY I know all about rooting for the unpopular - and in our case, losing - team! ("I'm glad I am a Bills/Sabres fan" said no one probably ever.)

Actually, I've been shopping around for a new favorite team this season. Instead of picking one, I have several new ones I am following now

Also, I was apparently very wrong about this:

fingersplints wrote:

DisgruntledPorcupine wrote:I'm more afraid of Tampa than any other team in the league by quite a wide margin, but I still think Montreal has a good chance. Picking them obvs. I vote a Caps upset over the Rangers, I think people underestimate them. Wild > Hawks, I'm thinking Dubnyk carries the Wild past them. Ducks > Flames, but hoping otherwise. I think the Flames have a chance to upset but I don't think they'll achieve it.

The Hawks have eliminated the wild the past two years, so they will probably have a bit of fight in them. This should be a very interesting matchup.

wtf happened there lol Looks like they will be eliminating them for a third year!

And Blackhawks are going to the Western Conference finals. That team looking really good. This is their 5th time going to the conference finals in 7 years.

juliets wrote:Yay Tampa Bay Lightning! Now lets see what we can do in this next series. I'm not holding my breath but there's always a chance we could squeak through.

haha I told keys you were probably happy.

I'm really sad about the loss of Montreal. I made it til the second period but was so tired couldn't stay up the rest of the game. I'm just not even excited about the eastern conference anymore. If the Rangers pull it off and win tonight that might all change.

Who are you rooting for now G?

Leggy and I were actually just having a discussion the other day about how we always want 7 games. so while they lost, I too am happy with their performance in the end. can't win them all!

Yea I get what you are saying about Yankees fans. They are used to winning and are cocky, and it does seem like a lot of Rangers fan pop up out of nowhere when they are doing good. However being from NY state I do know a bunch of non-douchey Rangers fans. Since I have moved out of the country, I'm a bit Nostalgic for all things NY so I'd still like them to move on. I'll generally root for any NY team now. (Except in football - i don't like that most of the Ny teams have their stadiums outside of NY so I can't root for them)
I don't hate Washington but I do hate Ovechkin - so I don't want the Caps to continue on. If they do I will root for TB in eastern finals.

I think I have said before but the Ducks have really grown on me. I went into this season looking for a new favorite team. (I still like Sharks and Sabres but need another to follow) and I had originally decided to follow Vancouver and Montreal and see which I liked better. Vancouver fell out and the Ducks are creeping into their spot for consideration!

I think I had joked with probably leggy that I would be leaving this season following 8 new teams instead of one haha and it doesn't seem far from the truth

Also that is funny about the Mighty Ducks prediction. I want to watch that movie now

G-Man wrote:Only nine teams have ever come back from being down 3-0 in a series to force a Game 7 in NHL history. Will Montreal make #10 tonight?

I know they didn't but I am still interested in this. Who are the others? I found these ones:

*1942 - Toronto vs Detroit (This one seems most impressive as it was the finals)
*1975 - NY Islanders vs Pittsburgh
*2010 - Philadelphia vs Boston
*2014 - Los Angeles vs San Jose (This one is still painful. Actually Sharks playoff hockey is painful in itself)

Cool! Thanks for finding that! I was really curious.

1975 NY Islanders were crazy! I would love to see a team do that now.

Round 3

Eastern Conference
New York Rangers vs. Tampa Bay Lighting

Western Conference
Anaheim Ducks vs. Chicago Blackhawks

I wish all went to game 7. and I really love that I feel it's still anyone's game.
I'm still hoping for Ducks vs Rangers in finals, but I think all are deserving at this point.

fingersplints wrote:I wish all went to game 7. and I really love that I feel it's still anyone's game.
I'm still hoping for Ducks vs Rangers in finals, but I think all are deserving at this point.

I guess Blackhawks now