The NHL playoffs have creeped up on us very quickly.  I haven't seen much NHL, because it hasn't been on TV a whole lot.  That doesn't mean that the playoffs are a big deal.  I will now look at each matchup and make my predictions for the first round, as well as a Stanley Cup finals guess.

NOTE: The fat man does not know a whole lot about hockey, most of this is based on stats and completely wild guesses.  Viewer discresion is advised.

WESTERN CONFRENCE

(1) DETROIT RED WINGS vs (8) EDMONTON OILERS

The confrence best Wings are 2nd in the league in goals and assits.  Led by Brendan Shanahan, Henrik Zetterberg, and Pavel Datysuk, the Wings look like one of the leagues prime contenders for the Cup.  They are also 3rd in goals allowed, due to the great Manny Legace and the best team on the powerplay.  Which asks the question, do the Oilers have any chance in this one?  No.  While the Oilers are solid, the Red Wings look to good to be matched.  Wings win the series in 5 games.

 (2) DALLAS STARS vs (7) COLORADO AVALANCHE

The Stars are 6th in Goals allowed but not in the top 10 in goals scored.  They don't have anything too convincing.  They do however have a solid goalie in Turco, as well as 4 players with a +/- over 20.  The Avlanche, are a better goal scoring team, ranking 4th in the league with goals.  However they have had some problems giving up goals, with Aebischer not playing to his potenial.  However having Joe Sakic is always a good thing.  However the Avs have a below .500 road record, while the Stars have an above .500 home and road record.  I think it will go 6 games, but I have the Stars advancing.

(3) CALGARY FLAMES vs (6) MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM

The Flames have the best D, and goalie in the league.  They have given up the least amount of goals, and have the best goalie in the league, Miikka Kiprusoff.  However they are one of the lowest scoring offenses in the league.  The Ducks are somewhere in the middle on most stats.  The question is, can Teemu Salane and crew defeat the Flames?  The Flames aren't the greatest team on the road, while the Ducks are decent.  I think that the Flames lack of O will hurt them enough.  This one should go 7, but I think the Ducks win it in a close one.

(4) NASHVILLE PREDATORS vs (5) SAN JOSE SHARKS

The Paul Kariya led Predators are top 10 in both goals scored and goals allowed.  Vokoun has also been a solid goalie throughout this year.  The Sharks have scored more goals during the season.  Joe Thornton has great stats for missing 20+ games and Cheechoo has been a huge impact.  The goalie position is a little shaky for the Sharks, with Nabokov not living up to his talent, but I think the Sharks will pull it off in 7 games.

NOW ONTO THE EASTERN CONFRENCE.

(1) OTTAWA SENATORS vs (8) TAMPA BAY LIGHTING

Ottawa is 2nd in goals allowed and 1st in scoring goals.  These guys are just incredible, as they have it all.  Daniel Alfreddson and Dany Heatley have lit it up during the season, and Hasek when healthy has been the best goalie in all of hockey.  No disrepect to the Lightning, but the Senators are too good. Because the Lighting have the second fewest penalty minutes, I will say 5 Games for the Senators.

(2)CAROLINA HURRICANES vs (7)MONTREAL CANADIENS

The Hurricanes are 3rd best scoring but have also allowed a lot of goals.  Eric Staal is a solid player and Martin Gerber is a good goalie.   Montreal is in the lower half in scoring, and not the best on D.  They aren't that good, so I got the Hurricanes in the clean sweep.

(3) NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs (6) NEW YORK RANGERS

The Devils aren't in the top half in scoring, but they are in the top 10 D's with the great Marty Brodeur.  One huge stat for the Devils is that they have had the least penalty minutes of all of the NHL teams.  The Rangers are 4th in goals allowed, and are in the middle of the pack in scoring, with Jagr scoring like crazy.  Lundqyist has been a crazy good goalie as well.  I have the Rangers winning this in 6 games.

(4) BUFFALO SABRES vs (5) PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

The Sabres are 6th in scoring in the league, and they are also in the top 10 in least goals allowed.  They are 3rd on the powerplay and 2nd on the penalty kill.  The Sabres look like a sleeper team to go all of the way.  The Flyers aren't too far behind offensively, but aren't as good on D, and much worse on powerplays.  I have the Sabres winning in 5.

That was my first round prediction for the NHL playoffs.  From there in the West, I see the Wings beating the Ducks and the Stars beating the Sharks, leaving a Red Wings vs Stars Western Conf. finals.  I see the Red Wings going to the Stanley Cup finals.  In the East, the Senators will beat the Rangers close, then the Sabres upset the Canes.  I think the Sabres have a legit shot to get to the end.  So my Stanley Cup Finals...

Hockey fans, feel free to correct my mistakes.

TOMMOROW, NBA PLAYOFF EXTRAVAGANZA.

THATS ALL I GOT.