Mysteries of the NHL Playoffs Revealed!

by holiday park on May 15, 2009 9:25 AM EDT

With two rounds of the playoffs complete, my ability to pick the series winners continues to be uncanny. As of now I've picked 11 out of 12, including the upsets of both number 1 seeds. It could be that I'm just really lucky (I did need New Jersey and Boston to get eliminated in particularly cruel and hilarious fashion for two of those wins). Or it could be that I have something that no other gambler does: a system that can't lose. Either way, here are the rules I've used to pick the winners:

1. Look at the last two months of the regular season. If you're picking between a red-hot team and a team that limped into the playoffs, take the hot team, no matter how good the other team looks.

2. If that's a wash, look at playoff experience. If you're picking between a young, inexperienced team and a veteran team with lots of deep playoff runs, take the veterans unless you've got a really good reason not to.

3. If that's a wash, pick the team with the greatest top-to-bottom depth.

4. If that's a wash, pick the team that plays the nastier, more physical style.

So there you go. If you pay no attention to home ice advantage, regular season performance, or player matchups, you too can understand how the NHL playoffs really work. Got it?

(PS. The one series I didn't call correctly was Chicago-Vancouver. Maybe rule 5 should be to refrain from picking between two teams if you haven't seen either of them play.)

The content expressed in fanposts does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff here at Pensburgh.com. FanPosts are opinions expressed by fans of various teams throughout the league but may be more Pittsburgh-centric for obvious reasons.

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Hah. I didn’t think Chicago would slip past Vancouver either. Earlier in the year I predicted they’d make it to the first round and then bounce. Guess I was wrong there…

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by FrankD on May 15, 2009 10:47 AM EDT reply actions

The dude jdubs at the Pensblog Rinkotology has correctly predicted every single playoff series so far. Unreal.

For the record he has Detroit/Pittsburgh in the finals with Pittsburgh winning. Let’s hope and pray his perfection goes the distance.

by Hooks Orpik on May 15, 2009 11:31 AM EDT reply actions

Congrats by the way on going 11 for 12, hp, that’s nothing to sneeze at either.

I hope you keep your track record great and keep picking the Pens too!

by Hooks Orpik on May 15, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks. I am predicting a rematch. Pens in 7, Wings in 6.

P is for Latrobe.

by holiday park on May 15, 2009 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions

just so long as melrose doesnt pick us we’ll be fine. i can understand if barnaby does..

" I AM CAPATIN CHAOS, and this is my trusty Sidekick cato. Say hello Cato"
Dom Deluise 1933-2009, Cannonball run

by oldtimehockey09 on May 15, 2009 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Barnaby’s way of choosing a winner

1. Pick team with most former teammates on it. If not an option:
2. Pick team he played for

I love Barnaby, but it’s true. He always sticks up for his old buddies.

by Hooks Orpik on May 15, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Would you expect a gritty hockey player like Barny to do any less.

by PensFan024 on May 15, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions

and seriously, who’s gonna call him on it?

Sure he can score goals, but can he cook?

by Phantaskippy on May 15, 2009 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

By the way, I had 54 of 80 points in Rinkotology (269th place)….I got 7 out of 8 matchups right in round 1, the only one I missed on was NJ/Car which threw off my second round matchups in the East. My playoffs had Bos/Pitt and NJ/Wash in the second round.

I chose Pitt and Wash to play in the semis. I also put Chicago and Detroit in the West, so I named 3 of the 4 teams left from the very beginning, which I think is fairly respectable.

Here’s a link to my bracket there to see more details, and I’d be interested in seeing anyone else’s sheet over there.

by Hooks Orpik on May 15, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions