Playoff Hockey: the most wonderful time of the year.

The NHL Playoffs kicked off last night, and with it, Spring is officially here in Canada. I say it's the best time of the year over NFL playoffs because of the 7 game series'. I love the NFL Playoffs, but there's always something about long series with momentum shifts that really makes it more compelling.

Based on last night's game, Vancouver might actually get by Chicago this time.

Here are my predictions for the first round:

WEST:
VANCOUVER over Chicago in 6 (Roberto Luongo will hold up better than Corey Crawford)
SAN JOSE over L.A. in 5 (Joe Thornton is getting old, and if the Sharks don't go deep this year, I can't see their window staying open. That and the Kings are missing their 2 highest scorers and don't have much in the way of secondary scorers to step up.)
DETROIT over Phoenix in 5 (The Wings are just too deep with too much experience, and Phoenix will be in Winnipeg by September)
ANAHEIM over Nashville in 6 (Getzlaf/Perry are dominant, and when your 3rd highest scorer is a D-man you're not going deep)

EAST:
WASHINGTON over N.Y in 5 (Ovie rested going into the playoffs should pay off)
PHILADELPHIA over Buffalo in 6 (I'd say 5 but I expect Miller to steal a game. Kris Versteeg is also going to be much more valuable this run than Simon Gagne was last season)
MONTREAL over Boston in 7 (Habs fan can't go against his team. Price is a different player from his last playoff experience and P.K Subban is a year older. More grit to this team than last year, and fuelled by hatred of the Bruins makes for a great series. Tim Thomas is great and Boston is big and mean so this will be a tough one.)
PITTSBURGH over Tampa Bay in 6 (No Crosby, No Malkin, no run this year. Fleury wins a series for them, but Tampa takes too much out of them for second round)