2012 NHL Playoffs: Top Seeds And Perennial Contenders Dropping Like Keslers

(Photo via sports.yahoo.com)

If the Washington Capitals find a way to take game 7 in Boston against the Bruins, we'll have no returning Cup champs in the tourney. No Penguins. No Wings. The Blackhawks are holding on by a thread and could be bumped out by Phoenix in the near future.

Cup, Cops, and Conn Smythe - An NHL Finals Post-Mortem - Boston Bruins Champions Edition

(Photo via soccer2008bygorddunphy.blogspot.com)

After 40 years of disappointment, the Boston Bruins prevailed with a perfect road win to claim the challis of the Hockey Gods. The Stanley Cup is returning to a team that I believed had no right or chance to win. Call it misdirected patriotism. Call it blind faith. Call it a sense of entitlement. You can spin it anyway you like, but the Bruins earned this championship and should've closed it out in less games.

Why Boston Won

The Oddest and Most Intriguing Stanley Cup Final In History - Boston Bruins Force Game 7 Versus Vancouver Canucks

(Photo via washingtonexaminer.com)

I've been watching hockey for close to 20 years. I've seen teams dominate the seven game final where there's a clear winner before the opening faceoff. On the other side of the puck, I've witnessed epic see-saw battles between 2 evenly matched, committed and determined clubs. You can always expect the unexpected in pro sports. The 2011 edition of the Cup Final is no exception, with unexpected underlined and bold....in 50 point font.

Without taking anything away from the Bruins, the Canucks were meant to dominate this series with authority and make it quick. Now here we are, 6 games in the books with every NHL fanboy's wet dream on tap: a deciding game 7. What happened? What's going to happen? Which bandwagon do I jump onto? The only way to get the answers we desperately seek is to have a Q&A...with myself.

Canucks vs Bruins - NHL Playoffs - Stanley Cup Final

This is it! 1,230 games have been completed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide.

(Photo via zimbio.com)

1

VS

3

2011 Season Series:

Boston won 1-0

Stanley Cup Finals Schedule:

All games are available on CBC, RDS, NBC and Versus (check your local listings) and have an 8pm EST start time:

1 - Wednesday, June 1 in Vancouver, 2 - Saturday, June 4 in Vancouver, 3 - Monday, June 6 in Boston, 4 - Wednesday, June 8 in Boston, *5 - Friday, June 10 in Vancouver, *6 - Monday, June 13 in Boston, *7- Wednesday, June 15 in Vancouver

*If necessary

What's the story?:

To start this off...it feels good to be right! From the beginning, I picked a Boston-Vancouver final and I wanted to let you know.

Sharks vs Canucks - NHL Playoffs - Western Conference Final

This is it! 1,230 games have been completed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide

Luongo snags a Thornton shot (photo via canucks.nhl.com)

1

VS

2

2011 Season Series:

Vancouver won 3-1

What's the story?:

The Sharks have made it to the Western Final for the second year in a row. For those of you that have a short memory (or if you're a Sharks fans), the Blackhawks swept San Jose on their way to winning the cup. You can't win until you learn how to lose, right?

Canucks vs Predators - NHL Playoffs - Western Conference Semi-Final

This is it! 1,230 games have been completed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide.

(Photo via sports.yahoo.com)

1

VS

5

2011 Season Series:

Tied at 2

What's the Story?:

Nashville is the only team in the West to take out a higher seed in the first round. They knocked the top heavy 4th seeded Ducks in 6 games and accomplished a franchise first: won a playoff series.

Redemption On the Coast: How the Vancouver Canucks Finally Got the Hawk Off Their Back

(Photo via canucks.nhl.com)

Hockey has been a nightly ritual in the Paqman household for the past few weeks. I've found pleasure in other team's joy and pain with the absence of my beloved Sens. None was more epic than last night's tilt between the Canucks and Blackhawks. It embodied everything that is so right about the NHL Playoffs: anticipation, frustration and elation.

Where Legends are Made : NHL Playoffs - Western Conference - Round 1

This is it! 1,230 games have passed and the 2nd season begins. 16 teams participate and 1 will hoist the most coveted trophy in professional sports: the Stanley Cup. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the world and P&B will be your round by round guide.

(Photo via canucksarmy.com)

1   

VS

8

2011 Season Series:

Tied at 2-2

What's the story?:

Like the Rangers in the East, the Blackhawks benefited from a team's loss to slip into the final playoff spot.

Quick Shot Predictions for the Western Conference - NHL PLayoffs - Round 1

My full post for the Western Conference isn't ready yet, so I'm giving you my predictions very quickly in this post since the playoffs start tonight.

Don't want y'all to think that I'm cheating on my predictions by letting a full day of action pass by! ;)

1-Canucks vs 8-Blackhawks

Canucks win in 5

2-Sharks vs 7-Kings

Sharks win in 7

3-Red Wings vs 6-Coyotes

Upset! Coyotes win in 7

4-Ducks vs 5-Predators

Ducks win in 5

The complete Round 1 post for the West will be ready tomorrow.

-Paqman