Panic 278: We're Breaking BigSoccer, So Let's Start Over

And since the second round starts tonight, have to get the picks up today ...

EAST

(1) Rangers vs. (7) Capitals: I think this is the best possible matchup for Washington, which seems strange to say since New York was legitimately the best team in the East this season. The way the Caps are playing right now is very similar to the Rangers. What worries me about the Rangers, though, is the contributions they get up and down their lineup on a regular basis. You can shutdown Gaborik and they will still find a way through guys like Callahan and Stralman and even this new kid Kreider looks really good. And Richards seems to have found his footing on Broadway and will be a factor in the series. Holtby will steal a game, but over the long haul, Lundqvist is certainly better. It'll suck for me, but ... RANGERS IN 6.

(5) Flyers vs. (6) Devils: Philadelphia is so dangerous right now. They have the best player left in the East in Giroux, players who will produce goals like Jagr and Coturier, and little punks like Briere that make plays in series like this and have a strong postseason scoring record. I wonder a bit about their defense, and I wonder a lot about their goaltending, which means this won't be an easy series. I also think the Flyers are going to have a more difficult time getting the Devils into the post-whistle shenanigans than they did that distracted the Penguins in the quarterfinals. New Jersey needs a Herculean effort to advance and I think they are capable of almost that level of play. Hate to say it, but ... FLYERS IN 7.

WEST

(2) Blues vs. (8) Kings: As someone noted last week, each game in this series ought to just start with overtime and scoreless, because that's about how these games are going to go. Both teams have great goaltending, so there's no advantage there. Each team is strong defensively, won't back down from physicality, and have enough offensive players to be a threat. It's really a coin flip, but I'll give the home team the edge. BLUES IN 7.

(3) Coyotes vs. (4) Predators: Mike Smith had a great series vs. Chicago in goal for Phoenix, and he could certainly continue to do that in this series. But Nashville is better defensively and I think they have more weapons in terms of scoring. Nashville will overwhelm a very game Phoenix team. PREDATORS IN 6.

So, we'll end up with Rangers-Flyers and Blues-Predators.

Or, maybe not.

Your picks taste a little chalky there, Ed.

Obviously I'll be hoping I'm wrong on both series in the East.

In the West, the teams I picked against could certainly win the series because of the goalies.

The Western series are also hard to pick because it seems like goals are going to be so rare in both. A crazy bounce here and there could swing the series.

I went with the Caps because I think they have that little something extra to beat the Rangers. The godawful Sens took them 7 games. They're not all they're cracked up to be. The Flyers are going to beat the Devils because the Devils stink to high heaven. The Preds and Blues are simply better.

So I went 4-0 in the East and 2-2 in the West? Not bad for someone who is clueless on the sport.

When does the Cap series start?

Preds?

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A year ago today we had that massive tornado outbreak. ugh.

Caps-Rangers begins on NBC at 3 p.m. Eastern Saturday. Game 2 is Monday night.

Phoenix/Nashville begins at 9 Eastern tonight on NBCSN.

Probably won't see Caps game 1, but I'll see some of Nashville then.

thx

I'm working on creating a landscape layout for two pages, side by side, and for some reason, my brain cannot remember how I did it before.

AGH!!!

I think I got it!!!

How is it that in every fantasy league I play in, I have a plethora of guys on the DL. Usually big stars.

Now Ryan Zimmerman is on the DL, but Bryce Harper gets the call up.

Yeah, you'd better hate to say that.

I kind of want a Caps-Devs conference final now that we have awesome couches I can banish you to.

stayed up too late watching the Preds lose in OT.

Phx does the white out, but the opponents are wearing white - seems odd.

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Off to Cnoog in a bit. Have fun round here.

Holy cow am I hungry.

What is surprising is - I am not.

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Metros lost 6-2 to Cnoog. We had a bunch of trialists playing. CNoog's stadium is nice, not so much the field turf, but nice place.

After game me and the youts went to get Taco ROC. Yeah, it ROCKED!!!

Sharpie! How the heck are you?

Always nice to get cameo appearances in the thread.

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Didn't see the Caps game, which was probably a good thing.

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Went to the United match. De Rosario is the best player in MLS. Forget the stats, just watch him. His skill level and field recognition is far beyond this league.

Thanks to the Red Bull front office for donating him to DC United.

Trying to watch DCU video on MLS net but it is not opening up for me. What video format does MLSnet use?

Missed Caps game as well.

Also saw Nats blow a Strasburg win. Lucky for Ed, that was 4 sure points, and may be the difference in the week's match up.

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I'm watching the Special One's youth coaching show.

Guessing quicktime.

Nope. That did not do the trick.

Oh well.

MLS Live uses Flash for everything. It's never looked better than this season.

I nearly got kicked out of the Union game last night because I went apeshit after San Jose scored their second goal, and I started pounding my fist on the chair and the sign above our seats in anger. I was pissed. I can't stand watching this team be both boring and fail. Do one or the other. I didn't pay close to a thousand bucks on tickets and parking to be boring and lose.

Hey, Union: STOP BEING SHIT!!!!

There, now I feel a little better.

Jihad!!!!!!! Not afraid of the man. I've used that word so much that a drone would be flying around my neighborhood if there was something to it. No problem using it.

Now, if someone waged jihad against bacon, shit would get real.

Great new parody account on Twitter: Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri (@AlterMazzarri). Dude comes up with some hilarious excuses for anything under the sun that happens, and how it clearly penalizes Napoli.

"All the Lazio starters getting injured hurts us, because of course their reserves are going to play and they are well rested and have nothing to lose, which works against us."

"Playing in the CL preliminary round is a hassle, especially for us since we are a young team and need to develop. Better to play in the EL."

"I don't like to talk about the refs. All I'm saying is that when refs show a certain indecision it hurts us, because we are a young team and very vulnerable psychologically."

Jihad..

I'm watching Lawrence of Arabia. Great movie.

Also made steak and my famous potatoes for dinner. So good.

Now eating oatmeal cookies, also home made. yummy.