SIMNet Playoffs Predictions

Columbus vs Detroit

Detroit finished 1st in the league in Goals For and also 1st in Goals Against compared to 14th and 14th for Columbus so Detroit has clearly the advantage at 5-on-5.  On special teams, Detroit was 10th on the PP and 14th on the PK compared to 8th and 22nd for Columbus.

On offense, Crosby, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and St.Louis have been leading the charge for Detroit in the regular season and there is obviously no problem for GM Cyr on offense.  Backes, Zuccarello and Oshie have been the better players for Columbus on offense.
Advantage: Detroit

On defense, Suter and Ekman-Larsson have been putting the points on the board for Detroit.  Suter, Orpik and Seidenberg have been doing the job defensively if you look at blocked shots and hits.  Carlson and Yandle had good seasons for Columbus offensively.  Carslon, Michalek, Yandle, Franson and Fowler had good numbers defensively.
Advantage: Detroit

In goal, Quick finished the season with a 2.40 GAA and 0.903 Sv% compared to 2.84 GAA and 0.897 Sv% for Holtby.  Quick is a way better rated goaltender in the sim and had good numbers.
Advantage: Detroit

The Wings had the edge over Columbus during the regular season with a 2-0-1 record but all three games have been really close.  Even if I gave the advantage to Detroit on defense, GM Clarke has assembled a good D squad.  If Columbus want to steal one game against Detroit, Carlson, Yandle, Michalek and Fowler have to step up big in the playoffs.

Prediction: DETROIT in 5


Tampa Bay vs Philadelphia

Philly finished 6th in the league in Goals For and 7th in Goals Against compared to 8th and 12th for Tampa.  On special teams, Philly was 7th on the PP and 2nd on the PK compared to 3rd and 1st for Tampa.  Philly has a slight advantage at 5-on-5 but Tampa has a similar advantage on the special teams.

On offense, Kopitar, Sharp and Hossa have been the leaders for Philly.  Pavelski, Stastny and Read have done decently for the Lightning but it is not comparable the numbers put up by Philly's stars.  Philly's forwards also have the edge in experience which should help in the playoffs.
Advantage: Philadelphia

On defense, Karlsson, Josi and Girardi had great seasons for Philly offensively.  No Tampa's dman has put comparable numbers to Philly's dman offensively.  Girardi, Karlsson, Gudas and Josi were great for Philly.  Vlasic, Burns and Niskanen have also done a good job for Tampa.
Advantage: Philadelphia

In goal, Niemi finished the season with a 2.47 GAA and a 0.907 Sv% for Philly.  For Tampa, Halak had 20 wins with a 2.94 GAA and a 0.902 Sv%.  Ramo also got 26 wins this year and had a 2.62 GAA and a 0.911 Sv%.  Ramo had better stats than Halak this year but Halak has a bit more experience and is rated better overall than Ramo in the sim.  It is going to be interesting to see who is going to start in goal for Tampa and if GM St.Pierre will be tempted to go with a different starter if Philly is leading the series early on.
Advantage: Philadephia

GM Paquenet has made all the right moves since he took over the Flyers.  He has a really strong case for GM of the year with the way he has managed his team during the year and the steals he has done near the trade deadline.  Both teams have done really well in their last 10 games so they are on a good stretch, but unless Tampa's cheerleaders do some magic or the sim factor continue to help out Tampa, I cannot see how Tampa will be able to handle Philly in this series.  Philly won the season series with a 2-1 record.

Prediction: PHILLY in 5


Toronto vs Boston

Boston finished 3rd in the league for Goals For and 11th in Goals Against compared to 13th and 18th for Toronto.  On special teams, the Bruins were 11th on the PP and 4th on the PK compared to 5th and 9th for the Leafs.  Boston had the edge at 5-on-5 but both teams have done a good job on special teams.

On offense, Toews and Giroux had stellar seasons for the Bruins.  They have been helped by Parise, Kessel and Marchand.  For Toronto, Benn and Filppula put up good numbers.  Kunitz also had decent numbers.  Boston has an advantage on the offensive side.  The Bruins also have a better depth.
Advantage: Boston

On defense, Chara and Bouwmeester are the only ones who had good seasons offensively for Boston.  They are also the ones who led the defensive categories for the Bruins with some help from Stuart.  For Toronto, Kronwall and Phaneuf have put up points on the board and had some help from Hamhuis.  Hamhuis, Brodin, Kronwall and Phaneuf have done the job defensively.  I would give up a slight edge to Toronto on defense but the Bruins D squad even things out with the experience they bring.
Advantage: none

In goal, Bobrovsky has done the job for Boston with a 2.46 GAA and a 0.910 Sv%.  For Toronto, Lundqvist finished the season with a 2.69 GAA and a 0.904 Sv% which I am sure is not the kind of stats GM MacLeod expected from him.  Even if Bobrovsky had a really good season, he lacks experience for the playoffs which is one of Lundqvist's strength.  Lundqvist is also a better rated goalie in the sim.
Advantage: Toronto

Both GM are really competitive and I am sure will do the necessary adjustments game after game so I expect this series to be a long one.  The Leafs had a 3-1 record against the Bruins in the regular season but won two of those games in overtime or shootout.  This is going to be one of the more exciting series in the first round.  There is a really good chance that the deciding factor will be Boston's offense vs Lundqvist.

Prediction: BOSTON in 7


NY Rangers vs Washington

Washington finished the season 9th in Goals For and 5th in Goals against compared to 17th and 4th for New York.  The Caps were 15th on the power play, which is really surprising for a team with Ovechkin and Getzlaf, and 5th on PK compared to 17th and 4th for the Rangers.  Both teams had similar results on special teams but the Caps had the edge in scoring.

On offense, Getzlaf has been the only one to put up great numbers for the Caps but Ovechkin, Simmonds and Fisher all had over 25 goals.  It has been a tough season for the Rangers on offense as Perry was the only one putting up good numbers with some help from Thornton.  Both team stars have somewhat struggled this season.  I could have given a slight edge to the Caps but the Rangers sure do have a lot of firepower up front too.
Advantage: none

On defense, GM Vaillancourt could not have asked more from Pietrangelo offensively.  Trouba has also helped in that area.  Pietrangelo, Shattenkirk, Trouba, Bieksa and Morris have all helped the team defensively.  For the Rangers, Enstrom and Campbell have put up decent numbers offensively, where Gorges, Campbell and Emelin have been leading the charge defensively.  Both teams have comparable defense but the Rangers have a bit more experience so I give them a slight advantage over the Caps.
Advantage: New York

In goal, Price had great numbers for Washington with 38 wins, a 2.36 GAA and a 0.916 Sv%.  Bishop had similar numbers for the Rangers with 37 wins, a 2.29 GAA and a 0.916 Sv% but Price brings a lot more experience for the playoffs.
Advantage: Washington

As for the Bruins-Leafs series, this series should be a very interesting one.  It is just bad that we cannot watch it on TV :-).  The Caps won the season series 3-1 but three of those games have been decided by only one goal.  Both teams are built pretty similar and I should probably give the advantage to Washington with Price in goal but...

Prediction: NEW YORK in 7

GOOD LUCK GUYS!  KEEP THE CUP IN THE EAST...

Steeve Cyr

Good job Paul! I'm working on an article for the West Conference.

SIMNet Playoffs Predictions
Eastern Conference

• 0 teams Like this  11 years

Jeannot St-Pierre

Really nice article Paul. I really like that when someone breakdown teams like this. It's an eye opener regarding the overall of the changes you do to your team. After reading the TB vs Phi breakdown, you hit many great points, and lots of great stats!!! But, I think Tampa Bay will go a bit further than 5 games......if my goalies get along..lol...lol...I'm guessing at least a game 6 or 7 may happen....cause we played Phi at the beginning of the season....and my team got way better later on.

SIMNet Playoffs Predictions
Eastern Conference

• 0 teams Like this  11 years

Jeremy H Yeah, I tried not to consider the SIM factor in those predictions. You just need to make the playoffs. Anything can happen after we hit the big sim button haha.

11 years  0 teams Like this

Jeannot St-Pierre

Only one more thing to say about our playoff hope.......Bring it on Philly!!!!!!! Cheers to all GM's!!!!!!

SIMNet Playoffs Predictions
Eastern Conference

• 0 teams Like this  11 years

Paolo Clara

nice article :) you should do one like this for the west, i enjoyed reading this man great work looking forward to seeingthe results

SIMNet Playoffs Predictions
Eastern Conference

• 0 teams Like this  11 years

View all 2 comments

Paolo Clara no way man, u got it down very good dont think it can be done any better :) again great articicle man, i always love reading these!!!

11 years  0 teams Like this