[smc]

Okay, the results are in. If I were playing baseball and batting .500, it would be impressive. In predicting hockey series outcomes, though, getting half of them correct doesn't seem like a very good record.

My predictions were:

Originally Posted by smc

Los Angeles will beat Vancouver in six games ...

I called the outcome correctly, although it took one fewer game.

Originally Posted by smc

St. Louis will beat San Jose in five games.

Another correct prediction, with the number of games exact.

Originally Posted by smc

Phoenix will prevail over Chicago in six games ...

Another exact prediction.

Originally Posted by smc

Detroit will beat Nashville in seven games.

It took Nashville only 5 games to prove me wrong.

Originally Posted by smc

Ottawa will make the New York Rangers work much harder than anyone expects, but the Rangers will advance after six games.

Ottawa gave the Rangers even more trouble than I expected, but the Rangers -- as I predicted -- finally prevailed.

Originally Posted by smc

Florida ... will beat the New Jersey Devils in six games.

I didn't want Florida to win, but my prediction was still incorrect. The Devils took the series in 7.

Originally Posted by smc

Pittsburgh will defeat Philadelphia. It will take seven games ...

Wrong!

Originally Posted by smc

The Boston Bruins will beat Washington in six games.

My heart is broken. Washington advances after 7 games.

Now for a stab at the next round. My predictions:

St. Louis will beat Los Angeles in 7 games.

Nashville will beat Phoenix in 6 games.

New York will beat Washington in 7 games.

Philadelphia will beat New Jersey in 7 games.

After the Bruins lost, I was really hoping the Ottawa Senators would win (even though it would have lowered my percentage of correct predictions). I would have rooted for a Canadian team to bring the Stanley Cup back to the country where hockey rules!