2016 NHL Playoff Pickz: Stanley Cup Finals

Hi everyone, Alan here for my last “Playoff Pickz” post. Let’s get to round 3 review.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)

My pick: Pens beat the Bolts in 6 games

Result: Pens beat the Bolts in 7 games

Thoughts: Those Bolts seem to be a pain in the butt to push this series to 7.

St. Louis Blues (C2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)

My pick: Blues beat the Sharks in 5 games

Result: Sharks beat the Blues in 6 games

Thoughts: I said the Sharks would choke this series, but instead it’s the Blues that choked this series.

Well it’s time for the Stanley Cup Finals! The Pittsburgh Penguins making their 5^th appearance in the team history, and the San Jose Sharks the least likely team you don’t expect be in but here they are their 1^st ever appearance to the Finals. One question, who will win?

My Pick: Pens beats the Sharks in 5 games.

Well there you go my final pick to end this brutal playoffs, I guess my picks could be better if any Canadian teams were in the playoffs this year. As for this site I’m going for at least 2 more posts and just like last year I taking a summer off from this site, what am I doing during my summer break? Well beside work as usually, I just sign up to play a Road Hockey League, as my way of taking a break from Flag Football that I’ve been playing it since 2011, I decided to give my sport life a change so why not. As for getting in concept contest wise nothing too big I have decided to not enter this year “HJC Open” I felt burned out last year even thou I lost in the 2^nd round but I think skipping this will do good for me. But come August the Icethetics IceHL contest I will be ready for that one, once the new logos comes I’ll be able to put together and enter them jersey sets of my and hopes for the best one of them would be a winner.

Until then, later.

2016 NHL Playoff Pickz: Round 3

Hi everyone Alan here for another edition of the “Playoff Pickz!” Before we get to the review I would like to thank you all for making my 5^th anniversary posts a hit, I know I should have done that sooner but I was in a hurry to post my round 2 picks. As speaking of round 2 here’s my review.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. New York Islanders (WC1)

My pick: Bolts beats the Islanders in 6 games

Result: Bolts beats the Islanders in 5 games

Thoughts: I knew the Bolts would beat the Islanders but I didn’t expect it in 5 games

Washington Capitals (M1) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)

My pick: Caps over the Pens in 7 games

Result: Pens beat the Caps in 6 games

Thoughts: Didn’t expect the series to end 6 game let alone the Caps losing to the Pens.

 Dallas Stars (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (C2)

My pick: Stars over the Blues in 6

Result: Blues beat the Stars in 7 games

Thoughts: The Blues has the depth which I didn’t expect they were good enough to beat the Stars.

San Jose Sharks (P3) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)

My pick: Sharks beat Preds in 5

Result: Sharks wins it in 7 games

Thoughts: I know the Sharks got this series but come on guys, 7 games really?

Well time for my round 3 picks.

Eastern Conference

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)

TBL: Without Stamkos this team would be done for, but they got good depth to help them along the way.

PIT: They got the right players playing on the right lines, to even the right goalie to play in net. This team can go deep.

Overall: This one is a good match up but star power wise the Pens got this one despite with Phil Kessel on their team.

My pick: Pens beat the Bolts in 6 games

Western Conference

 St. Louis Blues (C2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)

STL: Blues got a darn good depth, this team really shows that they are ready to go to the finals!

SJS: The last time this team been in the Conference finals they choke.

Overall: Which one will choke first?

My pick: Blues beat the Sharks in 5 games

Well that’s my see you all at my next post for my Stanley Cup final pick till then, later.

2016 NHL Playoff Pickz: Round 2

Hi everyone Alan here for Round 2 of my "2016 NHL Playoff Pickz" but first round 1 review and it ain't pretty for me!

Florida Panthers (A1) vs. New York Islanders (WC1)

My pick: Panthers beat Islanders in 5 games.

Result: Islanders beat Florida in 6 games
Thoughts: Like most top seeded teams they played well in the season, but played awful in the playoffs when the lower seeded teams takes an opportunity. 

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (A3)

My pick: Wings beat the Bolts in 6 games

Result: Bolts beat the Wings in 5

Thoughts: It's bad for the Wings to lose in 7 to the Bolts with Stamkos last year, but lose in 5 to the Bolts without Stamkos it's more sadder.

Washington Capitals (M1) vs Philadelphia Flyers (WC2)

My pick: Caps beat the Flyers in 6 games

Result: Caps beat the Flyers in 6 games
Thoughts: "Oh my goodness!" I got it right! 

New York Rangers (M3) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)

My pick: Pens over the Rangers in 7 games

Result: Pens beats the Rangers in 5 games

Thoughts: I expected this series to go all the way but the Rangers didn't got what it takes. 

Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC2)

My pick: Stars beat the Wild in 6

Result: Stars beat the Wild in 6
Thoughts: "Holy smokes!" Another series I got it right. 

St. Louis Blues (C2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (C3)

My pick:  Hawks beats the Blues in 5 games

Result: Blues beat the Hawks in 7 games
Thoughts: The Blues "Finally" beat Chicago, and ruined my pick thanks Blues.

Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)

My pick: Ducks over the Preds in 6 games

Results: Preds beat the Ducks in 7 games
Thoughts: Shocked that the Ducks lost to the Preds, nuff said.

Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)

My pick: LA sweeps the Sharks in 4 games

Result: Sharks beats the Kings in 5

Thoughts: Man who would thought that missing the playoffs last year can change the team so badly.

And now my Round 2 picks.

Eastern Conference

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. New York Islanders (WC1)

TBL: The team surprisingly played well without Stamkos, hopefully this team keeps going.
NYI: They took out one top seeded team, will they do it again?
Overall: This one is a tough call, but I know who, and how long.
My pick: Bolts beats the Islanders in 6 games

Washington Capitals (M1) vs Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)
WSH: The Caps played well in the 1st round, but this team needs to to play even better.
PIT: The Pens gave the Rangers an early exit, but they will have a hard time with this one.
Overall: I feel an even match here, and this one is a 7 games series but who will choke first?
My pick: Caps over the Pens in 7 games

Western Conference

Dallas Stars (C1) vs. St. Louis Blues (C2)
DAL: The Stars things right in their end, can they keep it up?
STL: The Blues made this year playoffs a "anybody's ball game!"
Overall: The Blues may have beat the Blackhawks, but the Stars got this one.
My pick: Stars over the Blues in 6

San Jose Sharks (P3) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)
SJS: They prove me wrong, will they prove me wrong again?
NSH: The Preds pulled an upset over a top seeded team, will they do it again?
Overall: I see the Sharks moving on but in a hard way.
My pick: Sharks beat Preds in 5

Well that's my picks. Before I go, for all concept artist out there that looking for new templates then check out Steven Grant Design, from the creator of  SG-94 got some new template goodies over at his new site, give it a try. Until then see you all at round 3

2016 NHL Playoff Pickz: Round 1

Hi everyone, Alan here for the annual playoff pickz! It started with 30 teams in the season, and now there 16 left. Let’s not waste time and get to the pickz shall we.

Eastern Conference

Florida Panthers (A1) vs. New York Islanders (WC1)

FLA: With depth of old school stars like of Jagr, Luongo, and Brian Campbell mix with young and upcoming stars like Aleksander Barkov, Jonathan Huberdeau, and Aaron Ekblad to name a few that is well put together and can rise to prime to go all the way.

NYI: The depth may not be the best for the Islanders with some missing keys to help them but you’ll be surprised with some players stepping up their game mainly with Thomas Greiss playing solid all season with addition of how well he played as Jaroslav Halak is up in shelf pretty much throughout the playoffs. John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, are few names that give the Islanders its playoffs spot.

Overall: The Islanders hopes for a first playoff win since 1993 will not be this year.

My pick: Panthers beat Islanders in 5 games.

Tampa Bay Lightning (A2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (A3)

TBL: They got good players, but without Steven Stamkos there’s a good chance it could hurt the team if they don’t step up and play their “A” game.

DET: For the 25^th year in a row the Wings are in the playoffs, with Henrik Zetterberg leading the team and their rookie star Dylan Larkin I see this team giving Tampa Bay a hard time.

Overall: I smell an upset!

My pick: Wings beat the Bolts in 6 games.

Washington Capitals (M1) vs Philadelphia Flyers (WC2)

WSH: Good offense, the defence in question, and a well fit goalie can give the Caps a chance to go to the 2^nd round.

PHI: Flyers got good forward lines, defence lines are decent, and goalies are a hit and miss.

Overall: Caps got this series, but not in an easy way.

My pick: Caps beat the Flyers in 6 games

New York Rangers (M3) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (M2)

PIT: Got some solid players like Malkin, and Crosby to name few, and not so solid player(s) (*cough* Kessel *cough*) don’t know if goalies problems.

NYR: Solid depth for the team nothing else to say.

Overall: If both can fix their goalie issues this one is a close series.

My pick: Pens over the Rangers in 7 games

Western Conference

Dallas Stars (C1) vs. Minnesota Wild (WC2)

DAL: This team got good players in their depth with the right guys on the right line this team has the potential to go all the way.

MIN: This team got some good players in their depth too, but not like the Stars.

Overall: The Stars got this but don’t expect a sweeper.

My pick: Stars beat the Wild in 6

St. Louis Blues (C2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (C3)

STL: Got the talent, but if they can’t stay healthy they are in trouble.

CHI: Saad, Sharp, Hossa, to name a few with additions of Ladd, Fleischmann, and Weise thanks to trade deadline this team are gunning for a repeat.

Overall: Sorry Blues the Hawks got this one…. Again!

My pick:  Hawks beats the Blues in 5 games

Anaheim Ducks (P1) vs. Nashville Predators (WC1)

ANA: This team were at the bottom in early season but tooth and claw their way back and top the Pacific division and ready to go deep into the playoffs.

NSH: Game by game the result for the Preds have been good for them with some good trades they had this year they are ready for a challenge.

Overall: Both of them are good, but the edge goes to the Ducks.

My pick: Ducks over the Preds in 6 games

Los Angeles Kings (P2) vs. San Jose Sharks (P3)

LAK: Pretty much the same line ups with some tweaks nothing over the top.

SJS: The Sharks are back after missing the playoffs last year they are hope for good playoff run.

Overall: I’m going to say this once so grab your brooms.

My pick: LA sweeps the Sharks in 4 games.

Well there you go these are my picks and I’m sticking to it until the 2^nd round comes along. Be here tomorrow for some more concepts till then, later.