Here goes:

Montreal in 5. Boston is just too banged up and I don’t think the return of Bergeron (late in 1st round) and Savard will be enough.

Pittsburgh in 6. Ottawa will win a couple of close ones, but look for some sort of goaltending controversy. I see Gerber getting shelled in games 1 and 2 and Ottawa starting Emery in Game 3. Should be fun watching this train wreck in Ottawa. No Alfie and Fisher means the end to Ottawa. I still don’t like the deadline trade to bring in Stillman. They miss Corvo.

Rangers over Devils in 6. I’m actually predicting a Ranger-Shark final. I dunno, something about the Rangers underachieving for most of the year and guys like Drury, Gomez and Jagr getting hot at the right time. Lundqvist has been amazing all year and you just can’t bet against Shanny. Elias and Gionta have been invisible all year and I just don’t see Parise ready this year to carry the load. Brodeur is Brodeur, but since the softies in the Tampa series last year, I’ve noticed more bad angle and soft goals coming this year as he ages.

Washington over Philly in 7. Mostly just to go against Blue and T-Bone, but there is something magical about the Caps this year. What impressed my down the final 4 games is the guys like Bruce Laich putting in some big goals. Washington was scoring 4 goals a night, but only one by Ovechkin. I think his supporting cast might be a bit better than others give credit for and simply shutting Ovey down might not be enough. Look for the meathead Phlyers to rack up the penalty minutes and Green putting in a ton of Power play goals from the point.

Detroit over Nashville in 5. I’ll allow Nashville to pull out an O/T win at home, but basically be outclassed all series. Look for Tootoo to get 2 or 3 dumb penalties a game, followed by Lidstrom to Zetterberg to Datsyuk tic-tac-toe goals.

San Jose over Calgary in 6. I really like Calgary, but Thornton and Nabokov seem like they’re on a mission this year. Cheechoo and Marleau have been terrible all year, but Marleau is very hot of late and San Jose had a string of 21 straight games without a regulation loss despite the aforementioned being so terrible. This should be the best series of the first round, but I just don’t see Tanguay, Langkow, a hurt Conroy and wonkey knee Nolan enough to support Iginla.

Anaheim over Dallas in 6. Yes, I agree with the low scoring snore-fest prediction, but should be some good hitting in this one. Anaheim just too good on the blueline for Dallas. I’ll enjoy seeing Pronger and Getzlaf dole out the punishment to Ribiero.

Finally, Colorado over Minnesota in 6. Minnesota is a good team, but despite a great goalie in Backstrom, I just don’t see the supporting cast behind Gaborik. Bouchard, Demitra, Rolston? I just don’t buy it yet. Sure Colorado is old, but even if the Sakic, Forsberg, Hejduk line falters, they can still come back with Stastny, Wolski, Brunette and I also think Smyth is due after being so terrible the past month. Theodore has actually been quite solid this year.

Bank it!!!!

Capper