It’s that time again. The last forum pool before the CFL season and CFL pool starts.
The pool is quite simple. Before each round starts you must pick the winner of each playoff series. No need to pick the number of games. As always there will be 15 series to pick from. Perfect weeks are the first tiebreaker followed by a golf like count back. Perfect weeks are only available for the first two rounds (8 and 4). The rules can be referenced below even though there isn’t much more to it. I will reserve the right to throw in another tiebreaker such as predicting the number of games in the Final series if it looks bunched up and that a tie looks possible. There shouldn’t be co-winners in this pool.
Even though we don’t know yet if Montreal or Columbus will be playing Washington, I thought I would post the pool as early as possible to give everyone as much time as possible. I will adjust the matchups once the final one is known. If you think Washington will beat either opponent feel free to post your picks at any time. Others may want to wait until the final matchup is known or wait to see if there are any more injuries or whether certain injured players may return. Whatever you choose to do please make all 8 picks for the first round at once, rather than 7 now and one later.
First round matchups are as follows, with the second team having home ice advantage:
Western Conference
St. Louis at Winnipeg Minnesota at Las Vegas Colorado at Dallas Edmonton at Los Angeles
Eastern Conference
Ottawa at Toronto Florida at Tampa Bay New Jersey at Carolina Montreal/Columbus at Washington
The playoffs start on Saturday, April 19th. Be sure to pick by Saturday morning as there probably will be an afternoon game. We don’t know which series will start on Saturday, but presumably 4 of them will. My guess as far as Canadian teams are concerned is that Toronto will get the prime time Saturday night spot, likely followed by Edmonton at LA for a natural Saturday night doubleheader. That will likely mean that Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg won’t play until Sunday. But who knows? There are quirks every year, often due to arenas being booked. It’s nice if all series go every second day, but that doesn’t seem to happen any more.
I will ping potential participants to give everyone as much time as possible.
Good luck to everyone in the quest for the coveted Stan Lee Cup.
I am pinging you all as an invitation to join the NHL Playoff Pool because you have participated in forum pools before or shown some interest in hockey. If I missed anyone I’m sorry, but the pool is open to any forum member so feel free to participate. If you aren’t interested that’s ok too and there is no need to respond. There are 5 (hopefully) Canadian teams in the playoffs this year although we will lose minimum one for sure after the first round as Ottawa and Toronto are playing each other. Just pick the winner of each series. Easy peasy. More details in the original post at the top of this thread.
I picked all the home ice advantage teams and probably all the favourites, so I’m sure to be wrong on some as there is bound to be an upset or two.
It appears to me that the two toughest series to pick are Colorado/Dallas and Florida/Tampa. Ottawa/Toronto and Edmonton/LA could easily be close as well. The rest I’m not worried about. But what do I know?
It looks like by Saturday is the day, which gives me two solid days, but that is the 19th not the 18th.
But if you mean the 18th and Friday, by all means please do advise because then I have to scurry a bit!
Also for those of you who participated in the Masters pool, where I finished a blazing 9th, if I did not pass you in that contest around the bend on the final day coming from dead last on the second day as you chugged happily along but lost track at the wheel, well I’m coming for you now too!
You wily galoots are lucky they do not play five rounds, except for the co-champions that @Crash and @pantsonfire in a rare draw, and there was no catching those two this time.
Winnipeg Las Vegas Colorado Edmonton Toronto Tampa Bay Carolina (I don’t like either team. Lol) Washington
Not having followed the NHL seriously for some time, I’m picking teams I like more than the others. How do I know I like them more without knowing anything about them - I don’t know. I’m going to use the force on the this one.
I understand. Sometimes it’s best to just chug along in your old truck, if you have an old truck, or just to get into your car and drive around away from traffic with no particular place to go, or something like that. Yep.
I like Dallas the city after having visited twice a few years ago, so I have nothing against the city, but I don’t care for either of these teams or their arrogant fan bases with a bunch of bojacks too
Vegas
Oilers
I would love to be wrong on this pick, plus I would like the Kings to beat the crap out of this smug team regardless of the series
I foresee a very physical tournament in the East this year, even without those damn bojacks the Bruins, Rangers, and Islanders for a merciful break for all of us!
Toronto
The Battle of Ontario, may the Senators just beat the living crap out of those arrogant Leafs regardless so that they will skate a lot slower. Will the Leafs also set the record in this year’s tournament for the number of punchable faces of fans in the stands?
Tampa Bay
Here we go another Battle of Florida, so I hope they beat the crap out of each other as these Florida locals and bojacks all hate each other and is another overrated sport in Florida, but not as much as the Senators to beat the crap out of those damn Leafs so that the winner of the Battle of Florida is stronger against those damn Leafs
Washington
Meh, I don’t care for either of these teams either, whack the crap out of yourselves too please, and you the fans please as well, especially in Metro Washington with the local transplants are largely a bunch of no-good bubbleheads at best
Carolina
Meh, we all lose here as well no matter which team wins, ditto the previous post for the fan bases to beat the crap out of each other as well
