Predictions: Caps v. Habs

Caps in 7 (I hope I’m wrong about the number). Semin will be the Caps’ leading goal scorer in the series.

Caps in 3!!!!!!

Caps in 5.

Chimera with the game winner.

Tempt not the hockey gods with predictions of victory!

Caps in 5:

Game 1 – Caps 3, Habs 2 – Ovechkin keys a 2 goal outburst in the first with a goal and an assist. Fehr nets the game winner early in the second. Habs get a goal to make it a one goal game with 42.7 seconds left in the game.

Game 2 – Caps 5, Habs 1 – Theo sparkles and makes 32 saves, big night for Semin and Laich, who are in on 4 of the five Caps goals. Caps PP goes 2 for 4.

Game 3 – Caps 3, Habs 1 – Each team only gets one chance at the power play, going 0-fer. Jeff Schultz picks up an assist and goes +3, giving him a series leading +7 after 3 games.

Game 4 – Habs 3, Caps 2 – Varlamov gets the start to give Theo a break, and stops 34 of 37, but it’s not enough as the Habs, led by Cammalieri get a win in front of the home crowd, despite 2 goals by Nick Backstrom.

Game 5 – Caps 7, Habs 1 – The floodgates open and the Caps pour in. Ovechkin nets a hat trick, and Nick Backstrom adds 3 assists. The game is close until midway in the second when Brooks Laich tips a Tom Poti shot past Halak to make it 3-1. At that point the Habs begin to press and the Caps score 4 goals on the counter attack.

Ok, maybe this is a bit much in the way of predicting… but it sure is fun visualizing.

Caps in 4.

3-1
4-2
6-5 (a game where our PK gets exposed and we have to storm back with a vengence)
3-2

Theo starts all 4 games. Ovechkin and Backstrom lead the charge. Boring. (Awesome.)

Caps in 5, ovie seals game 5 and the series with a empty net goal

Caps in 4, winning each game 1-0. The four goals in the series are all scored by American Hero John Carlson.

Wow, everyone here’s a bit overconfident. Having been a Caps fan for 30 years, I know Caps in 4 or 5 is not possible.

Here’s my prediction – first period of the first game is like the first period of the Flames game. Caps get back on their heels after giving up a few softies and suddenly find themselves down by 3 or 4. They do their best to get their shit together, but it’s anyone’s series from there. Caps are doubting themselves, Theo’s doubting himself, and the Habs are getting confident. Caps could still win it if they can stop the leaking fast enough – but they’re the Caps, so I can only hope.

The playoffs have nothing to do with this year’s regular season. They have everything to do with who the Caps are as a franchise.

Caps in 6. Theo gets pulled after a meltdown in game 3. At Least one game is decided by a blown call against the caps, and the rink puts it’s collective tin hat on.

Caps in 5, Semin will notch a hat trick and AO will have the SWG.

Caps in 4. Ovechkin scorches and Knuble shines.

Series Predictions:

-CSN will provide a minimum of 3 variations of how to pronounce Tomas Plekanec.

-A Cap will record a hat trick.

-There will be a FanPost along the lines of “I don’t normally complain about the refs, but OMG THEY WERE TERRIBLE LAST NIGHT”

-President Obama will publicly acknowledge that the Caps are in the playoffs in some manner.

-Mike Green will bust out an end-to-end rush goal for old times (two years ago) sake.

-This blog will light up with suggestions that “someone needs to run Halak.”/“Put Scott Walker in! It’s what we got him for!!!!”

-The Habs won’t win a game.

My rantings:

- One Cap gets hit from behind/cheapshotted in one of the games. The Caps promptly go on to steamroll the Habs for the rest of that game.

- Alex Semin won’t show up in the series.

- Ovechkin gets a hat trick in Game 2.

- Theodore shuts out the Habs in Montreal for Game 3.

- PK will be crap in DC but will do well in Montreal.

Caps in 5.

Montreal with 18 more powerplay opportunities in the series
Caps with 12 potential goals waved off in the series
Montreal in 7 in quadruple overtime

Prediction???

Pain.

Fans burn D.C. to the ground.