Minnesota Wild 2008 Playoff Predictions

After clinching the Northwest division with 98 points the MN Wild will open the 2008 playoffs as the #3 seed. The Wild will face off against a familiar rival the #5 seeded Colorado Avalanche.

After breaking down the the other 3 Western Conf. matchups I will make this prediction - The Wild will play in the Conference Finals. Here's how:

The playoffs are re-seeded after each round. If everything follows the chalk then the Wild would face the #2 seed San Jose Sharks. But the Sharks are the playing a feisty Calgary team that went 3-1 this year against the Sharks. I'm not saying this will hold up in the playoffs but it does show the Sharks have struggled with the Flames. The real reason I think the Flames with upset the Sharks is the schedule. The NHL has scheduled the opening two games to be played Wed & Thurs. back to back. I believe this will only help with the momentum one of the team creates in game one as they will play again without a practice or much time for adjustments. The Flames have been very inconsistent this year but San Jose has a history of blowing up in the playoffs. If the Flames get something going they could win the series.

If the Flames pull the upset the Wild would then face the #4 or #5 seed Anaheim or Dallas. The Wild have a winning record against both. The Flames would play the Red Wings. If the Wild win again they will play the Red Wings in the Western Conference Finals. I only see this playing out if the Flames can somehow upset the #2 seeded Sharks. If they do, the Wild should be playing in Detroit later this year.

Then again if a goalie gets hot and starts standing on his head anything can happen. My 2008 Playoff Prediction - Wild vs. Wings in the West, Canadiens vs. Caps in the East. The Red Wings end up having too much and beat the Capitals in six.

Hocky Update

The Wild have 7 games left in their regular season and things are looking interesting. The Wild with 95 pts are only 1 pt out of first place in the Division behind the Canucks. San Jose is up 1 pt and Dallas is down 1 pt, both are in mix for seeds. If the playoffs started today the Wild would hold the #6 seed and take on the #3 Vancouver Canucks. The #1, #2, and #4 seeds look to be unattainable because those teams have 100+ pts. The ideal situation would be the Wild winning the Division, taking the #3 seed and getting home ice. Considering the #7 seed would play the Ducks and the #5 the Red Wings. The obvious option is to stay in the #6 slot to play the Canucks or move up to the #3 and play the Canucks, Sharks or Stars. I like my chances against those teams on home ice.

Should make for an interesting final two weeks to the season.

In other hockey news...the mighty #1 seeded Golden Gopher hockey teams makes it Frozen Four tournament bracket debut today against a scrappy crew cut Air Force team. Potential opponents along the way Michigan or North Dakota, New Hampshire or Boston College and Maine or Notre Dame. Only 4 wins away from another title.

Could this be the start of a magical year? Frozen Four, Rose Bowl, Final Four?

The State of Hockey

As the Timberwolves try to decide whether they want to make the play-offs or keep their draft pick, Minnesota hockey is heating up.  I'll be honest with you, I'm more of a Timberwolves fan than I am a Wild fan.  However, I think back to the Spring of 2003.  The Gopher hockey team defended their National title and the Wild upset the Avalanche and Canucks reaching the Western Finals vs. the Mighty Ducks.  It was a magical time!  Which is why I am excited for this Spring.  The Gophers did get swept this past weekend, but they should still win the WCHA and receive a number one seed in the NCAA tournament.  The Wild currently sit as the 7th seed in the West with 19 games to go.  They are two points behind Vancouver for the division which would give them the number three seed.  They are a couple of points behind the 6th and 5th seeds as well.  But does it matter what seed they get?  Remember they were the 6th seed in 2003 and met the 7th seed the Ducks in the Western Finals.  Last year the Edmonton Oilers were the eighth seed in the West and ended up in the Stanley Cup Finals.  Oh yeah, also last year in the West the top four seeds lost in the first round.

I know that we would rather have a Super Bowl, or a NBA Finals, but I'll take a championship anyway we can get one.  The Wild and Gophers' hockey team are definitely worth getting excited for this spring.