Victor Fernandes makes his predictions for the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs:
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals
No. 1 New York Rangers (51-24-7) vs. No. 8 Ottawa Senators (41-31-10)
* The Rangers don’t have enough offense to win the title this season. But they will come close.
Prediction: Rangers in 6 games
No. 2 Boston Bruins (49-29-4) vs. No. 7 Washington Capitals (42-32-8)
* With a healthy Nicklas Backstrom, the Capitals will nearly upset the defending champion.
Prediction: Bruins in 7 games
No. 3 Florida Panthers (38-26-18) vs. No. 6 New Jersey Devils (48-28-6)
* The Panthers’ first playoff appearance in 12 years will be short-lived.
Prediction: Devils in 6 games
No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins (51-25-6) vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers (47-26-9)
* The winner of this hard-fought, in-state rivarly could limp into the second round.
Prediction: Penguins in 6 games
Semifinals
No. 1 N.Y. Rangers vs. No. 6 New Jersey
* Goaltending and defense will headline a battle between these longtime rivals.
Prediction: Rangers in 6 games
No. 2 BostonPittsburgh
* Even with G Tim Thomas and D Zdeno Chara, the Bruins won’t stop Evgeni Malkin and the Penguins.
Prediction: Penguins in 7 games
Finals
No. 1 N.Y. Rangers vs. No. 4 Pittsburgh
* The Penguins reached full strength late in regular season. That pays off in the playoffs.
Prediction: Penguins in 6 games
Western Conference
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Vancouver Canucks (51-22-9) vs. Los Angeles Kings (40-27-15)
* Much-maligned G Roberto Luongo will lead the way against the league’s second-worst offense.
Prediction: Canucks in 4 games
No. 2 St. Louis Blues (49-22-11) vs. No. 7 San Jose Sharks (43-20-10)
Defense wins championships – or in the Blues’ case, a first-round series.
Prediction: Blues in 5 games
No. 3 Phoenix Coyotes (42-27-13) vs. No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks (45-26-11)
The Blackhawks still have enough holdovers from their 2010 Cup title team.
Prediction: Blackhawks in 6 games
No. 4 Nashville Predators (48-26-8) vs. No. 5 Detroit Red Wings (48-28-6)
* The up-and-coming Predators break through the perennial Cup contender.
Prediction: Predators in 7 games
Semifinals
No. 1 Vancouver vs. No. 6 Chicago
* The Canucks reach the conference finals for the third straight year. But it won’t be easy.
Prediction: Canucks in 7 games
No. 2 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 4 Nashville
* G Pekka Rinne and the Predators end the Blues’ surprising season.
Prediction: Predators in 6 games
Finals
No. 1 Vancouver vs. No. No. 4 Nashville
* The Presidents Trophy-winning Canucks fall short of a second straight Cup final.
Prediction: Predators in 6 games
Stanley Cup Final
No. 4E Pittsburgh vs. No. 4W Nashville
* The league’s most dangerous offense leads the Penguins back to the top of the NHL.
Prediction: Penguins in 5 games
