NHL Experts' 2010 Playoff Predictions

Either this playoff field is top-heavy or we're just getting boring in our old age. Our experts for the most part avoided going out on limbs in predicting this postseason.

Aside from a couple of people supporting the Kings, Bruins and Senators, we like the top seeds and teams that have dominated all season long. Nobody sees Montreal ousting Washington; as a matter of fact, we all have Washington playing in the Finals. Who actually hoists the Cup is a subject of some diversity, as our seven experts selected a total of four teams to win it all in June.

Check out all of our predictions below.

Capitals vs. Canadiens Predictions


Christopher Botta	Capitals in 5	Goaltending questions aside, Washington is far too talented to lose to a team that barely made the playoffs. -- Bruce Ciskie The Caps have been focused on the postseason for the last two months and don't expect any sort of let down, especially against a team they out-class. -- A.J. Perez
Bruce Ciskie	Capitals in 5
Adam Gretz	Capitals in 5
Tom Mantzouranis	Capitals in 5
A.J. Perez	Capitals in 5
Kevin Schultz	Capitals in 4
Susan Slusser	Capitals in 4

Devils vs. Flyers Predictions


Christopher Botta	Devils in 6	The Flyers will be tough, but Ilya Kovalchuk is motivated to win a Stanley Cup, as are these Devils after back-to-back first-round exits. -- Tom Mantzouranis This is going to be a tough series for both sides but in the end the Devils are too skilled and the Flyers have too many issues on D and between the pipes. -- Kevin Schultz
Bruce Ciskie	Devils in 5
Adam Gretz	Devils in 5
Tom Mantzouranis	Devils in 6
A.J. Perez	Devils in 5
Kevin Schultz	Devils in 6
Susan Slusser	Devils in 5

Sabres vs. Bruins Predictions


Christopher Botta	Sabres in 7	Unfortunately for Boston, the loss of Marc Savard just hurts too much against a team with an elite goaltender. -- Christopher Botta Call me crazy, but Tuukka Rask and the Bruins played playoff-style hockey all season long. They're ready to best Ryan Miller, even if the Sabres have a bit of an underrated offense. -- Bruce Ciskie
Bruce Ciskie	Bruins in 7
Adam Gretz	Sabres in 7
Tom Mantzouranis	Bruins in 7
A.J. Perez	Sabres in 6
Kevin Schultz	Sabres in 6
Susan Slusser	Sabres in 7

Penguins vs. Senators Predictions


Christopher Botta	Penguins in 6	The Pens have played a lot of hockey over the last two years and this series won't change things. Sidney Crosby won't let Pittsburgh fall this early. -- A.J. Perez The champions have been running a bit on the cold side and are up against a team that's been hot -- a recipe for disaster no matter who you are. -- Kevin Schultz
Bruce Ciskie	Penguins in 5
Adam Gretz	Penguins in 6
Tom Mantzouranis	Penguins in 5
A.J. Perez	Penguins in 7
Kevin Schultz	Senators in 7
Susan Slusser	Penguins in 6

Sharks vs. Avalanche Predictions


Christopher Botta	Sharks in 5	There's just too much firepower on the top-seeded Sharks for this young, gutsy Avalanche to overcome. -- Christopher Botta Colorado's going to give them a fight but the Sharks are too talented to screw it up this year. Wait ... isn't that what I said last year? -- Kevin Schultz
Bruce Ciskie	Sharks in 6
Adam Gretz	Sharks in 4
Tom Mantzouranis	Sharks in 4
A.J. Perez	Sharks in 4
Kevin Schultz	Sharks in 6
Susan Slusser	Sharks in 5

Blackhawks vs. Predators Predictions


Christopher Botta	Blackhawks in 7	The Predators can scare the Blackhawks, but how are they going to beat them? You can only suffocate this team for so long before they pounce. -- Bruce Ciskie Goaltending is still an issue for the 'Hawks, but they have the edge on the Predators in just about every other category to compensate. -- A.J. Perez
Bruce Ciskie	Blackhawks in 6
Adam Gretz	Blackhawks in 7
Tom Mantzouranis	Blackhawks in 6
A.J. Perez	Blackhawks in 6
Kevin Schultz	Blackhawks in 5
Susan Slusser	Blackhawks in 7

Canucks vs. Kings Predictions


Christopher Botta	Canucks in 5	It's always too bad when a good young team like Los Angeles sees its season end in just 10 days, as it will against the hot Canucks. -- Christopher Botta The Kings have enough talent, albeit fairly young and untested talent, to extend the club's first playoff run in eight years to another round. -- A.J. Perez
Bruce Ciskie	Canucks in 5
Adam Gretz	Canucks in 5
Tom Mantzouranis	Kings in 6
A.J. Perez	Kings in 6
Kevin Schultz	Kings in 7
Susan Slusser	Canucks in 4

Coyotes vs. Red Wings Predictions


Christopher Botta	Red Wings in 5	They'll get pushed to the limit, but Detroit is too good to not win this series. Ilya Bryzgalov needs more help than his teammates can give him. -- Bruce Ciskie Not many gave the Coyotes a chance to make it this far. I think Phoenix goalie Ilya Bryzgalov can steal four games in a long series. -- A.J. Perez
Bruce Ciskie	Red Wings in 7
Adam Gretz	Red Wings in 6
Tom Mantzouranis	Red Wings in 5
A.J. Perez	Coyotes in 7
Kevin Schultz	Red Wings in 6
Susan Slusser	Red Wings in 6

Eastern Conference Final Predictions


Christopher Botta	WAS def. NJ in 7	The Capitals have been the league's best team all season. They also have plenty of motivation after how their season ended last spring. -- Bruce Ciskie Caps GM George McPhee built the Caps to get to this point. As long as goaltending remains adequate, this shouldn't be a long series. -- A.J. Perez
Bruce Ciskie	WAS def. PIT in 6
Adam Gretz	WAS def. BUF in 6
Tom Mantzouranis	WAS def. NJ in 7
A.J. Perez	WAS def. NJ in 5
Kevin Schultz	WAS def. BUF in 7
Susan Slusser	WAS def. BUF in 6

Western Conference Final Predictions


Christopher Botta	SJ def. CHI in 7	Classic rivalry with everything on the line, and this time the Blackhawks are ready for what the Wings can bring. -- Bruce Ciskie This is where winning the conference by a point over Chicago will come into play as San Jose clinches on home ice to make it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time. -- A.J. Perez
Bruce Ciskie	CHI def. DET in 7
Adam Gretz	VAN def. DET in 6
Tom Mantzouranis	CHI def. DET in 6
A.J. Perez	SJ def. CHI in 5
Kevin Schultz	CHI def. DET in 6
Susan Slusser	VAN def. SJ in 7

Stanley Cup Finals Predictions


Christopher Botta	WAS def. SJ in 7	Either way, one franchise is going to hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time. The edge here goes to the more veteran San Jose squad as Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau shake the stigma of being ghosts in the playoffs. -- A.J. Perez There are so many contenders this year, but I think it's time for a bit of the changing of the guard as two young teams fight over the Cup. -- Kevin Schultz
Bruce Ciskie	CHI def. WAS in 6
Adam Gretz	VAN def. WAS in 6
Tom Mantzouranis	CHI def. WAS in 5
A.J. Perez	SJ def. WAS in 6
Kevin Schultz	CHI def. WAS in 6
Susan Slusser	WAS def. VAN in 6

Conn Smythe Predictions


Christopher Botta	Alex Ovechkin
Bruce Ciskie	Duncan Keith
Adam Gretz	Henrik Sedin
Tom Mantzouranis	Duncan Keith
A.J. Perez	Patrick Marleau
Kevin Schultz	Patrick Kane
Susan Slusser	Nicklas Backstrom