After a brief vacation to gamble on sports and get as much comped from MGM properties in Vegas as possible, Detroit Sports Weekly is back in action. And what a week it is for Detroit sports. We are only a few days removed from the NFL Draft, and last night the Lions, Tigers, and Wings were all in action after having Monday off. Seems like the day off did everyone good, as all three of our teams were victorious.
Having some time off was also good for us here at Detroit Sports Weekly. We've got a few new things in the works and, as always, we're tweaking the design of the website. The lovable trainwreck we know as Wilkie should have a new blog up very soon, hopefully having something to do with golf since we weren't able to get his Masters preview up in time....but probably not. I am also trying to nail down a baseball blogger to keep track of our Tigers, who will definitely be interesting to watch all season long.
Today's Action:
The Wings and Pistons have the day off before they both try to close out their respective series' tomorrow.
The Tigers are still in NY with a 7:00 pm start tonight. Jeremy Bonderman gets the start for Detroit, while the Evil Empire sends Andy Pettitte to the mound. Pettitte has been pitching well so far this year with a 3-2 record and a 3.23 ERA in 30 2/3 innings. He's struck out 17, while only giving up 10 walks. We'll see how those numbers look after facing this strong Tiger lineup tonight.
The game can be seen on FSN Detroit (in it's entirety tonight) and heard on 97.1FM/1270AM
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Preview, 1st Round
To be quite honest, my attention hasn't been fully focused on the NHL this year....therefore, my first round previews this year may lack my normal insight, but I am pretty sure that my results this year will be pretty good. I won't be able to beat my 8 for 8 I put up in the first round last year, but I should be close. Now, without further ado or excuse making....here is the first of my round one previews.
Eastern Conference:
#1 Montreal -vs- #8 Boston
I laid out a bunch of numbers for this match-up to support my feeling about who will win, and was ready to pass them on here but the only thing I really want to point out now is that Boston did not win a game versus Montreal all season. 0-8. The only thing the numbers I was going to spew showed is that the Habs are a good bet against the Bruins when playing at home in Montreal, and the over seems like a good bet in those games too. Montreal averaged 6 goals a game vs Boston during the season while playing in Montreal.
Pick: Montreal in 4
#2 Pittsburgh -vs- #7 Ottawa
What a difference a year makes. At this time last year Ottawa was gearing up for a sick run through the Eastern Conference playoffs, and Pittsburgh just seemed happy to be playing in the post season. Role reversal for sure, but you can't sleep on the Sens this post season. They are basically the same team as they were last year when they pretty much strolled into the Stanley Cup Finals, with a couple of key differences. This Ottawa team still knows how to score, with only Montreal outscoring them on the season, and that was only by one goal anyway. The big question in Ottawa is the goaltending. Good net play could get them an upset in this series, but I don't see everything they need coming together against Pittsburgh. Another series where the over will be a good play more often than not, and a lean toward the home team in most games.
Pick: Pittsburgh in 6
#3 Washington -vs- #6 Philadelphia
With only 94 points Washington is a 3 seed in name only, fighting over the last two weeks of the season just to make the playoffs. They come in with a lot of momentum, but that could work against them just as easily as it could work for them. This should be a great series for the fans, and I know I will be going out of my way to check out the games. I can just imagine how much of a hard on the NHL has looking forward to a Washington/Pittsburgh series in the second round, but I don't see it happening this year. If anyone should have a hard on about this series, I think it's Montreal because they are going to get a chance to rest before taking on Philly, another team that couldn't beat the Habs in the regular season.
Pick: Philadelphia in 7
#4 New Jersey -vs- #5 NY Rangers
I think this is going to be a great series for the hockey "purists" out there and the old time fans. I also think this is a nightmare match-up for the league in terms of growing a playoff fan base. Most everyone in NJ knows what to expect from there Devils in the playoffs, and with baseball season in full swing now does anyone in NY really know that the Rangers are still playing? I think this should be a rather low scoring series with each game close to the end, and at least one multiple OT game that keeps me up past midnight on a work night.
Pick: NJ in 6
I am really geeked up for the playoffs this year, and can't believe the puck drops on round one tomorrow night. Hockey playoffs are here, NBA playoffs are just around the corner, MLB is starting out with some interesting twists, and the weather here in the D is getting a little more Spring like after our 723 inches of snow this past winter. Is there a better time to be a sports fan in Detroit?
Keep an eye out for tomorrow's post when I get my Western Conference preview out and tell everyone around here what I think about the chances for our mighty Wings.
Eastern Conference:
#1 Montreal -vs- #8 Boston
I laid out a bunch of numbers for this match-up to support my feeling about who will win, and was ready to pass them on here but the only thing I really want to point out now is that Boston did not win a game versus Montreal all season. 0-8. The only thing the numbers I was going to spew showed is that the Habs are a good bet against the Bruins when playing at home in Montreal, and the over seems like a good bet in those games too. Montreal averaged 6 goals a game vs Boston during the season while playing in Montreal.
Pick: Montreal in 4
#2 Pittsburgh -vs- #7 Ottawa
What a difference a year makes. At this time last year Ottawa was gearing up for a sick run through the Eastern Conference playoffs, and Pittsburgh just seemed happy to be playing in the post season. Role reversal for sure, but you can't sleep on the Sens this post season. They are basically the same team as they were last year when they pretty much strolled into the Stanley Cup Finals, with a couple of key differences. This Ottawa team still knows how to score, with only Montreal outscoring them on the season, and that was only by one goal anyway. The big question in Ottawa is the goaltending. Good net play could get them an upset in this series, but I don't see everything they need coming together against Pittsburgh. Another series where the over will be a good play more often than not, and a lean toward the home team in most games.
Pick: Pittsburgh in 6
#3 Washington -vs- #6 Philadelphia
With only 94 points Washington is a 3 seed in name only, fighting over the last two weeks of the season just to make the playoffs. They come in with a lot of momentum, but that could work against them just as easily as it could work for them. This should be a great series for the fans, and I know I will be going out of my way to check out the games. I can just imagine how much of a hard on the NHL has looking forward to a Washington/Pittsburgh series in the second round, but I don't see it happening this year. If anyone should have a hard on about this series, I think it's Montreal because they are going to get a chance to rest before taking on Philly, another team that couldn't beat the Habs in the regular season.
Pick: Philadelphia in 7
#4 New Jersey -vs- #5 NY Rangers
I think this is going to be a great series for the hockey "purists" out there and the old time fans. I also think this is a nightmare match-up for the league in terms of growing a playoff fan base. Most everyone in NJ knows what to expect from there Devils in the playoffs, and with baseball season in full swing now does anyone in NY really know that the Rangers are still playing? I think this should be a rather low scoring series with each game close to the end, and at least one multiple OT game that keeps me up past midnight on a work night.
Pick: NJ in 6
I am really geeked up for the playoffs this year, and can't believe the puck drops on round one tomorrow night. Hockey playoffs are here, NBA playoffs are just around the corner, MLB is starting out with some interesting twists, and the weather here in the D is getting a little more Spring like after our 723 inches of snow this past winter. Is there a better time to be a sports fan in Detroit?
Keep an eye out for tomorrow's post when I get my Western Conference preview out and tell everyone around here what I think about the chances for our mighty Wings.
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