The NHL Playoffs are underway and it's that time once again to simulate through the entire thing with the help of 2K Sports' NHL 2K8 to try to predict the future. There are plenty of story lines to look for this postseason, but there's one in particular that the sport of Hockey desperately needs right now. The story line I'm referring to is in the East and it would involve a second round match-up of Sid "The Kid" Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins versus the amazing Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. Should we expect to see this battle of goliaths in round 2? Read the results below to find out:
Eastern Conference Results
Unfortunately, we didn't get the match-up between Crosby and Ovechkin in the second round like we wanted, but we did see a couple other surprises that should get fans excited. The first shocker we saw came in the opening round when the #8 seeded Boston Bruins knocked out the #1 seeded Montreal Canadians in seven games. Then, the Bruins ran into what turned out to be one of the hottest teams in this simulation in the New Jersey Devils. The Devils not only managed to take out the Bruins in the quarterfinals in five games, but then they went on to knock out Ovechkin's Capitals in just four games in the Conference Semifinals. Patrick Elias and the New Jersey Devils advance to the Championship game and will now await the winner from the Western Conference.
Western Conference Results
In the West, we saw the exact same thing happen as the #8 seeded Nashville Predators took out the #1 seeded Detroit Red Wings. The bad news for the Predators is they ran into the other hot team during this simulation when were swept in round 2 by the Anaheim Ducks. I've heard more than a few people say they believe that the San Jose Sharks will come out of the Western Conference. However, in this run through the Sharks were unable to escape Calgary in the opening round. Just like in the East, the #4 seeded team (Anaheim Ducks) ended up coming out on top and advancing to the Finals to play for the Stanley Cup.
Stanley Cup Results
A battle of veterans went head to head as Patrick Elias and the New Jersey Devils skated all over Todd Bertuzzi and the Anaheim Ducks. It might be a stretch to see both #4 seeded teams playing for the Stanley Cup, but if it happens you can say you saw it here first. Congratulations are in order to the New Jersey Devils as they will be this year's Stanley Cup Champions.
