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Detroit Jock City Picks The Stanley Cup Champs, You Can Too

By Gwen De Young

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Mar 23, 2015; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Ottawa Senators fans cheer after a goal scored in the third period against the San Jose Sharks at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators defeated the Sharks 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs start tonight and if you didn’t know there is a bracket challenge for the NHL playoffs like there is one for the NCAA playoffs. We here at Detroit Jock City decided to do a staff pick article thanks to our wonderful writer Jack Mullen.

So we asked around the writers and these are the picks and the reasons why. We also included some special guests for picks and their reasons. Note that some are not big hockey watchers and so please don’t be harshly mean to their picks, because if they are right, well good sir or ma’am you will feel silly now won’t you.

Let’s get to it then

First we asked Jack Mullen who is the newest writer to Detroit Jock City and came up with this wonderful post idea.

Jack is picking the New York Rangers

“I definitely think that the Eastern Conference is much better than the West, so I believe whoever wins the East will win it all. With New York being the only team in the east to make the Stanley Cup Finals since the Penguins in 09, their very recent experience versus the lack of experience in other teams, along with a better roster than last year, great defense AND goaltending, I think they have what it takes to make it all the way”

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Next we talked to Joe Chapp, who picked The St. Louis Blues.

“The Blues intrigue me with the depth of their 4 lines, Jake Allen is the starting goalie in St.Louis. This playoff I see a lot of goaltender’s with hardly any experience, but I like the Blues a lot because of the depth. I think they have the most underrated D-Core in Hockey, and I think Vladimir Tarasenko will be outstanding. Think him and T.J. Oshie are the players that will be the difference. Plus they’re extremely physical.” Chapp said as his reasoning.

Jonathan LeBlanc made a bold choice, his pick; the Detroit Red Wings.

His reason is simple “Because why not? Sure they have flaws and they have a goalie controversy still between Mrazek and Howard with Mrazek starting the 1st game, but that doesn’t take away from the talent they still possess. It’s possibly Babcock’s last year, and for the front office to give Babcock the contract he wants, he needs to go deep and win the cup.”

Editor Matt Snyder picked the New York Rangers

Due in part to that “They were fourth in the NHL in goals scored in the regular season, third in goals allowed, and had the best goal differential of any team in the league (+60). It helps that they also won more games than anyone else as well.”

I myself am picking the New York Rangers

I think that they are one of the best teams in the league and while I didn’t think anyone could beat a team from the west, too many things go wrong for those top teams. Corey Perry is bound to hit a cold spout and I could see him easily having a bad playoffs. The Rangers are just a good team that is hungry from last years trip and watching them play is something special. They block shots and take a lot of shots, also they have Henrik Lundquvist, who is up there in the good goalie category.

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Our special guest pickers are the guys from the 4th Line Podcast, a nice group of men Gary, Carl and Dave, who talk about hockey and do it very well.

Carl picked the Chicago Blackhawks, his reason;

“Blackhawks improved defensively this year, giving up the least goals in the league (tied with Montreal). Having shored up their own end of the ice they now get back Patrick Kane, who was having the best season of his career when he broke his collarbone. Put him back with Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp and the rest forward core and I’m ready to crown the Hawks.”

Dave chose to go with the Tampa Bay Lightning

“Two Words: Scoring Depth! I believe Tampa ices the best group of forwards in the playoffs. Starting with Stamokos and followed closely by Johnson, Palat, Kucherov and their other young guns. You have proven playoff performers in Scratch – “You have proven playoff performers” You have veteran depth in Callahan, Boyle, Filpulla etc who all have playoff experience. Their defense and goaltenders are serviceable, and the latter has the potential to take over a series whether it be Ben Bishop or Vasilevskiy Bottom Line, they are a complete team much like the rangers with a healthy mix of talent and veteran prowess and I think they are built for Playoff success.”

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Gary picked the Anaheim Ducks

His reasoning is darn good;

“I picked them because during episode 4 I said they would win and Getzlaf would be the mvp. Figured I should stick with my word.”

If you love hockey, please go give these guys a listen, they are fun to listen to and are just the nicest people in the world… Even if Carl is a Colorado Avalanche fan.

The NHL Network guys also made picks, so here they are their match ups;

Corey Masisak – Lightning vs. Blackhawks
Brian Compton – Lightning vs. Blackhawks
Dan Rosen – Rangers vs. Blackhawks
Mike Morreale – Rangers vs. Blackhawks
Shawn Roarke – Capitals vs. Blackhawks

Every single one of these guys picked the Chicago Blackhawks to win the Stanley Cup, clearly Patrick Kane makes a huge difference to them.

Want to see if you are smarter than us writers or our special guests? Well prove it and sign up for the Detroit Jock City NHL Bracket Challenge right here. See if you can out smart us, sign up with your Twitter name if you have one and you will get mentioned by the DJC twitter account when the leaders are announced after each round.

Note: You have until 7 pm tonight to fill out a bracket.

Also don’t forget to stay connected to DJC for all your Detroit Red Wings news as the team takes on the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round.

Next: Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning series preview

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