2006 NHL PLAYOFF PICKS

Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - The 2005-06 National Hockey League season has certainly accomplished one thing. It has shown that predictions are totally irrelevant.

We can thank the Carolina Hurricanes and Buffalo Sabres for that.

The most parity-laden regular season in recent history is behind us, and that leads into a wide-open playoff tournament that is extremely tough to assess. Sure you have your categories of teams. Detroit and Ottawa finished with the best records. New Jersey and San Jose have all the momentum, while Carolina and New York hardly have any. However, when the puck drops on Friday that all will mean very little.

Only one Game 1 starting goaltender has won a Stanley Cup as a No.1, and only two others have led teams to the Finals. Three rookie netminders are receiving the nod for their clubs, and three other non-rookies have never appeared in a playoff game.

While flipping a coin to make your playoff picks might be a little too drastic, in some cases it might not be such a bad idea. First, though, check out what these clubs have and don't have going for them.

OTTAWA SENATORS

In their favor... The Senators' lineup of skaters is as balanced as any around. They have a trio of forwards in Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza that began the season on fire and just kept on going, and a pair of No. 1 defensemen in Wade Redden and Zdeno Chara.

Not in their favor... Who knows when Dominik Hasek will be back on game ice? It could be late in the first round or it could be never. Ray Emery started off great as his replacement, but was so-so in the final stretch. So-so doesn't cut it in the spring.

Reasonable expectation... If Hasek comes back and is close to 100 percent, they can absolutely win the Cup.

DETROIT RED WINGS

In their favor... They have silenced their doubters by posting the league's best record, complementing an aging core group with a stellar crop of youngsters. Heck, even Steve Yzerman is playing like its 1997 again.

Not in their favor... Their age may catch up with them as the playoffs progress. I don't know if they can survive a grueling seven-game war in the conference finals anymore.

Reasonable expectation... Cup? Absolutely possible, especially if they make quick work of early-round opponents and get a chance to rest up.

CAROLINA HURRICANES

In their favor... The Canes are coming off the best regular season in franchise history, sparked by a balanced offensive attack that finished second in the East with 294 goals.

Not in their favor... The team floundered down the stretch, losing four of its final five regular season games. With only a win needed to secure the top spot in the conference, Carolina was trounced, 4-0, by visiting Buffalo on Tuesday. Not exactly a sign of a club ready for prime time.

Reasonable expectation... I've never been sold on this club as a Cup contender, and still need to see more. Maybe a conference finals berth, but nothing more.

DALLAS STARS

In their favor... The Stars broke the franchise mark for wins that was set during the team's 1999 Cup season. A high-octane offensive attack was powered by veterans who have been through their share of playoff wars -- Mike Modano, Jason Arnott, Brenden Morrow and Jere Lehtinen.

Not in their favor... Marty Turco needs to prove that he can carry a club on a deep postseason run.

Reasonable expectation... Absolutely a Cup contender.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

In their favor... The Devils won their final 11 games, including Tuesday's dramatic comeback victory in Montreal to take the Atlantic Division. No one enters the playoffs on a better roll, and no one else will open the postseason with a goaltender that has backed a team to a Stanley Cup.

Not in their favor... No Scott Stevens or Scott Niedermayer anymore. But lately, that hasn't mattered much.

Reasonable expectation... They might be partying like its 1995, 2000 or 2003 in the parking lot of the Meadowlands come June.

CALGARY FLAMES

In their favor... The Flames built on 2004's Stanley Cup Finals appearance and put together a terrific regular season, winning their first division in 11 years. Miikka Kiprusoff a frontrunner for the Vezina Trophy and the team's defense is its clear strength.

Not in their favor... Offense is inconsistent and only netted 218 goals in 2005-06. When a defenseman is among your leading goal-scorers, something is wrong.

Reasonable expectation... The defense and goaltending will be there, but this club needs to find itself offensively to make it back to the Finals.

BUFFALO SABRES

In their favor... The Sabres have the NHL's third-best power-play success rate, and we all know how crucial special teams are come spring.

Not in their favor... No rookie goaltender has won the Stanley Cup since Patrick Roy in 1986. In fairness to Ryan Miller, he is far from being the only inexperienced netminder in this year's playoff field.

Reasonable expectation... A round or two.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

In their favor... The Preds are in the playoffs for the second straight postseason, and this year led the NHL with 32 home wins.

Not in their favor... Starting goaltender Tomas Vokoun, who was playing at a Vezina-caliber level for much of the season, was lost for the year when diagnosed with a blood clot disorder. The mantle is now in Chris Mason's hands.

Reasonable expectation... Without Vokoun, a conference finals appearance would be a success.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

In their favor... Peter Forsberg is arguably the top player on the planet when he is 100 percent healthy, and his effect on those around him is immeasurable.

Not in their favor... Forsberg's iffy health along with an unsettling goaltending situation leaves a lot of question marks.

Reasonable expectation... If Forsberg's games missed are kept to a minimum and Robert Esche catches fire, they have the raw talent to win it all.

SAN JOSE SHARKS

In their favor... Wow. That's all you can say about the dominant duo that is Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo. Talk about a matchup headache for an opposing coach.

Not in their favor... I need to see what kind of playoff goaltender Vesa Toskala is.

Reasonable expectation... If Toskala can hold his own, this team can lift the Stanley Cup.

NEW YORK RANGERS

In their favor... They are back in the playoffs for the first time in nine years thanks to a superhuman year from Jaromir Jagr, terrific defensive play and quality goaltending from rookie Henrik Lundqvist.

Not in their favor... They tanked in the final week-and-a-half of the season, losing their final five games and falling from third to sixth in the East on the last day. They have absolutely no momentum entering the postseason.

Reasonable expectation... If they can pick themselves up and get back to the level they were at before the Olympic break, sure they can advance to the Finals.

MIGHTY DUCKS OF ANAHEIM

In their favor... Jean-Sebastien Giguere is back in the playoffs for the first time since his Conn Smythe-winning run of 2003. If any goaltender can put a team on his back, it's him.

Not in their favor... This is not 2003, and only a handful of players remain from that magical run.

Reasonable expectation... The Ducks will be mighty lucky to get past a Flames team that smothers you with its defensive speed.

MONTREAL CANADIENS

In their favor... The Habs, who always prove to be a pesky playoff opponent, are in after holding off the Atlanta Thrashers in the season's final days. Goaltender Cristobal Huet proved earlier this month his ability to catch fire, a trait definitely helpful come playoff time.

Not in their favor... They limp into the playoffs having lost four of their final six games.

Reasonable expectation... Would be lucky to win a round.

COLORADO AVALANCHE

In their favor... Joe Sakic is still proving to be capable as a superstar caliber player, and the team has several key players remaining from the 2001 Cup run.

Not in their favor... A very unstable goaltending situation that hinges on Jose Theodore.

Reasonable expectation... A round or two, but that's it.

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

In their favor... They are the defending champions and still have the firepower showcased during the magical run of 2004.

Not in their favor... Nikolai Khabibulin is gone.

Reasonable expectation... Have the guns to make a series of it with Ottawa, but ultimately their inferior goaltending will ruin them.

EDMONTON OILERS

In their favor... They have a goaltender in Dwayne Roloson who played very well down the stretch. And as Giguere proved in '03, the Red Wings can be beaten by a hot netminder.

Not in their favor... If Roloson doesn't stand on his head, they are simply too overmatched against the Wings.

Reasonable expectation... If they last five games against Detroit it will be a moral victory.