NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 17)

The Dallas Stars turn to the off-season after a disappointing exit in the first round of the playoffs.

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 28 (July 27)

After a brief hiatus, the boys are back with their latest podcast where they talk about notable stories from July.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 15)

The third regular season is wrapping up. Where will the Dallas Stars finish in the standings?

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 27 (July 3)

New Sports by Schmucks podcast with Brett, Sean, and Josh.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 14)

Taking the team through the middle of the season, will the Dallas Stars create some separation in the standings?

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 13)

Before the 2015 season starts, does the GM pull off any other moves?

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 12)

After a brief hiatus, the Dallas Stars Be a GM is back! See the Stars navigate through the 2015 off-season in this episode of the series.

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 26 (June 17)

Sean and Brett talk about the conclusion of the Stanley Cup and the NBA Finals, the lack of emphasis on the U.S. Open and dish out some high fives and face palms.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 9)

The Stars start the 2014-15 season.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 7)

The Dallas Stars Be a GM is back with the first half of the off-season. How will the Stars draft? Who will they re-sign?

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 22 (April 18)

Brett, Sean & Kieran talk Champions League and the NHL/NBA playoffs

Chris Lejambe's 2014 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions

Here we are once again in the month of April and it means only one thing: it’s time for the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. It also means that it’s time to tell the world who I think will make it through the first round.

Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings

To me this will be the series to watch in the first round, and whomever wins this series will be the team to beat in the East going forward. Boston is definitely the bigger team in this matchup, so the key for them is to be very physical right from the opening faceoff. Detroit has a lot of young players to complement the veterans on the team and if they can score early. They can put Boston on their heels and throw off their game. Detroit won the season series against the Bruins and that is saying something against the President’s Trophy winner. This will be a hard-fought series and there will not be any easy victories. I predict a seven-game series with Detroit winning 4-3.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

Based on regular season games this season between these two teams, it’s fair to say that Pittsburgh is the better team (5-0 in the season series). The Penguins have one of the best players in the world on their team and Columbus is going to have the unenviable task of restricting Sidney Crosby’s movements on the ice.  To me this comes down to goaltending and could very well be the Sergei Bobrovsky show (if Columbus stands a chance against Pittsburgh then it will have to be). I think Columbus has the better goaltender, but not enough in front of him to get Columbus more than one win. I expect close games, but Pittsburgh has a more talented roster and that will be the difference in the series and spell the end to the Blue Jackets. Pittsburgh wins the series 4-1.

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Montreal Canadiens

This series features the only Canadian team to make the playoffs this year, and sadly (for the country) I don’t think they will get past the Lightning. The Lightning won the season series and although they were close games, I think Tampa has the better team. Montreal has the better goaltender in Carey Price, but he can’t score for the team and the Lightning have more firepower. If Tampa gets an early lead, I’m not sure Montreal has enough scoring power to keep up. Tampa Bay wins the series 4-2.

New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers

Both of these teams have pretty awesome crowds, and in all four meetings between these two teams this season, the home team won the game. This series comes down to who plays better on the road. Both teams have solid goaltenders behind them and both teams are capable of scoring. Some of the veteran players on the Rangers haven’t been near as productive this season as expected and they are going to have to step up in order to secure the Rangers a series win. I think the Flyers are ready to go now and that will give them a slight advantage. In a seven game series, that could make the difference. Philadelphia wins the series 4-3.

Western Conference

Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars

The Ducks are the top of the Western Conference and basically dominated the league in the first half of the season with a record of 36-8-5 at one point. Yes, they did slow down after that, but they looked back to usual form by the end of the season. Dallas has a better goaltender in Kari Lehtonen and that should get Dallas a couple wins in the series, but overall I feel the Ducks are the better team and their record during the season is proof of that. Anaheim wins the series 4-2.

Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild

This is another series that comes down to goaltending. Colorado has a battle tested Semyon Varlamov and Minnesota has Ilya Bryzgalov, who went 7-0-3 in the last 11 games for the Wild. He’s a big reason they made the post season. I think Varlamov is the better and more reliable of the two and, combined with the young talent and ability to score for Colorado, I think the Wild won’t have enough to win the series. Colorado wins the series 4-2.

San Jose vs. Los Angeles Sharks

This will be another nail-biting series that will be low-scoring and filled with tension. I don’t envy die-hard fans of either of these teams, who will need nerves of steel while watching their teams. During the season, home ice played a big role in determining the winner and I see no reason why this series will be any different. I think the difference in this series will be Jonathan Quick and the overall health of the Kings. Add to that the fact the Sharks always seem to underperform in the post-season regardless of how good they look during the season and I think the Kings will emerge victorious. Los Angeles wins the series 4-3.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. St. Louis Blues

The defending Champions start their playoff run against the Blues and these teams currently look like polar opposites. Chicago has a much healthier team and many players from last year’s Cup winning team have returned this year. St. Louis on the other hand, picked a terrible time of the year for a six-game losing streak and has several injured players on the roster that may not be healthy enough to make the team for the playoffs or to make a difference for their team. St. Louis has the opportunity here to step up and play like they did earlier in the season, but if they can’t do that, then it will be a quick exit for them. Chicago wins the series 4-1.

Future Round Picks

East

Detroit defeats Tampa Bay

Pittsburgh defeats Philadelphia

Detroit defeats Pittsburgh.

West

Chicago defeats Colorado

Anaheim defeats Los Angeles

Chicago defeats Anaheim

Cup Final

Detroit defeats Chicago

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 6)

Final episode of the 2013-14 season in this Dallas Stars Be a GM. What happens before the off-season?

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 20 (April 9)

Brett and Sean battle colds to talk about the NBA and NHL playoffs. They also add some early overreactions to MLB's season. Also, some high fives and face palms to close the show.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 5)

Episode 5 of the Dallas Stars Be a GM mode taking the team to the Trade Deadline.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 4)

The Dallas Stars begin the 2013-14 NHL season after a pre-season full of trades. How will this young roster handle the beginning of the season?

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 3)

Episode 3 of the Dallas Stars Be a GM mode in NHL 14. It's the final preseason video. Who stays and who goes?

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 14 (NHL Trade Deadline)

The Schmucks talk about the NHL Trade Deadline. It was recorded late one night, so things get messy near the end.

Sports by Schmucks Podcast - Episode 11

Josh Spadafora makes his podcast debut with Brett and Sean. The Schmucks talk about Michael Sam, the Olympics and NBA All-Star Weekend.

NHL 14 Be a GM - Dallas Stars (Episode 1)

It's a new day. Time to start a new Be a GM with the Dallas Stars. This is the set up. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes.