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2013 NBA Playoffs Expert Picks: Third Round

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NHL Playoffs Expert Picks: Stanley Cup Finals

The final battle for the Stanley Cup is underway, with Philadelphia (boo!) against Chicago (sic ‘em). At least the whole Bruins blowing it thing has been dropped after the Celtics didn’t do the same thing. Random no-name goalies (at least to start the season) Michael Leighton and Antti Niemi will man the nets for the series, and with the skill both have showed, goals will be well-earned whenever they happen. And if Niemi is better, we won’t be hearing the end of it from the White House.

The Blackhawks are the clear favorites (in five or six games), though point desperation has led me to believe that a Flyers victory is a possibility. The MVP of the series is still up for grabs, though Chicago Center Jonathan Toews does have multiple votes, and two of us went with the safe bet with a goalie pick. And from what the experts are saying, you can largely expect four or so goals per game, give or take.

As for the scoring, the aforementioned MVP pick has been introduced for the final round. And since the final round is here, the tiebreaker, if necessary, is the total goals scored by both teams in the series combined. And as a pleasant, lightning round surprise, all point values have been doubled!!! That means a correct pick for series winner is worth four points, while correct picks for series length and MVP are worth two points.

So there you have it. All our experts have made their final picks, and only Mike and Teddy have been mathematically eliminated from the championship title. Will KC continue to do well? Will I win for the first time since the 2009 MLB playoffs? These questions will all be answered between one and two Fridays from now, so stay tuned.

	Name	Brian	Erikk	John	KC	Mike P	Teddy
Blackhawks vs Flyers	Winner	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Flyers	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks
	Series Length	5	5	6	6	6	5
	MVP	Antti Niemi	Jonathan Toews	Michael Leighton	Patrick Kane	Jonathan Toews	Marian Hossa
Tiebreaker	Total Goals	29	21	28	26	27	25
Total	Points	17	17	16	21	18	16

…..

…..

Round 3

	Name	Brian	Erikk	John	KC	Mike P	Teddy
Flyers vs Canadiens	Winner	Canadiens	Canadiens	Canadiens	Flyers	Flyers	Canadiens
	Series Length	6	6	6	7	6	6
Sharks vs Blackhawks	Winner	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Sharks	Blackhawks	Sharks	Blackhawks
	Series Length	7	7	6	7	6	6
Total	Points	17	17	16	21	18	16

Table Legend

• Two point picks are bolded.
• One point picks are italicized.
• Zero point picks are crossed out.

…..

…..

Round 2

	Name	Brian	Erikk	John	KC	Mike P	Teddy
Penguins vs Canadiens	Winner	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins
	Series Length	5	6	5	5	6	6
Bruins vs Flyers	Winner	Bruins	Bruins	Bruins	Bruins	Bruins	Bruins
	Series Length	6	5	6	7	6	6
Sharks vs Red Wings	Winner	Red Wings	Red Wings	Red Wings	Red Wings	Red Wings	Red Wings
	Series Length	7	6	6	6	7	7
Blackhawks vs Canucks	Winner	Blackhawks	Canucks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks
	Series Length	6	7	6	7	6	5
Total	Points	15	15	16	17	16	14

Table Legend

• Two point picks are bolded.
• One point picks are italicized.
• Zero point picks are crossed out.

…..

…..

Round 1

	Name	Brian	Erikk	John	KC	Mike P	Teddy
Capitals vs Canadiens	Winner	Capitals	Capitals	Capitals	Capitals	Capitals	Capitals
	Series Length	5	-4-	-4-	-4-	-4-	5
Devils vs Flyers	Winner	Devils	Devils	Devils	Devils	Devils	Flyers
	Series Length	6	5	7	5	7	6
Sabres vs Bruins	Winner	Bruins	Bruins	Sabres	Bruins	Bruins	Sabres
	Series Length	7	7	7	7	7	5
Penguins vs Senators	Winner	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins	Penguins
	Series Length	5	6	6	6	6	6
Sharks vs Avalanche	Winner	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks	Sharks
	Series Length	7	5	6	6	6	-4-
Blackhawks vs Predators	Winner	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks	Blackhawks
	Series Length	5	-4-	5	6	6	5
Canucks vs Kings	Winner	Canucks	Canucks	Canucks	Kings	Kings	Canucks
	Series Length	7	6	6	7	7	5
Coyotes vs Red Wings	Winner	Red Wings	Red Wings	Red Wings	Red Wings	Red Wings	Coyotes
	Series Length	6	6	6	6	5	7
Total	Points	12	15	13	14	13	12

Table Legend

• Two point picks are bolded.
• One point picks are italicized.
• Zero point picks are crossed out.

Tags: NHL Pick 'Em, NHL Picks, NHL Playoffs

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