[Sylvanfan]

There used to be some 4 vs 5 series where you could get two top 5 teams in the league fighting in the first round. So someone's always going to complain about the format.

In this case both teams have been coasting a bit for the last 10 days knowing what their fate is playoff wise. So I don't put too much stock in Dallas recent slump. I think its a 7 game series, and if Nichuskin plays the entire series the Avalanche win, hell even if its an injury that takes him out they still could. If his past playoff demons haunt him, than Dallas wins. When he went out for game 3 last year the entire team played games 3 and 4 like a group that had collectively taken a kick to the nuts. They tried to regroup in game 5 and 6 but to no avail. Nichuskin is a really key piece for the Avs as he seems to hold the balance of that team together. After the two Mak's he's their next most important piece.

I have no skin in this game so I'm looking forward to watching what I hope is some excellent hockey.