2014 Playoffs Colorado Avalanche vs Minnesota Wild

This is the last one my round 1 posts, and like just about every other series this is a good one, with 3 overtime games and a bunch of last minute goals. I picked Colorado in 6 games just because I like to watch this team play so much, I would love it if they made it to the western finals at least. Colorado looks to close out Minnesota tonight in game 6. This has been such a close and momentum driving series it could easily go back to Colorado for game 7.

Here are two digital drawings of Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov and Minnesota wild Alternate captain Zach Parise.

Semyon Varlamov

Zach Parise

2014 Playoffs Anaheim Ducks vs Dallas Stars

This has been another great series to watch, Dallas is giving Anaheim all they can handle in the series. Up into tonight's game 6 every home team has won the game so odds are good it will head back to Anaheim for game 7. I picked Dallas in the series in 7, I thought Dallas had a grit to take it to the Ducks and frustrate them and that's what has been happening although I did expect Kari Lehtonen to play a little better in the series, while he did have some great games typically when they one, in the losses, he left me wanting him to be better.

Here are my digital drawings of Anaheim Ducks Captain Ryan Getzlaf and Dallas Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen.

Ryan Getzlaf

Kari Lehtonen

2014 Playoffs Boston Bruins vs Detroit Redwings

This has been a what you call "defensive" series with very little goals scored, it looks like Boston will end up taking the series currently holding a 3 games to 1 lead with game 5 today in Boston, it doesn't help the wings that their #1 goalie Jimmy Howard will be out now. I picked Boston in 6, I thought if anyone could take out Boston in the east it could be Detroit, I also think it could be Montreal in round 2.

Here is a ink and digital drawing of Boston Bruins goalienTuukka Rask and a pencil drawing of Detroit Redwings goalie Jimmy Howard.

Tuukka Rask

Jimmy Howard

2014 Playoffs New York Rangers vs Philadelphia Flyers

This is probably the 1 series this playoff I have paid attention to the least. It does seem like an exciting series, both teams are playing hard and I loved Carcillo's goal and subsequent fan reaction to the goal in game 3. I picked the Rangers in 6 games and it could still happen but the way it's going so far and with Steve Mason back in goal for the Flyers it could go 7, I still like the Rangers.

Here are to of my digital drawings of New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist and Philadelphia Flyers Captain Claude Giroux.

Henrik Lundqvist

Claude Giroux

2014 Playoffs San Jose Sharks vs LA Kings

I thought this series would be just as great as the St. Louis and Chicago series has been, however it has been quite the opposite. Game 3 was a pretty good back and forth game but games 1 and 2 were routs by San Jose were the Kings looked like they never even showed up for the game. game 4 is tonight and San Jose has a chance to make the 2nd sweep of these playoffs.

I Picked LA in 7 for this series and thought it was pretty much a toss up pick, I think it will be the winner of this series vs the winner of St. Louis and Chicago for the Cup finals.

 Here is a digital drawing of San Jose Sharks Logan Couture and a sketch of Jonathan Quick of the LA Kings done with a ball point pen.

Logan Couture

Jonathan Quick

2014 Playoffs ST. Louis Blues vs Chicago Blackhawks

I thought, like may others, this series would be the best of the 1st round match-ups and so far everyone who said that is right, the Blues won the 1st two game scoring late to tie and in overtime in each and then Chicago won 1-0 in game 3 at home. Personally I have a rooting interest for the Blues because I would like to see Ryan Miller win and it would impact the Sabres draft pool but with the Blues ending their regular season so terribly I picked Chicago to win the series in 7. After 3 games it has been a hard fought series with both teams having their peaks and valleys through the series thus far, it's still a tough series to predict a winner.

So here are two of my digital drawings of St. Louis Blues defeseman Alex Pietrangelo and Chicago Blackhawks forward Brandon Saad.

Alex Pietrangelo

Brandon Saad

2014 Playoffs Montreal Canadiens vs Tampa Bay Lightning

This series was a though one to pick a winner, I was going to take Tampa Bay but thought about Bishop being out and he was a big part of their team this year and ended up going with Montreal in 6.  Right now looks like it was a good pick as the Canadiens are up 3 games to 0 and game 4 tonight it doesn't look good for Tampa Bay.

Here is a digital drawing I did of the Tampa Bay Lightnings Steven Stamkos and a pencil sketch of Montreal Canadiens Carey Price.

Steven Stamkos

Carey Price

2014 Playoffs Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets

I'm starting off the 2014 playoff series with the Penguins vs Blue Jackets. I did the NHL bracket challenge on NHL.com before the playoffs and even though I didn't think the Penguins would make the Finals I liked the match ups that I predicted for them and had them going to the cup, but I also picked the Kings in the finals in the west which is not looking too hot.

For round 1 my pick was Penguins over Blue Jackets in 5 games. I bet on Fleury having a better playoff, 2 games in he's not too bad but not great either which is good because last year he was just losing the games for the Penguins, right now I think it's defense that's the question for the Penguins because how many time to you let a guy whack at the puck in front of the net without doing anything on the game 2 OT goal? I didn't like Horton being out for the Jackets either, he could've been a big player for them in the playoffs, I think if he was playing it could be a different series and the Blue Jackets would have a better chance at winning.

So here are my digital drawings of the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury and the Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.

Marc-Andre Fleury

Sergei Bobrovsky

Zemgus Girgensons

It all finally ends today, finally the worst year for a Sabres fan in history comes to a close and I can sit back and watch the St. Louis Blues steam roll... wait what? lost 5 in a row? Miller hasn't been that great? well hopefully they just resign him so we get the 1st round pick.

I'll be at the game and to send them off here is a piece I did of my pick for Sabres MVP Zemgus Girgensons. This was another one of my comic book cover meets NHL designs (it was based on an X-Men cover) but I decided to alter it slightly and not give it the full comic cover look and more like a poster of the player.

Zemgus Girgensons

Marcus Foligno Vs. Brenden Dillon Art

Marcus Foligno Returns for the Sabres tonight from what looked like a season ending injury late last week. Here is a pencil sketch of him going at Brenden Dillon of the Dallas Stars I did a few months ago, people have asked me to do some art work of a fight, I believe this may be my 1st.  

I've been piling up artwork to unleash for the playoff match ups, if you have any art work you want to submit featuring any of the playoff teams be sure to send it within the next few weeks and I'll include it in the match ups Nfg801@aol.com.

Marcus Foligno Vs. Brenden Dillon