EASTERN CONFERENCE
Washington Capitals (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)
The Washington Capitals won the Presidents Trophy this season with 121 points play an up-tempo, in your face style that saw them score the most goals in one regular season since the 1996 Pittsburgh Penguins. They are loaded with offensive talent that includes the likes of two 100 point scorers in Ovechkin and Backstrom. The question with Washington will always be goaltending and defense. Jeff Schultz and Mike Green are not a very impressive shut-down pairing and Jose Theodore's playoff numbers in the postseason are pretty abysmal. Montreal limps into the postseason by barely getting a point against Toronto on the last Saturday of the regular season. If the Habs have any chance of winning this series, they will need to have their 2nd rated powerplay score at about a 40% clip and goaltender Jaroslav Halak will need to stand on his head. Bottom line here is that the Caps simply have too much offense and the Canadiens can't score at even strength with an average in the regular season of under 2 goals a game.
Prediction: Caps in 5
New Jersey Devils (2) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (7)
In my estimation, which is the only one that matters at the moment, this is the most interesting match-up in the second round. The Devils come into the playoffs after winning the Atlantic Division by two points over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Like always under coach Jacques Lemaire, they depend on defense and goaltending to win hockey games. The Devils finished the season by giving up the fewest goals against (191). Obviously, they are heavily dependent on Martin Brodeur to bail them out when their defense does break down. Brodeur had another stellar regular season but there are now questions about the New Jersey netminder in the postseason. Since his cup winning performance in 2003, Brodeur has been average in the playoffs and may be looking for one last final great run this year and maybe even take home that elusive Conn Smythe. The Flyers come in after a dramatic shootout win vs. the New York Rangers at home on the last day of the regular season to get into the postseason. The Flyers certainly have the offense, defense, and special teams to make a long run into the playoffs, but the question for Philadelphia will always be goaltending. Brian Boucher finished the year with a Save percentage of under .900 and has a tendency of giving up soft goals at the most inopportune times. However, Boucher did perform well against the Rangers and he has made a long playoff run with the Flyers before in 2000, going all the way to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final. The Flyers are also 5-1 against the Devils this season. In the final analysis, if the Flyers pound the New Jersey D and score the first goal, they have a great opportunity to win this series, and I think they will.
Prediction: Flyers in 7
Buffalo Sabres (3) vs. Boston Bruins (6)
Whenever two longtime division rivals meet up in the postseason, there is always the potential for fireworks and an epic series. These two former Adams division rivals are very evenly matched and this will be one of the most competitive series of the first round. The Buffalo Sabres come into the playoffs after winning the Northeast Division with over 100 points. Their entire team boils down to Ryan Miller. The Hart Trophy candidate comes into the playoffs with both the second best save percentage and goals against average among netminders. Buffalo doesn't have the offense to outscore teams on most nights, so they rely heavily on their American born goalie. Much like Buffalo teams of the past with Dominik Hasek, the Sabres will go as far as Miller takes them. The Boston Bruins come into the playoffs after an extremely difficult season that saw them endure a ten game losing streak at one point. However, they managed to battle and come in on a high to the postseason. Much like Buffalo, Boston depends on their goaltender Tuuka Rask. Rask finished the season both number one in save percentage and goals against average and should be a serious contender for the Vezina Trophy. Much like Buffalo, Boston simply can't score goals. This will be a low-scoring affair filled with great goaltending that should resemble old-time hockey. In the end, Boston's playoff experience will be too much for the Sabres.
Prediction: Bruins in 7
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Ottawa Senators (5)
This is an extremely interesting match-up that pits teams who have faced each other in the postseason two of the last three years. The Penguins come into the playoffs after a stellar 101 point season that saw them contend for the Atlantic Division title until the last weekend. They are lead by Rocket Richard winning captain Sidney Crosby and chronic dumb-penalty taker Evgeni Malkin. More importantly in the past two postseasons, the Pens are led by French-Canadian goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury has been criticized for inconsistent play and sub-par regular season numbers for a goalie of his talent. However, Fleury has had a propensity the last two playoffs of stepping up his game and making huge saves at huge times. He has almost a Grant Fuhr quality about them. If the Penguins are going to repeat as Stanley Cup champs, Fleury will win the Conn Smythe. The Penguins biggest strength is their 5 on 5 play and the penalty kill. Their Powerplay has been awful all regular season. The Penguins must sure up their play in their own zone. The Ottawa Senators come into the playoffs after a stellar regular season that saw them bounce back from a non-playoff season last year. They are lead by their captain Daniel Alfredsson and young netminder Brian Elliot. If the Sens want to win this series, they will need Elliot to stand on his head and for the likes of Spezza and Alfredsson to have a huge series. I don't see it happening. Eventually, the Pens will break down Elliot and the two choke-artists Spezza and Alfie will show their true colors once again.
Prediction: Pens in 5
WESTERN CONFERENCE
San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (8)
This series is basically choke-proof even for the Sharks. The Avs barely squeaked into the playoffs and looked to be running out of gas near the end of the regular season. They have depended on their goaltender Craig Anderson all season, but he has come back down to Earth in the last few months. The Sharks simply have too much for the extremely young Avs.
Prediction: Sharks in 4
Chicago Blackhawks (2) vs. Nashville Predators (7)
The Blackhawks have too much offensive firepower for the defensively stingy Predators to contain over an entire series. They will eventually need to outscore the Hawks and I don't think they can do it. Pekka Rinne can only do so much.
Prediction: Hawks in 5
Vancouver Canucks (3) vs. Los Angeles Kings (6)
This is probably the most interesting match-up in the Western Conference. On paper, these two teams are very evenly matched in terms of skill up-front and on the back-end. The series will probably come down to the performance of Roberto Luongo. Luongo has had a checkered playoff past and he needs a solid run this year to put the doubters to rest. I think he will get that chance, but this one will be a nail-biter.
Prediction: Canucks in 7
Phoenix Coyotes (4) vs. Detroit Red Wings (5)
This is the worst possible match-up that the Coyotes could have hoped for. If I was a Coyotes fan, I would have rather played San Jose in the first round than Detroit. In the end, Detroit will have too much experience and eventually wear down the Coyotes.
Prediction: Red Wings in 6
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