*Eastern/Western Conference 2nd Round Wrapups will appear Friday, May 15.
*Eastern/Western Conference Finals Schedule and Preview will appear Saturday, May 16
Western Conference - 1st Round Preview
Western Conference - 1st Round Wrapup
Western Conference - 2nd Round Preview
Eastern Conference - 1st Round Preview
Eastern Conference - 1st Round Wrapup
Eastern Conference - 2nd Round Preview
#1 BOSTON BRUINS vs. #8 MONTREAL CANADIENS
Thu, April 16, Montreal at Boston, 7 pm ET
Sat, April 18, Montreal at Boston, 8 pm ET
Mon, April 20, Boston at Montreal, 7 pm ET
Wed, April 22, Boston at Montreal, 7 pm ET
*Sat, April 25, Montreal at Boston, 7 pm ET
*Mon, April 27, Boston at Montreal
*Wed, April 29, Montreal at Boston
A rematch of last year's first round matchup, yet both teams find themselves at the opposite end of the Eastern Conference playoff pack this time around. This year, the Bruins ran away with the Eastern Conference championship and will sneak up on no one while the Canadiens limp into the playoffs searching for an identity. Montreal's only hope in this series (a hope I feel is small at best) is the newly formed top line of Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, and Alex Tanguay which has been on fire as of late. Unfortunately, they lost Robert Lang to a season-ending achilles injury and are now without the services of their leading scoring defenseman Andrei Markov. Interim head coach Bob Gainey has been flip-flopping his goaltenders with the hope that one would step up for the playoff run and neither has answered the bell. I think Boston has more than a handful of flaws for a #1 seed, but they won't be exposed in this series.
Prediction: Boston in 4 games
#2 WASHINGTON CAPITALS vs. #7 NEW YORK RANGERS
Wed, April 15, New York Rangers at Washington, 7 pm ET
Sat, April 18, New York Rangers at Washington, 1 pm ET
Mon, April 20, Washington at New York Rangers, 7 pm ET
Wed, April 22, Washington at New York Rangers, 7 pm ET
*Fri, April 24, New York Rangers at Washington, 7 pm ET
*Sun, April 26, Washington at New York Rangers, 2 pm ET
*Tue, April 28, New York Rangers at Washington
This should be an outstanding series. The Rangers, in a freefall at the deadline not only fired head coach Tom Renney but also made a flurry of moves to bring in Derek Morris, Nik Antropov, and oh yeah...Sean Avery. The Rangers cannot come close to matching the Capitals firepower up front, but in the playoffs, outscoring teams is rarely successful over a two month playoff run. Goaltending is the key - and this is where New York has a decided advantage. Henrik Lundqvist is one of the top three goalies in the league and has the tools to single-handedly shut down Alex Ovechkin and the Caps. On the other end of the ice, offseason pickup Jose Theodore is going to be under an intense spotlight. As Washington beat up on the soft Southeast division the last few months, fans have been wondering whether Theodore will ever find his Vezina Trophy-winning swagger from years ago. He hasn't. Expect the Rangers to get up quick in this series and don't be surprised when backup goaltender Simeon Varlamov is in between the pipes for Washington sooner rather than later. He is an excellent unknown goaltender that just might save the series for Washington...I know Theodore sure won't.
Prediction: New York in 6 games
#3 NEW JERSEY DEVILS vs. #6 CAROLINA HURRICANES
Wed, April 15, Carolina at New Jersey, 7:30 pm ET
Fri, April 17, Carolina at New Jersey, 7:30 pm ET
Sun, April 19, New Jersey at Carolina, 7:30 pm ET
Tue, April 21, New Jersey at Carolina, 7:30 pm ET
*Thu, April 23, Carolina at New Jersey, 7:30 pm ET
*Sun, April 26, New Jersey at Carolina
*Tue, April 28, Carolina at New Jersey, 7:30 pm ET
Ah yes, another goaltender battle. Martin Brodeur missed most of the season with a torn biceps but claims he recovered stronger than ever (doesn't everyone say that?). What has to be scary for Carolina and rest of the NHL is the fact that typically by April, Brodeur is worn out from the grind of starting 75-80 games throughout the course of the season. That's not the case this year and New Jersey has the makings of a deep playoff run. Carolina on the other hand comes into the playoffs much like St. Louis in the West. They are on fire and Cam Ward is showing the brilliance he displayed when the Hurricanes won the Cup just a few seasons ago. With any other matchup in the East, I think Carolina would prevail, but New Jersey is deep and could very well end up in the Stanley Cup Finals in late May.
Prediction: New Jersey in 5 games
#4 PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. #5 PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Wed, April 15, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7 pm ET
Fri, April 17, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7 pm ET
Sun, April 19, Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 3 pm ET
Tue, April 21, Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 7 pm ET
*Thu, April 23, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 7 pm ET
*Sat, April 25, Pittsburgh at Philadelphia, 3 pm ET
*Mon, April 27, Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is an interesting team. After reaching the Finals last season, they came out flat and eventually forced out Head Coach Michel Therrien late in the season. Therrien was replaced by minor league coach Dan Bylsma and the results have been nothing short of amazing. GM Ray Shero worked his trade deadline magic again (remember the Marian Hossa blockbuster last year?) and brought in gritty winger Chris Kunitz from Anaheim and season veteran Bill Guerin from the Islanders. Philadelphia has muddled around the middle of the Eastern Conference playoff group for most of the season but has struggled to find much of an identity. Like most years, this years Flyers are the most penalized in the league by a wide margin and that's not good when you're facing a powerplay featuring some of the best talent in the NHL in Crosby, Malkin, and Gonchar. Throw in the shaky Martin Biron in goal, and I think this has the makings of a quick series.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in 5 games
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