8) Senators vs. 1) Rangers
Series Schedule…
Season Series…
3-1 Senators
Previous Playoff Meetings…
First playoff meeting
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Senators… Jason Spezza had a better season than Brad Richards, giving the Sens a slight edge up front.
Defensemen-
Edge: Rangers… Ottawa may have the best offensive defender in the NHL in Erik Karlsson, but their depth simply does not compare to the top four of Del Zotto, Staal, Girardi and McDonagh.
Goaltending-
Edge: Rangers… Henrik Lundqvist should win his first career Vezina Trophy and has a huge edge on Craig Anderson.
Special Teams-
Edge: Rangers… Rangers boast a top-five penalty kill, which should make up for the slight edge the Senators have with the man advantage.
Coaching-
Edge: Even… John Tortorella should be on the short list for the Jack Adams Trophy, but nobody expected the Senators to even make the postseason, making Sens' bench boss Paul MacLean a valuable asset.
Experience-
Edge: Rangers… The Rangers went out and acquired Richards and Mike Rupp this past offseason for help in the room. That, coupled with the lack of a Stanley Cup win in Ottawa gives the Rangers a slight edge here.
Health-
Edge: Senators… Only Peter Regin finds himself on the injured list which is really quite the good sign for Ottawa. The Rangers are still missing a key piece to their blue-line in defenseman Michael Sauer.
Keys to the Series…
Rangers-
1. Raising the intensity… In order to make a deep playoff run, the Rangers know they need to get past the pesky Senators. Despite playing fantastic hockey most of the season, the Sens acted as the Rangers' Achilles heel most of the regular season, winning three of their four meetings. Can the Blueshirts find a way to solve their unexpected nemesis?
2. Henrik Lundqvist… The Rangers don't score as frequently as the Senators which puts excess pressure on Lundqvist to play his best. King Henrik averaged nearly three goals allowed in his three starts against the Sens during the regular season; he will need to be a lot better to win this series.
Senators-
1. Playing an up-tempo game... The Senators need to force the Rangers into playing an offensively charged game in order to take this series. They scored the fourth-most goals in the league, which indicates a very healthy offens. But they still have to be relentless in order to win.
2. Shut down Gaborik and Richards... Not only do the Senators need to take the offense to the Rangers, they will need to shut down their opponent's two biggest weapons. Gaborik scored five points in four games; Richards had four in as many games. If the Senators can find a way to keep these two off the stat sheet, they should have a much better chance at winning.
Why the Rangers will win…
The Rangers have been in playoff mode for the majority of March and April so they should be fully prepared for everything the Senators can throw at them. In addition, their shutdown duo of Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi has been nearly flawless while the Gaborik/Richards tandem remains more than serviceable. Tortorella emphasizes a mistake-free game with a focus on defense making the Senators, a scoring-heavy team, a perfect team to face. If the Rangers control the tempo from the opening faceoff, they should take this series without much trouble.
Why the Senators will win…
Make no mistake, the Senators had the Rangers' number all season. Both Spezza and his sniper Milan Michalek were downright dominating at times, making the defensive system look like revolving door with Lundqvist lost in the weeds. If they can get elite efforts from the top line and solid secondary scoring from the other lines, the Rangers might not have the offense to match. However, Craig Anderson will need to keep his team in the game to match the effort of his counterpart.
Forecast…
Clearly the Rangers have their regular season record against the Sens to think about when preparing themselves for this series. Nevertheless, the Rangers really are too talented to lose in the first round, making them the heavy favorite.
Prediction: Rangers in 5
7) Capitals vs. 2) Bruins
Series Schedule…
Season Series…
2-1-1 Capitals
Previous Playoff Meetings…
1998 ECQ: 3) Capitals over 2) Bruins in 6
1990 CF: A1) Bruins over P3) Capitals in 4
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Even… The Bruins have a great well-rounded core of forwards, but you can't count out elite forwards like Alex Ovechkin or Nicklas Backstrom.
Defensemen-
Edge: Bruins… Zdeno Chara leads a much more physical blue-line that is as stingy as it is dangerous.
Goaltending-
Edge: Bruins… The Capitals might open the series with unproven netminder Braden Holtby; the B's have old-reliable (and 2011 Conn Smythe winner) Tim Thomas between the pipes.
Special Teams-
Edge: Bruins… Neither team has an especially dominating penalty kill or power play, but the B's were better across the board during the regular season.
Coaching-
Edge: Bruins… Claude Julien found a way to win the Cup last season while Dale Hunter might not get a full season with the Capitals.
Experience-
Edge: Bruins… The Bruins, again, have won it all; this rendition of the Capitals hasn't made it past the second round.
Health-
Edge: Bruins… The top two goalies on the Capitals depth chart are sidelined, which trumps the losses of Nathan Horton and Adam McQuaid for Boston.
Keys to the Series…
Bruins-
1. Riding the momentum… After hitting a brief lull, the Bruins finished their season with a healthy 8-2-1 record. Last season, this team got hot at the perfect time, riding their momentum to a Stanley Cup victory. They hope their surge can help cancel out a very offensive Washington Capitals lineup.
2. Tim Thomas… Following his now-infamous White House snub, a great deal of media attention will be given to how Thomas plays in the Nation's capital. Despite playing an above-average game against the Caps in the regular season, the reigning Vezina Trophy winner only won one of his three starts. Should he not help the Bruins advance, it could pave his way out of Boston.
Capitals-
1. Run and gun… Over the previous four years the Capitals have been a disappointment in the postseason. Known for their scoring frequency, this club simply cannot deviate from their strength in order to win. If they can outscore the Bruins, they will win this series.
2. Who's in net?… Braden Holtby is expected to start the series but if he falters, the Caps have options. Michal Neuvirth has already gotten back on the ice and might be the preferred option. If he can't go, or stay healthy, Tomas Vokoun isn't far behind.
Why the Bruins will win…
Just like last year, the Bruins are a cohesive team that is capable of beating you at both ends of the ice. There isn't a better playoff defender than Chara, who should give Ovechkin and company a tough time over the series. Furthermore, the ever-improving core of Patrice Bergeron, Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand could be even better this postseason. Very rarely does a team have a good chance at repeating, but these Bruins simply look the part.
Why the Capitals will win…
We all know hockey is a game of momentum and this Capitals team did a very good job of building it before the postseason started. With a healthy Nicklas Backstrom and a more confident Alex Ovechkin, this team literally has no ceiling. If they can score first and score often, they may be able to overcome a porous defense, inexperienced starting goalie and rookie coach. Certainly a lot of ifs, but maybe this season the Capitals finally catch a break when it matters. They certainly don't have as lofty of expectations.
Forecast…
The Capitals have a chance -- they really do. Heating up at the right time has proven to be invaluable at this time of the season, which gives them the opportunity to upset arguably the toughest opponent in hockey. Having said that, it's hard not to like the Bruins.
Prediction: Bruins in 7
6) Devils vs. 3) Panthers
Series Schedule…
Season Series…
Tied (2-2)
Previous Playoff Meetings…
2000 ECQ: 4) Devils over 5) Panthers in 4
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Devils… Not only do the Devils roster elite forwards like Ilya Kovalchuk and Zach Parise, they have depth from the first to third line. They easily win out up front.
Defensemen-
Edge: Panthers… The Panthers did a great job at shoring up their blue-line, acquiring Brian Campbell in the offseason while transitioning youngsters like Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson into important roles.
Goaltending-
Edge: Devils… Martin Brodeur is miles above the tandem of Scott Clemmensen and Jose Theodore, regardless of who coach Kevin Dineen chooses to start.
Special Teams-
Edge: Devils… The Devils have the best penalty kill in the NHL and their power play really improved since acquiring Marek Zidlicky. They get the edge in both categories.
Coaching-
Edge: Even… Ironically, Devils head coach Pete DeBoer gets to face the team that fired him and the coach who took his job. Both bench bosses did a great job with what they had, leading teams who were not expected to contend into the postseason. Both will be coaching in their first postseason.
Experience-
Edge: Devils… Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora and Martin Brodeur still remain from those Stanley Cup teams; all three should be able to mentor their young guns.
Health-
Edge: Panthers… The Panthers are missing two checking-line forwards while the Devils could be better with Henrik Tallinder in the lineup. The Panthers get the slight edge under these circumstances.
Keys to the Series…
Panthers-
1. Flip the switch… The Panthers limped into the playoffs, losing five of their last six games. In fact, they almost lost their lead in the Southeast Division if it hadn't been for a heroic 4-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. This team needs to regroup and regain their composure in order to succeed in the postseason.
2. Secondary scoring… An improved top line got the Panthers this far but the Cats need some secondary scoring to go the distance. The troika of Tomas Fleischmann, Kris Versteeg and Stephen Weiss accounted for 36 percent of the league's 27th-best offense which is not a great outlier.
Devils-
1. Stay in the game… The Panthers feature familiar faces as old teammate Scott Clemmensen might be the opposing goalie and John Madden is expected to helm the fourth line. However, as DeBoer delivers his game-time strategy, his Devils need to focus on one thing: winning.
2. Shut them down… The Devils sported the best penalty kill and were especially stingy in keeping the puck out of the net with a 2.45 overall team GAA. Facing one of the league's worst offenses, they just need to keep at it and shut down everything Florida has to offer.
Why the Panthers will win…
The Panthers are not the more talented team and, by that same token, are not expected to win the series. However, they might be able to pull off a series win if they play a team game, roll all four lines and take advantage of their opportunities. This team simply outworked their opponents all season and might be able to surprise some people as underdogs (in a higher seed).
Why the Devils will win…
From top to bottom, these Devils are really a much stronger team. At even strength, they should be able to shut down the Panthers offense and their penalty kill is that much better. Furthermore, both teams play a very similar style of play with New Jersey having mounds more skill to pull it off.
Forecast…
Of all the Eastern Conference matches, this one should be a shoo-in for the sixth seed. As previously mentioned, Florida limped into the postseason and likely wouldn't have made it with an 85-game schedule. Moreover, seeing Martin Brodeur advance to the second round in the twilight of his career should be a treat.
Prediction: Devils in 4
5) Flyers vs. 4) Penguins
Series Schedule…
Season Series…
3-2-1 Flyers
Previous Playoff Meetings…
2009 ECQ: 4) Penguins over 5) Flyers in 6
2008 ECF: 2) Penguins over 6) Flyers in 5
2000 ECS: 1) Flyers over 7) Sabres in 7
Overall history: 3-2 Flyers in five meetings
Tale of the Tape…
Forwards-
Edge: Penguins… Not to discount the efforts of Claude Giroux or the depth of Philly's offense, but Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby headline a dominant offense.
Defensemen-
Edge: Even… The Flyers drastically improved their defense with late-season trades; the Penguins did the same during the 2010 offseason. Both blue-lines are technically sound, mobile and physical, making them a wash.
Goaltending-
Edge: Penguins… Marc-Andre Fleury is an X-factor for the Penguins as he allows them to run-and-gun. And while Ilya Bryzgalov has drastically improved since coming to the Flyers, he remains a question mark.
Special Teams-
Edge: Penguins… Not only is the Penguins' penalty kill ranked higher in efficiency, it is lethal with 11 shorthanded goals.
Coaching-
Edge: Even… Dan Blysma and Peter Laviolette are great coaches, and both have gotten the best out of their teams in past postseasons.
Experience-
Edge: Penguins… The Penguins still carry 11 members of their Stanley Cup winning team.
Health-
Edge: Penguins… Injuries have been a big part of the Flyers' season with Andrej Meszaros, James van Riemsdyk and Chris Pronger all sidelined for the entire round, or longer.
Keys to the Series…
Penguins-
1. Limiting scoring chances… The Penguins have all the weapons to run and gun but doing so might not be prudent considering the opposition. In the most recent meeting between these two clubs, the Pens were able to limit their opponent to only 21 shots, winning the match 4-2. If they can keep the Flyers' scoring chances to a minimum, they should be able to come out victorious.
2. A healthy Crosby… There's no doubt about it -- Crosby has been babied back into the lineup. However, if the best player in the game finds his way into big-time minutes, which he should, he should dazzle.
Flyers-
1. Physicality… They don't call these guys the Broad Street Bullies for nothing. To win, the Flyers need to stay true to their identity and make the Penguins pay for every opportunity they get. Expect some hard-hitting and some chippy play at both ends of the ice. However, the Flyers are bred for this style of play so look for them to throw the Penguins off their offensive game.
2. Growing pains… Despite having a solid veteran core, this Flyers club is comprised of mostly young players and rookies. Due to this factor, this club might be overmatched in the postseason, or show an upside we haven't quite seen. With uber-talented rookies like Sean Couturier and Matt Read playing vital roles, the rookies really are a wild card.
Why the Penguins will win…
The Penguins will win because there really isn't another team like them. Nobody has the high-end offensive talent of Malkin, Crosby and James Neal. Similarly, no team can skate like this club as Tyler Kennedy, Matt Cooke, Pascal Dupuis, Jordan Staal and Chris Kunitz are all viewed as secondary scoring options. Combine those talents with a coaching mastermind, a steady defense and a starting goalie who has proven himself on the big stage, and the Penguins remain the team to beat.
Why the Flyers will win…
The Flyers will win if their star players -- including Bryzgalov -- are their best players. Their first line will need to show up and compete against the Malkin troika while their three other lines played solid, two-way games. Furthermore, their much-improved defense will be up against their toughest task -- an unstoppable offense.
Forecast…
Make no mistake, these two teams will produce a blood bath. Not only are these teams natural rivals, but you can tell that the players simply hate each other. The Flyers have shown in the past that they can contend with the Penguins which should make it a grueling series. Nevertheless, this Penguins club is once again the team to beat -- not only in the first round but in the entire playoffs.
Prediction: Penguins in 7
Photos credit: Getty Images
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