Full 1st round preview of the East after the jump....
#1 Washington Capitals vs #8 New York Rangers
Season Series:
Rangers won 3-1
Usually in the playoffs the #1-8 matchup is pretty much a given that the #1 seed is going to win. In this year's playoffs this is not the case. The Rangers are a hard working group that took the season series from Washington this season, and won two of their match-ups 6-0 and 7-1 respectively. The Rangers did lose Ryan Callahan for the season most likely, which will hurt their chances. The Caps turned their system around this season to employ a more defensive style. Will they continue this route or will they simply just fall back into their habits of offense first and to hell with defense. Time will tell, Boudreau is a horrible coach so I wouldn't be surprised in dire times the Caps become undisciplined and fall back to what they are comfortable with. Comfortable won't win them a cup though.
Key Matchup:
Henrik Lundqvist vs Michal Neuvirth
Lundqvist has been a great goaltender in his NHL career so far, but he hasn't done anything in the playoffs yet. Neuvirth is a young tender playing in his first legitimate post season. The Caps should win this series but if Lundqvist can stand on his head and steal a couple games, and correspondingly if Neuvirth gives up some leaky goals this series smells like an upset.
Prediction:
Even though I hinted at it, it is still tough to see the Caps losing to an #8 seed for the 2nd year in a row. This series will be hard fought and go the distance.
Washington in 7.
#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs #7 Buffalo Sabres
Season Series:
Tied 2-2
Talk about teams that have gone in two different directions down the stretch. The Sabres have been lights out going 8-1-1 in their last ten. While the Flyers have limped into the playoffs winning only 3 of their last ten. Buffalo played for their post season lives the last month of the season, while the Flyers blew the #1 seed and barely held off the Penguins for the Atlantic Division crown. Every year the Sabres amaze me. Their team is a collection of virtual nobodies (check Pens roster due to injuries this season) yet they somehow manage to always be competitive. Praise should be heaped upon their goaltending and coaching. The Flyers may come out like gangbusters and prove me wrong, but their goaltending is a real concern as Bobrovsky, Boucher, and Leighton are all at the helm to try to keep this sinking ship from pulling a Titanic part deux.
Key Matchup
Buffalo's Offense vs Sergei Bobrovsky
It's simple for Philly. Get decent enough goaltending and they will advance. The thing is though getting good goaltending has escaped them all year, and prevented them from being truly elite. Buffalo has a solid PP (ranked 9th in NHL) and could do some damage if the Flyers play undisciplined.
Prediction:
Upset special. Buffalo is hot, and if Ryan Miller can repeat a performance of his like the 2010 Olympics Buffalo will advance. Bobrovsky is gonna blow it.
Buffalo in 7.
#3 Boston Bruins vs #6 Montreal Canadiens
Season Series:
Canadiens won 4-2
Ah, good old Original Six hockey. Personally, I believe this is the most intriguing series other than the Pens-Bolts in the 1st round. So many good backstories highlighted by the Zdeno Chara hit on Max Pacioretty. How will the Montreal crowd react to Chara's return? They will probably scream over legal plays and cry until they have to throw their tear soaked scarves in the dryer. Hopefully P.K. Subban gets trucked by Lucic and then gets his foot sliced by the skate of Horton. If you can't tell I'd rather hate on Montreal then preview this series. If we manage to play the Habs later in the playoffs Dewie and I will delve into our hatred for Montreal. I hate Boston too, but this is me leaning toward the lesser of two evils. Mark Recchi sucks, just retire dude.
Key Matchup:
Bruins' Size vs Montreal's Speed
These teams play two very contradicting styles of hockey. The Bruins play an old school bruising game while Montreal prances around the ice and plays annoying hockey. Montreal's speed has given Boston some problems this season, but Boston's line of Lucic-Horton-Krejci along with the rest of the Bruins will wear the smaller Canadiens down in a long series.
Prediction
Sorry Montreal, no rioting this year.
Bruins in 6.
SOMEBODY CALL 911!!
Oh we didn't forget about you Boston
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Tampa Bay Lightning
Season Series:
Tied 2-2
From Original Six to something more unconventional. The Pens and Bolts will meet for their 1st playoff matchup against each other. This young Bolts team is a lot like the Pens of 2007 but less cool. We all know the story with the Pens. Injuries have plagued us all season, and with no timetable for Crosby to return it appears they will continue to haunt the minds of Pens fans. The Bolts bring a high powered offense to the series but a lackluster defense that can be beaten. The Pens on the other hand bring a sputtering offense and a stalwart blue line and goaltender. Someone on the Pens roster will have to step up to fill the offensive void. Preferably the whole team top to bottom. We need guys like Kennedy to keep performing, get good two-way play from Letang, and guys like Talbot to realize that it'd be nice for his career not to only be remembered for his play in one game 7. Get ready for the return of Ryan Malone, and get ready to hate Martin St. Louis and Steve Downie by the end of the 1st period of game 1.
Key Matchup:
Marc-Andre Fleury vs Dwayne Roloson
This is Fleury's team right now don't let anyone tell you differently. For this team to go far he has to carry the team on his back. With no immediate return of Crosby slated, his importance has shot through the roof. He's had an MVP like season and I feel he is motivated to make Pens fans forget about his poor performance in last year's playoffs. Roloson cannot give up soft goals if he wants to lead the Bolts to the 2nd round. If he gives up garbage goals then the Pens should be able to roll.
Prediction:
Pens in 6.
The wait is almost over.
Its business time.
LETS GO PENS
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