Konjo's NHL Round 1 playoff Preview

[konjo78]

Eastern Conference

1 seed Capitals versus 4 Seed Flyers - This season has definitely seen a capitals team be strong from game 1 to 82. Led by their star Alex Ovechkin and goalie Braden Holtby the caps have put in one hell of a season. Offensively they are a very strong team, 2nd in the league for goals for, but their real strength comes in their Special teams. Ranking 5th in powerplays and 3rd in penalty kills, special teams are what gives their team the advantage throughout the season. The opposite can be said of the Flyers, who rank 11th in powerplay and 20th in penalty kill. The one area though the flyers may have success against the caps though is in 5 on 5 play. Both team won 2 games in the series this year, Caps 2 in regulation and flyers 2 in overtime. I will 100% agree that i will sound bias here, and am bias, but i feel the flyers actually match up well 5 on 5 versus the caps. While i will not be surprised if the caps win 4-1 or 4-2 I think this this series will surprise a lot of people and get to 7 games. PREDICTION: 4-3 Flyers in an upset

1 Seed Panthers versus 4 Seed Islanders - This series will probably be the most exiting to watch. Jagr leads the panthers to a surprise top seed in the playoffs this year. The Panthers are clearly a 5 on 5 based team, with both powerplay and penalty kill being in the bottom 10 in the league. Islanders have finally started geling with their group of young players, lead by tavares. They have one of the leagues best penalty kills, 4th, and definitely play in a tougher division than the Panthers. I honestly Can't see panthers hockey getting to the next round in this series, but i think we'll get high scoring games and it will be close. PREDICTION: Islanders win 4-2

2 Seed Penguins versus 3 Seed Rangers - There is no doubt that the second half of the season the Pens have been the NHL's top team. Lead by a resurgent Sidney Crosby the team from pittsburgh went from a bubble wildcard team to the team with second most points in the eastern conference. Even with malkin, and possibly Fleury, out the pens are looking hot into the playoffs. History has shown though the team with their number the past few years have been the Rangers. Rangers have been a fairly balanced offensive team. King Henrik has not had a stellar year everyone knows he can step come playoff time. This series could go either way. Personally I see the Pens taking the series but do have doubts in my mind because of recent playoff performances from sidney crosby. The rangers have lately been able to shut him down in a 7 game series. PREDICTION: As long as crosby can carry the pens I see them winning 4-1

2 Seed Lightning versus 3 Seed Red Wings - Detroit's streak lives on and they may get a blessing in disguise playing the lightning. Stamkos will be gone in this series, Blood clots are becoming a way too often problem in NHL players, and that leaves a huge hole in the lineup. Even without Stamkos the lightning bring back a large portion of their finals team from last year. Detroit comes in fighting for their playoff lives, catching up and passing the bruins for a final spot. Even though they come in with the least amount of points in the east I can see 1 more deep run in Pavel Datsyuk's career. His veteran team mates will be inspired and lead the Red Wings to the next round. PREDICTION: Red Wings win 4-2



Western Conference


1 Seed Stars versus 4 Seed Wild - Boy oh Boy have the stars been solid this year. Lead by Jamie Benn the team from Texas comes in with the most points in the Western confernce. Their reward? Facing the worst team by far in the NHL Playoffs, the minnesota wild. The wild are the only team who have actually lost more games, 44, than they have won, 38. I see dallas running all over the wild this series. To me every first round we find ourselves with atleast 2 sweep and the balance the stars have easily makes this one the smart choice for that. PREDICTION: Stars sweep 4-0

1 Seed Ducks vs 4 Seed Predators - Anaheim has been the western conferences version of the pittsburgh penguins. Despite a slow start the ducks went on a mid season tear and find themselves the second seed in the west. They are hot and lead by the best special teams in the game, 1st in both Powerplays and penalty kills. Their team defensively is the best in the league, with the lowest goal against average, and are my Favorite to reach the finals on either side. The Preds though do play in a much tougher division and provide a challenge in the first round. The key for them is making this into a 5 on 5 series and staying away from special teams. PREDICTION: Ducks win 4-2

2 seed Blues vs 3 Seed Blackhawks - This is going to be the best playoff series in the first round. We are going to see 2 rivals fight in a classic battle. The defending champs have been lead this season by Patrick Kane, the first american born player to have the most points in a season. The blues come in with solid goal-tending and a very strong special teams. While the hawks have a below average penalty kill, ranked 22nd, their power play is 2nd in the league. Overall i expect this series to go to 7 games, be extremely physical and emotional, and have the reigning champs to get out. PREDICTION: Blackhawks win 4-3

2 Seed Kings versus 3 Seed Sharks - The Kings come in the playoffs limping, giving up a 3-0 lead to Winnipeg in a game they could of clinched a 1st seed. Now they find themselves in a series against an instate rival that doesn't bode well for them. All season the kings have been carried by star goalie Jonathan Quick. Now we all know how he can carry a team to the cup but the overall roster for the kings does not seem to be very solid. On the other hand San Jose has been carried by their captain, Joe Thornton and their 3rd ranked powerplay. This will be another physical series, especially featuring two rivals but i honestly see the Sharks coming out on top here. PREDICTION: Sharks win 4-2

[konjo78]

So far i am 2-1 in my predictions. Lightning definitely impressed me. Feels like i might go 5-3 or 6-2. Was spot on for pens series