Eastern Conference Round 1
Posted: April 11th, 2011, 12:18 pm
Here is a little first round preview. Plus some predictions.
1 Washington Capitols vs. 8 New York Rangers:
It is hard to believe how much this Capitol team struggled for the last month of 2010. They limped through the first half of the season. Since they have by far been the best of the East. It is hard to believe the lack of goals Ovechkin has scored this season (same amount as Crosby who only played 41 games) and yet this team still hold onto the 1 seed. The issues that cost this team in the playoffs in the past are getting better as well. The is the best defensive (2nd in the NHL on the PK) team they have had in a long time and goalie play is no more of a question mark than it has been over the past couple years for them.
The Rangers have one of the best goal differentials in the league yet barely got into the playoffs. Lundquist will be the only way this teams makes noise in the first round. Lucky for the Rags he is one of the best in the league and could steal them a few games in this series. I would be a lot more concerned about this team if they would not have lost Callihan for the season just a few games ago. Still this lineup does have some potentially potent scorers.
Prediction: Washington in 5
2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. 7 Buffalo Sabres
What happened to the Flyers down the stretch? I know they lost Pronger and that was a big setback on the blueline but this team has been one of the worst in the league over the last few weeks. Last year this team got in the playoffs on the very last game and went on to the Finals. This year this team has been the front runner all season and seems to have gotten very complacent. Pronger will be back and this team still has to be considered one of the favorites out of the East if not one of the favorites in the entire NHL.
Ryan Miller will be the centerpiece to any postseason success this team will have this year and I think he proved how much of a big game goalie he can be during his entire Silver medal Olympic run with the US last February. Much of the scoring will come from Thomas Vanek. This team would be a lot more potent in the playoffs if they would not have lost Roy to injury earlier in the season. They enter the playoffs as the best team in the east over the last 10 games.
Prediction: Buffalo in 6
3 Boston Bruins vs. 6 Montreal Canadians
Just as Ryan Miller is to the Sabres, Tim Thomas is to the Bruins. Unlike the other contenders in the East, Boston has been very consistent over the course of the entire season. This is mainly because they are (IMO) the best defensive team in the league. Marc Savard is out for the playoffs (possibly for the rest of his career) with concussion problems from a hit over a year ago. Thornton is another costly injury as well. It is easy to overlook this offense due to how good they are defensively but Boston is 5th in the league in goals scored.
Montreal is not going to sneak up on everyone again this season. Offense is definitely the weak chain link for this team ranking 21st in the NHL. Carey Price will be looking to work some postseason magic for a team that many would say disappointed this season. They are quite possibly the healthiest team entering the playoffs, though, which is always good.
Prediction: Boston in 5
4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5 Tampa Bay Lightning
It is absolutely incredible how much success this team has had when they have had Staal, Crosby, and Malkin all healthy together for a total of 2 periods this entire season. Each and every person in the lineup have raised their level of play somewhat to get them home ice for the first round. Crosby doesn't look as though will be available for this first round series so the workload falls once again to Marc Andre Fleury who is in the running for the league MVP. A late season injury to James Neal could be a set back for this team but he is not ruled out of any postseason action yet. Best penalty kill in the league could be a huge factor in the playoffs for the Penguins.
Tampa Bay is the surprise in the east this year. I had them making the playoffs but not scoring 100 points in the regular season. Roloson has resurrected a team that has had some of the worst goaltending in the league the past few years but how well will this 40+ year old hold up in the playoffs. Offensive firepower is the specialty with this team and their top 2 offensive lines is possible the best in the league. Tough for a team that hasn't made the playoffs the past few years to face a perennial powerhouse in the East in the Penguins.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in 6
1 Washington Capitols vs. 8 New York Rangers:
It is hard to believe how much this Capitol team struggled for the last month of 2010. They limped through the first half of the season. Since they have by far been the best of the East. It is hard to believe the lack of goals Ovechkin has scored this season (same amount as Crosby who only played 41 games) and yet this team still hold onto the 1 seed. The issues that cost this team in the playoffs in the past are getting better as well. The is the best defensive (2nd in the NHL on the PK) team they have had in a long time and goalie play is no more of a question mark than it has been over the past couple years for them.
The Rangers have one of the best goal differentials in the league yet barely got into the playoffs. Lundquist will be the only way this teams makes noise in the first round. Lucky for the Rags he is one of the best in the league and could steal them a few games in this series. I would be a lot more concerned about this team if they would not have lost Callihan for the season just a few games ago. Still this lineup does have some potentially potent scorers.
Prediction: Washington in 5
2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. 7 Buffalo Sabres
What happened to the Flyers down the stretch? I know they lost Pronger and that was a big setback on the blueline but this team has been one of the worst in the league over the last few weeks. Last year this team got in the playoffs on the very last game and went on to the Finals. This year this team has been the front runner all season and seems to have gotten very complacent. Pronger will be back and this team still has to be considered one of the favorites out of the East if not one of the favorites in the entire NHL.
Ryan Miller will be the centerpiece to any postseason success this team will have this year and I think he proved how much of a big game goalie he can be during his entire Silver medal Olympic run with the US last February. Much of the scoring will come from Thomas Vanek. This team would be a lot more potent in the playoffs if they would not have lost Roy to injury earlier in the season. They enter the playoffs as the best team in the east over the last 10 games.
Prediction: Buffalo in 6
3 Boston Bruins vs. 6 Montreal Canadians
Just as Ryan Miller is to the Sabres, Tim Thomas is to the Bruins. Unlike the other contenders in the East, Boston has been very consistent over the course of the entire season. This is mainly because they are (IMO) the best defensive team in the league. Marc Savard is out for the playoffs (possibly for the rest of his career) with concussion problems from a hit over a year ago. Thornton is another costly injury as well. It is easy to overlook this offense due to how good they are defensively but Boston is 5th in the league in goals scored.
Montreal is not going to sneak up on everyone again this season. Offense is definitely the weak chain link for this team ranking 21st in the NHL. Carey Price will be looking to work some postseason magic for a team that many would say disappointed this season. They are quite possibly the healthiest team entering the playoffs, though, which is always good.
Prediction: Boston in 5
4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5 Tampa Bay Lightning
It is absolutely incredible how much success this team has had when they have had Staal, Crosby, and Malkin all healthy together for a total of 2 periods this entire season. Each and every person in the lineup have raised their level of play somewhat to get them home ice for the first round. Crosby doesn't look as though will be available for this first round series so the workload falls once again to Marc Andre Fleury who is in the running for the league MVP. A late season injury to James Neal could be a set back for this team but he is not ruled out of any postseason action yet. Best penalty kill in the league could be a huge factor in the playoffs for the Penguins.
Tampa Bay is the surprise in the east this year. I had them making the playoffs but not scoring 100 points in the regular season. Roloson has resurrected a team that has had some of the worst goaltending in the league the past few years but how well will this 40+ year old hold up in the playoffs. Offensive firepower is the specialty with this team and their top 2 offensive lines is possible the best in the league. Tough for a team that hasn't made the playoffs the past few years to face a perennial powerhouse in the East in the Penguins.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in 6