By Mike Ivcic
Once again, the best postseason is about to begin, where sudden death overtimes aren’t decided by a coin flip (or even a random number of possessions) and it doesn’t take nine days to play four games like a certain Fall Classic. Instead, hockey brings out the best in what is often referred to as the fastest game on earth. So let’s get to a “fast” preview of what we’ll see in the eight first round series that begin tonight.
Eastern Conference
(1) Washington vs (8) Montreal
The Capitals received help Sunday from the Flyers, who beat the Rangers 2-1 in a shootout and kept New York – and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist along with them – out of the postseason. Now the league’s highest scoring offense by leaps and bounds gets a team with a shaky defense and shaky goaltender. Expect this one to be quick and painless.
Washington 4, Montreal 0
(2) New Jersey vs (7) Philadelphia
The Flyers avoided a huge collapse and earned themselves a trip up the NJ Turnpike to face the hated Devils. In my preseason preview, I said NJ would barely make the postseason, but somehow they continue to churn out a legitimate contender despite losing key members of their team each year. The Flyers can score, but in a head-to-head contest between Brian Boucher and Martin Brodeur, the matchup is clearly one-sided.
New Jersey 4, Philadelphia 2
(3) Buffalo vs (6) Boston
Four teams from the Northeast made the postseason, including these two foes. Boston will need Tim Thomas to channel his inner-Ryan Miller while simultaneously figuring out how to SOLVE Ryan Miller. If the Sabres goaltender plays at his Olympic level, it could be a long postseason for the rest of the offenses in the East, and he does seem to raise his level of play in big spots.
Buffalo 4, Boston 1
(4) Pittsburgh vs (5) Ottawa
The first series win for Sydney Crosby in his young career came against the Senators, and now here he is, defending Stanley Cup champion and fresh off an Olympic gold medal, having to turn back the clock and beat Ottawa again. The Penguins might not be playing their best hockey, but they have experience and skill that can outmuscle a young Sens team that appears ready to once again become playoff mainstays. They’ll just have to wait a year.
Pittsburgh 4, Ottawa 2
Western Conference
(1) San Jose vs (8) Colorado
A classic western showdown that will wind up being a lot closer than it should be. The Sharks are far and away the better team and are playing better now, and between Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau should be able to outscore the Avs at will. But expect Colorado to hang around, and the longer they do the more the ghosts of playoffs past will begin to creep back into the minds of players and fans in San Jose.
San Jose 4, Colorado 3
(2) Chicago vs (7) Nashville
The Blackhawks should be at the very worst the co-favorites to win the West, maybe even the actual favorite considering the past postseasons from San Jose. They have three dynamic scorers and a solid blueline, so the question becomes, as it always is during the playoffs, goaltending. If Cristobal Huet can perform at his peak, this should be the team that comes out of the West.
Chicago 4, Nashville 1
(3) Vancouver vs (6) Los Angeles
This series is my upset special. The Kings seem to have a bit of magic about them this year, and Vancouver seems to have flown under the radar despite a great year from Henrik Sedin. Coupled with gold medal-winner Roberto Luongo, it makes the Canucks very dangerous, but if Jonathan Quick (who, mind you, was also an Olympic netminder) can duplicate his 2.54 GAA this season in the postseason, LA’s talented front line could do the rest.
Los Angeles, 4, Vancouver 3
(4) Phoenix vs (5) Detroit
Somehow the team I picked dead last in the West managed to not only make the playoffs, but also earn home-ice in the first round. That said, I’d be shocked to see the Coyotes in the second round. They drew the hottest team in the league in the Red Wings, who are poised to make another deep playoff run. Not good news for desert dwellers, but it will be fun to see the famous Phoenix white-out again.
Detroit 4, Phoenix 2
And beyond…
Washington 4, Pittsburgh 3
Buffalo 4, New Jersey 2
San Jose 4, Los Angeles 1
Detroit 4, Chicago 3
Washington 4, Buffalo 2
San Jose 4, Detroit 3
And that would create the exact same matchup I predicted back in October – San Jose and Washington for the Stanley Cup. It’ll have plenty of offensive fireworks, so getting this series would be a big boost for the NHL. The winner?
Washington 4, San Jose 3
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