NHL Playoffs: Eastern Conference Playoffs
The first round of the NHL playoffs begins tonight. Another one of our resident hockey afficionados has graciously provided a first round Eastern Conference playoff preview for us. Esteemed commenter HawkEye19 leads us into and through the first round.
1.Boston Bruins vs. 8. Les Habs
A rematch of last year’s first round, only this time the roles are reversed. The Bruins come tearing into the playoffs with the second most points in the NHL, with the top goalie in the NHL this year (Tim Thomas - 2.10 GAA, .930 Save %), and a rejuvenated Mark Recchi (10G 6A in 18 games since traded from the Tampa Bay Lightning). The Habs, on the other hand, eeked out an 8th seed over the Florida Panthers and defenseman Andrei Markov is questionable for the series. The 100th season for the Habs should have been a celebration. However, they experienced the firing of Guy Carbonneau, players drinking like frat boys, and 3 players linked to a drug dealer. The topsy-turvy season will end without the Cup in Montreal for the 16th straight year.
Bruins in 5
2.Washington Capitals vs. 7. NY Rangers
High powered offense vs. a stingy defense (sounds like every Minnesota Wild game this year). The Capitals have the most exciting player in hockey in Alexander Ovechkin and a perennial question mark in goal, Jose Theodore. The Rangers, on the other hand, have problems scoring goals, but have a great goaltending from Henrik Lundquvist and a lock down defense. Hope Sean Avery enjoyed his sloppy seconds stay in NY. Unless Theodore reverts back to his old self, the Caps should have little problem with the Blueshirts.
Capitals in 5
3.New Jersey Devils vs. 6. Carolina Hurricanes
I’m going to be honest with y’all on this one – there are days I forget the Carolina Hurricanes exist. I have almost no idea about this team. The Devils, I know a little better. Young gun Zach Parise and all-world goalie Marin Brodeur led the Devils to the Atlantic Division championship. Brodeur alone should get them through to the second round.
Devils in 6
4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5. Philadelphia Flyers
This one should be the best matchup on the first round. Two teams from the same division who don’t like each other much. The Pens boast two of the best players in the NHL in Malkin and Crosby, along with a pretty good goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury. The Flyers have Simon Gagne, Mike Richards and a bunch of big guys on the blue line. They have also stumbled at the end of the season, losing two out of three games and home ice advantage for this round of the playoffs. It’s going to be hard fought series, but Crosby and Malkin are going to carry the Pens to the second round.
Pens in 7
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Caps have a history of failing in the playoffs, hope this bunch can avoid that.
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Habs in 6. Bruins always lose to them.
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sparty – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrjwaqZfjIY
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Not this year! Bruins in 4!
/fingers crossed
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please see here
oh, and in 2002, the Canadiens were the 8th seed.
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If I don’t click the link, it never happened.
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I really don’t understand how an NBA player can make such an effective goalie for the Bruins.
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I think the Hurricanes beat the Devils oddly enough
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i haven’t enjoyed the Eastern Conference playoffs since 1997 when the
OilersRangers played the Flyers.(Quote)
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the way the devils played the last couple of weeks, that wouldn’t surprise me at all johnny
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Pitt/Philly should be interesting.
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I hope the Hurricanes knock off the Devils…I very well might try and watch a bit of the Pens/Flyers series.
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Don’t see all the higher seeds winning in the First Round. Seems like in hockey, more than other major sports upsets happen often and early in the playoffs.
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all about how hot a goalie gets. that is why.
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There shouldn’t be any hockey teams where there is no chance of a pond freezing over. Therefore Carolina shouldn’t exist and I must pull for them to fail epicly.
Carolina, Florida, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles, Nashville, Dallas and Phoenix should be contracted making it a 20 team league.
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kwsn- i covered this way back in october. nobody below the Mason Dixon line gets a team.
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See Vernon, Mike or Giguère, Jean-Sébastien
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There should be no basketball teams where you can’t grow peaches and use peach baskets.
/put that in your pipe and smoke it. Go Sharks.
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If the Pens need 7 to beat the Flyers they’re the worst team on the planet.
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I agree Fetch. The Pens should take care of the Flyers in 5 or 6 games
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