Hockey's "second season" will have even more drama to follow than witnessed in the 82 games that preceded it. This is the time of the year when the NHL core fan base is joined by the causal hockey fan for the 2-3 months of chasing the cup. So to bring the playoff watchers of hockey up to speed, I will break down each first round match-up (starting with the East today and the West tomorrow), with some stories to follow over the next 4-7 games for each of the lucky 16 teams that earned a playoff berth.
And yes, I will put myself out on a limb and offer my quarter final predictions at the end.
Pittsburgh Penguins #4 vs. Philadelphia Flyers #5
You will not find a better first round grudge match than the 4-vs.-5 eastern conference quarterfinal. Two teams with a history of hatred for one another have produced one of the most bitter rivalries in hockey. Each team's focus will be to knock the other team around as much as possible, with the last team standing moving on. It is a match-up that promises to quench the thirst of the blue-collared, fight-first-play-later hockey fan.
What to follow:
For the Pittsburgh Penguins, the story is focused on their star players. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal will be under the microscope from the moment the puck drops tonight. Malkin has had an MVP-worthy season, recording 50 goals and 59 assists. The Penguins will look (and need) for him to continue his stellar year in the playoffs. Staal will also be relied on for his often overlooked leadership qualities. When Malkin and Crosby are in the spotlight, it is Staal's second level of leadership that makes the Penguins stand out above so many other teams in the league. As always, though, Crosby will be the headliner that everyone turns to in this series. After making a return in early December, Crosby went on a tear, seemingly scoring every time he saw the puck. Unfortunately, he was forced back onto the IR for another lengthy period, and, since returning, has slowly worked toward becoming the show-stopping player to whom we are accustomed. This team is good enough to win games, and this series, without the hot hands of Crosby, but if they look to make a long run into June, they will need Crosby to be 100%. If that Sidney Crosby shows up, there is no team in the league better than the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Philadelphia Flyers are more than happy to see Pittsburgh in the first round, and why shouldn't they be? The Flyers have dominated the season series, winning 4 of 6. Top that off with five wins and one loss at the Consol Energy Center, the Flyers will feel just at home when this series starts. The story in Philly is again focused on goaltending. Despite making a move to bring in Ilya Bryzgalov before the season began, the problems in net that have plagued the Flyers for over a decade remain at the forefront. Pressure will be at an all-time high for the Flyers goalie after he posted a less than convincing regular season. Bryzgalov will look to ride solid form at the end of the season as a stepping-stone into the playoffs. However, the fact remains that if he is not at his best, the Flyers can't win. Other than the normal goaltending issues, Philadelphia will also be focused on defense. With Chris Pronger out for the year, Philly lost a key piece of their defensive puzzle. Without him in the line-up others have had to step up to fill the void, and so far have done a decent job of it. The question remains if they will be able to hold up for an entire series of Crosby and company knocking on the door.
Florida Panthers #3 vs. New Jersey Devils #6
The Devils seemed more than content with a possible first round match-up with the Florida Panthers. They will get their wish. The Panthers will make their first appearance in over a decade this post season. It came down to the wire after Washington made a late charge, but this time around Florida did just enough (two wins in their last ten) to hold onto the division title and earn the 3 seed in the east. Meanwhile, the New Jersey Devils come in as one of the hottest teams entering the playoffs. Coming off a six-game win streak, New Jersey looks to move past the first round for the first time since 2006, and to avoid another disappointment to a southeast team.
What to follow:
The Florida Panthers are a team worth following for the simple fact that nobody expects anything from them. Even head coach Kevin Dineen has called Florida the team of "misfits." This team is filled with players practically no other team in the league wanted, most notably Brian Campbell and Jose Theodore. Campbell is no stranger to the playoffs; he won the cup with Chicago just a few seasons back. His huge contract made him an unpopular signing for most teams, but the Panthers took a chance and it has paid off. He has been nothing short of fantastic on the blue line for the Cats. Giving them solid play night in and night out, Florida has been able to rely heavily on Campbell and the many minutes a game he plays. Jose Theodore has also been a great story in net. Rising his game a level, he has been the backstop Florida needed him to be all season. Coming back from injury just in time for the playoffs, he will be integral to the Panthers' proving everyone wrong.
The New Jersey Devils ride into the playoffs on the momentum of a six-game winning streak. It is hard not to ask where this team would be if they didn't play in the ultra-competitive Atlantic Division. So with a team as hot as the Devils, what do we focus on? Let's start in net with Martin Brodeur. He has played a significantly less amount of games this season than the last few. The hope is that this will keep him fresh for a long post-season run. But does Marty have enough steam to carry a team to 16 wins? If he does, the Devils could be a team to watch to make a long run. The other element of the Devils to follow is their ability to score goals. They have found ways to score with a team that was not expected to have success finding the back of the net. Opposition will need to find ways to stop Kolvalchuck, Parise and (yes) David Clarkson.
Boston Bruins #2 vs. Washington Capitals #7
It is truly amazing that the defending Stanley Cup champions were able to enter the playoffs as quietly as they did. On the other side of this match-up, the Capitals made a lot of noise to end their season, falling just short of the Southeast Division title, beating the top seeded NewYork Rangers on the final day of the regular season, and looking like the Caps of old. That should make for an interesting first few games of this series.
What to follow:
Are the Capitals for real now? Several years in a row, Washington has entered as the top seed in the East only to be colossal failures in the post-season. One has to wonder if they may have been sandbagging during the first 82 games. Capitals fans will hope that is the case. It's hard not to start with Ovi as the story to follow. After a multi-season drop-off in points and goals, the "great 8" has turned it around with a solid year, scoring 38 goals and 27 assists. He will need to bring his best every night to give the hard-hitting Bruins anything to worry about, though. The other key for the Caps is the return of Nicklas Backstrom. Without him in the lineup, most would agree that Washington doesn't have a real chance against the defending cup champs. Finally, focus will be on young goaltender Braden Holtby. Injuries to the top two netminders have placed the burden of playoff hockey square on the shoulders of the 22-year-old. He will need to be prepared for Bruins players crashing into the net on a regular basis.
The Boston Bruins have been toward the top of the standings all season. They have all the pieces of a team that can repeat as champions: super goaltending from Tim Thomas, solid D from Chara and company, and players who can find the back of the net on a regular basis. They are going to make it hard for opposing teams every night with their hard-nosed style. The Capitals can expect to be bruised after every game in this series. The only question that remains is: do the Bruins have the gas and drive to make another run into June? If they do, the Bruins will be one of the favorites to come out of the East.
New York Rangers #1 vs. Ottawa Senators #8
Both teams in this match-up exceeded preseason expectations by a country mile. The New York Rangers have had an impressive year that has seen them at the top of the standings all season. The Ottawa Senators have found ways to win games despite practically everyone writing them off at the start of the season. Now both teams will go from exceeding expectations to having an enormous amount of expectations placed on them.
What to follow:
The Ottawa Senators will carry the weight of Canada on their backs (along with Vancouver) heading into the post-season. With only 2 of the 7 teams north of the border making it in, Ottawa will be counted on to represent the nation that places hockey above all else. The upside is that Ottawa has many positive qualities going for them. Winning the season series 3 games to 1 over the Rangers is a good place to start. The Sens will look to build on their regular season success against the East's number one team. Young players scoring big goals have also been a nice addition to the surprising Sens, and the top line has been far better than anyone could have foreseen at season's start. Jason Spezza and Daniel Alfredsson have returned this season to put up excellent numbers. Does the long-time captain have one last run in him?
The New York Rangers enter the playoffs in unfamiliar territory. Unlike seasons past, where the Rangers have crawled into the first round as a lower seeded team, New York find themselves as the top team in the East. It will be interesting to see how this team handles the pressure that comes with being the best. In a New York market, anything less than success as a top seed will not be tolerated. What to follow? The man in net. Lundqvist has been hands-down the best goaltender this season. However, his playoff record leaves much to be desired. He will need to continue being the best player on the ice for New York to have the long run that is expected of them. Power play will also be followed closely. The Rangers had one of the weakest power plays in the league. As we witnessed last year with the Boston Bruins, this stat does not mean the Rangers are not capable of winning the cup. The trouble is that New York has gone through significant parts of the season where they struggled to score goals. If the Rangers look to be taken seriously as a cup contender, they will need to score early and often throughout the post-season.
Predictions:
New York Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators:
Ottawa will look to score early in games and make the Rangers uncomfortable from the start. New York will look to get an early lead and hold it with their excellent work ethic in the offensive zone. Most of Canada believes the Senators are not only capable of, but will, upset New York in the first round. I don't share their faith in the Sens. Rangers win in 5.
Florida Panthers vs. New Jersey Devils:
It's hard not to root for a team like Florida to succeed in the Playoffs. But they will have an uphill battle even with home ice against the surging Devils. Considering both teams' offense, defense and goaltending, the Devils are just a little better than the Panthers in every aspect of the game. Add that on with Florida's lack of playoff experience, and the hill becomes unsurmountable. Devils win in 4.
Boston Bruins vs. Washington Capitals:
Washington is looking much improved since the start of the season. They can outscore anyone on any given night. For that reason, look for them to win some games this series. However, the Bruins are the better team. On the nights the Capitals aren't perfect, Boston will steamroll them. Bruins take it in 6.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers:
This is easily the hardest series to predict. The Penguins are the more talented team, but that does not always translate into playoff success. Philly will try hard to dominate the physical play and keep the Pens' stars off the scoreboard. So it comes down to which team forces the other one to play their game. If the series is about talent, Pens take it. If it comes down to who can outlast the other in a war, Philly is looking good. So who wins? Penguins, in 7.
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