That's right, it's the playoffs!
And as Clowe showed us in the above picture everyone will do whatever they need to in order to win!
So I'm going to break down each and every series and let you know what I think and why.
NYR (1) vs OTT (8): NYR in 6
New York had a chance at the president's trophy, it would have been the first time they had won it since their cup run in '94. They blew it against a surging Washington team. Henrik Lundqvist (still nursing an injury) made all of 13 saves against the team that they COULD have been facing had New Jersey not beaten Ottawa on saturday.
This pits New York against a pesky Ottawa team that has a lot to prove.
Ottawa has not had the best run recently. After a strong surge and a chance to pass Boston for 2nd, they have had serious troubles, falling to 8th from what seemed to be a secure 7th spot on the last day of the regular season. I think Ottawa has the offense to stay in this one, but they will need to beat a stingy New York defense that has allowed an east leading 187 goals, making them the third in the league.
You have to also look at Ottawa's Goal differential here, +9. While they have scored a whopping 249 goals this season (3rd in the east), they've let in 240 goals, the highest goals against for any team in the playoffs.
New York has experienced a resurgence in their offense this year, the addition of Brad Richards was a huge boon to them. Ottawa has some serious star power this year with Captain Daniel Alfredsson experiencing one of his best seasons as well as outstanding performances from Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek.
Although they won the season series 3-1 this year, Ottawa is still going to have to do a lot to beat a Vezina worthy Henrik Lundqvist. This will be a quite entertaining series to watch and I have faith New York will pull it out and move on.
BOS (2) vs WAS (7): Washington in 6
Well here is a surprise of a match-up. After a dismal 5-1 loss to Buffalo on home ice, Washington seemed out of the running, after all how were the Capitals, with their shaky goal tending situation, poor power play performance, and shoddy defense supposed to do better than Buffalo who were on a hot streak and being backstopped by an impressive looking Ryan Miller. A little less than two weeks later, Buffalo sits outside looking in and Washington sits in 7th, giving them one of the harder match-ups of the Eastern Conference.
You can't find a better rounded team than Boston. Outstanding offense is backed up by a strong defense lead by Zdeno Chara and backstopped by the seemingly unshakable Tim Thomas. The defending champs remain relatively unchanged from last year's Stanley Cup run and as a result are primed to do it again. Washington has a big chance to stop them.
The biggest thing here will be getting in the head of Goaltender Tim Thomas, which Washington has been able to do 3 out of 4 times this season, most notably with a shootout win a few weeks ago.
I bet Thomas is glad there is no shootout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and so am I. I think this will be an intense series highlighted by a surging Washington team who do not have home ice advantage for the first time in their 5-year run to the playoffs.
Expect big performances from Ovechkin, Semin, and Backstrom all of whom seem to be regressing back to the mean, which is a good thing for players who haven't been looking too hot recently.
On the other side of the table, Boston has the ability to shut down a strong Washington offense and they will do it every chance they get. Washington's goal tending situation is a MAJOR problem for them in this series. If Braden Holtby can play like he did on Saturday expect a Washington victory. Holtby also brings something that Washington needs for this series, aggression around the net. Boston has shown this season that they will jostle for any opportunities they can. Holtby is the type of guy to push back and this could be a big factor in Washington's win.
I'm glad most of this series will be on TV, because it's going to be entertaining, and frustrating. I can't wait!
FLA (3) vs NJD (6): NJD in 5
Welcome back to the postseason Florida. After a decade of poor performance and the loss of a quality goaltender for a bargain rate during the off-season, Florida rebuilt. The efforts of GM Tallon show in a team that managed to take over the southeast from the Washington Capitals, and take the 3rd spot in the playoffs. However, Florida has severely struggled recently and would be facing New York in the playoffs if not for their win against Carolina on Saturday.
New Jersey on the other hand is clicking at the right time. That's not to say they haven't performed well all season, but New Jersey is on a 6-game winning streak. This won't last forever, but I expect the snap to rile up this Devils squad.
Expect to see intense performances from Florida's offensive lines. Especially the line of Fleischmann, Weiss, and Versteeg. This line was a large part of Florida's run to the Division Championship. On the other side expect to see a lot from Kovalchuk who has had a stellar season and is looking primed to have some serious postseason success.
The big story this time is going to be goal tending. Broduer has a chance to end his Hall of Fame Career on a Very High note. If he can have a stellar run then expect New Jersey to go deep in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. On the other side of the ice, expect outstanding performances from Theodore and Clemmensen to help an anemic Florida offense survive a strong Jersey presence.
PIT (4) vs PHI (5): Philly in 7
This series is going to be great! Intense, bloody, and probably full of AHL call-ups as these two interstate rivals go head to head. Pittsburgh finally won one at home against Philly for the first time in Consol Energy Center on Saturday, they are going to need to do it again if they hope to beat a strong Philadelphia team.
The star power of Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Giroux, Bryzgalov, Jagr, Briere, Hartnell, among others will make this a great caliber series to watch.
In order to win, Ilya Bryzgalov is going to need to carry his strong March into the Playoffs.
Pittsburgh is going to need to find a way to win at home to win this series.
I really don't know what's to say about this series that hasn't been said already, so I share this:
I don't know which team will play harder, but whoever does will be moving on to the next round. Depleted, exhausted, and bitter. Nothing like a first round match-up to really stoke the fires of one of the better rivalries in the NHL.
NYR (1) vs WAS (7) Washington in 7
PHI (5) vs NJD (6) NJD in 6
NJD vs WAS New Jersey in 6
I think New Jersey will make it to the final and lose in 6 games, but that's still a long way off. Expect an update after round 1!
So that's my prediction for the Eastern Conference, expect seven very entertaining series and a very exciting run to the cup.
Cheers my friends.
Shave those beards now, because it's playoff time!
~Ben (@plotbe01)
Ottawa has not had the best run recently. After a strong surge and a chance to pass Boston for 2nd, they have had serious troubles, falling to 8th from what seemed to be a secure 7th spot on the last day of the regular season. I think Ottawa has the offense to stay in this one, but they will need to beat a stingy New York defense that has allowed an east leading 187 goals, making them the third in the league.
You have to also look at Ottawa's Goal differential here, +9. While they have scored a whopping 249 goals this season (3rd in the east), they've let in 240 goals, the highest goals against for any team in the playoffs.
New York has experienced a resurgence in their offense this year, the addition of Brad Richards was a huge boon to them. Ottawa has some serious star power this year with Captain Daniel Alfredsson experiencing one of his best seasons as well as outstanding performances from Jason Spezza and Milan Michalek.
Although they won the season series 3-1 this year, Ottawa is still going to have to do a lot to beat a Vezina worthy Henrik Lundqvist. This will be a quite entertaining series to watch and I have faith New York will pull it out and move on.
BOS (2) vs WAS (7): Washington in 6
Well here is a surprise of a match-up. After a dismal 5-1 loss to Buffalo on home ice, Washington seemed out of the running, after all how were the Capitals, with their shaky goal tending situation, poor power play performance, and shoddy defense supposed to do better than Buffalo who were on a hot streak and being backstopped by an impressive looking Ryan Miller. A little less than two weeks later, Buffalo sits outside looking in and Washington sits in 7th, giving them one of the harder match-ups of the Eastern Conference.
You can't find a better rounded team than Boston. Outstanding offense is backed up by a strong defense lead by Zdeno Chara and backstopped by the seemingly unshakable Tim Thomas. The defending champs remain relatively unchanged from last year's Stanley Cup run and as a result are primed to do it again. Washington has a big chance to stop them.
The biggest thing here will be getting in the head of Goaltender Tim Thomas, which Washington has been able to do 3 out of 4 times this season, most notably with a shootout win a few weeks ago.
I bet Thomas is glad there is no shootout in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and so am I. I think this will be an intense series highlighted by a surging Washington team who do not have home ice advantage for the first time in their 5-year run to the playoffs.
Expect big performances from Ovechkin, Semin, and Backstrom all of whom seem to be regressing back to the mean, which is a good thing for players who haven't been looking too hot recently.
On the other side of the table, Boston has the ability to shut down a strong Washington offense and they will do it every chance they get. Washington's goal tending situation is a MAJOR problem for them in this series. If Braden Holtby can play like he did on Saturday expect a Washington victory. Holtby also brings something that Washington needs for this series, aggression around the net. Boston has shown this season that they will jostle for any opportunities they can. Holtby is the type of guy to push back and this could be a big factor in Washington's win.
I'm glad most of this series will be on TV, because it's going to be entertaining, and frustrating. I can't wait!
FLA (3) vs NJD (6): NJD in 5
Welcome back to the postseason Florida. After a decade of poor performance and the loss of a quality goaltender for a bargain rate during the off-season, Florida rebuilt. The efforts of GM Tallon show in a team that managed to take over the southeast from the Washington Capitals, and take the 3rd spot in the playoffs. However, Florida has severely struggled recently and would be facing New York in the playoffs if not for their win against Carolina on Saturday.
New Jersey on the other hand is clicking at the right time. That's not to say they haven't performed well all season, but New Jersey is on a 6-game winning streak. This won't last forever, but I expect the snap to rile up this Devils squad.
Expect to see intense performances from Florida's offensive lines. Especially the line of Fleischmann, Weiss, and Versteeg. This line was a large part of Florida's run to the Division Championship. On the other side expect to see a lot from Kovalchuk who has had a stellar season and is looking primed to have some serious postseason success.
The big story this time is going to be goal tending. Broduer has a chance to end his Hall of Fame Career on a Very High note. If he can have a stellar run then expect New Jersey to go deep in this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs. On the other side of the ice, expect outstanding performances from Theodore and Clemmensen to help an anemic Florida offense survive a strong Jersey presence.
PIT (4) vs PHI (5): Philly in 7
This series is going to be great! Intense, bloody, and probably full of AHL call-ups as these two interstate rivals go head to head. Pittsburgh finally won one at home against Philly for the first time in Consol Energy Center on Saturday, they are going to need to do it again if they hope to beat a strong Philadelphia team.
The star power of Crosby, Malkin, Fleury, Giroux, Bryzgalov, Jagr, Briere, Hartnell, among others will make this a great caliber series to watch.
In order to win, Ilya Bryzgalov is going to need to carry his strong March into the Playoffs.
Pittsburgh is going to need to find a way to win at home to win this series.
I really don't know what's to say about this series that hasn't been said already, so I share this:
I don't know which team will play harder, but whoever does will be moving on to the next round. Depleted, exhausted, and bitter. Nothing like a first round match-up to really stoke the fires of one of the better rivalries in the NHL.
NYR (1) vs WAS (7) Washington in 7
PHI (5) vs NJD (6) NJD in 6
NJD vs WAS New Jersey in 6
I think New Jersey will make it to the final and lose in 6 games, but that's still a long way off. Expect an update after round 1!
So that's my prediction for the Eastern Conference, expect seven very entertaining series and a very exciting run to the cup.
Cheers my friends.
Shave those beards now, because it's playoff time!
~Ben (@plotbe01)
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