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Predicting the Panthers and Devils. +What Game are YOU Watching? |
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History:
* The Panthers won the first and last meetings of these teams. The Devils won the middle 2.
* Kovalchuk (3-2-5) is NJ's top scorer in the four games.
* Kris Versteeg was the best Panther against the Devils, bar none, scoring 5 and adding an assist in four games. Five of the 11 goals the Panthers scored against NJ.
* These teams have only met in one playoff series and the Devils swept them
On the Panthers...
This team is a complete result of the amazing GM/Coach tandem of Dale Tallon and Kevin Dineen. The Panthers haven't been in the playoffs for 12 years, but these Panthers have 17 players with a combined 790 playoff games and eight Stanley Cup rings. So they will be just fine with this pressure. Since the start of the season, Florida acquired six veteran players to its roster –Samuelsson, Sturm, Barch, Madden, Smithson and Wolski –without giving up a high draft pick or any of its current top prospects. The guy I am happiest for, besides the Panthers fans who are deserving of this big time, is Stephen Weiss. Dale Tallon gave Weiss the option and Weiss wanted to stick around for the rebuild. He is a proud Panther..which is awesome. He was very emotional after the team wrapped up the playoffs in the last game of the season. Brian Campbell is back to his Sabres playoff form and could be an MVP in this one. When you talk to scouts and GMs about the Panthers their is one thing they all say. The Panthers have a solid core of character guys, but what makes them special is what is coming. Many feel the Panthers kids who aren't up yet are better than any other prospect in the NHL
On the Devils....
This is VERY hot Devils team. If there is one thing you can say about this particular Devils team it is they go hot and cold for LONG streaks of time, and the Devils have won 6 straight going into the playoffs, falling a single point short of the Flyers and nearly earned themselves a shot at the Penguins. The Devils last year went on a ridiculous streak in their attempt to make the playoffs. The Devils themselves have been in the playoffs for 14 of the last 15 years, but have not won a playoff series since 2007, so these Devils have their share of playoff players, none less than Martin Brodeur, who has the rings to show it. Brodeur struggled in his last series, two years ago in the opening round against Philly. The top scorer on the Devils, Ilya Kovalchuk interestingly has never won a playoff game. I expect Parise to be a monster in this series.
Keys:
broken clock time...Power plays and goaltending...The Devils have had some serious defensive juggernauts over the years, but this year's team was the best penalty killing team in Devils history and allowed a league low 27 goals killing off just shy of 90% of their times short...at 89.6%..which is a modern day NHL record. The Panthers were good on the Power Play, 7th overall. I believe this is Kovalchuk's time...Theodore gets the start for the Panthers in game 1, but I wouldn't at all be surprised in Clemmenson takes over the role by the series end. Clemmenson has never lost (4-0) against his former team.
Prediction:
This series is being dogged a lot, but it reminds me of the Devils/Hurricanes series of a few years ago which may have been the most exciting first round series in quite some time. I think the Panthers will have their day, and the Devils sort of know this is one of their last shots...While Brodeur is saying he wants to return...who knows? While Parise is saying he wants to remain a Devils...who knows? These Panthers will give the Devils a ton to deal with but the Devils will win this one in 6.
What's the Buzz?
So tell me...what game are you watching?
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