Todd Cordell: 2012 NHL Playoff Predictions: Eastern and Western Conference Finals

Good luck, it will be entertaining, hard hitting and low scoring so it will really come down to the two goaltenders. Neither team gives up much ice so both teams skill players will be restricted and you're overstating the back to back 7 games thing. The Devils came off a double OT 7 gamer and really could've won game 1 and then swept them after that. The Rangers conditioning is top notch so that will not be an issue. Enjoy the games!

New Jersey has more skill to go along with their great defensive play, Jersey in six sounds about right!

Lost in all this is that the Devils have not had their "regular" 18 skaters healthy all year. But with Zajac playing like Zajac, the playoff version of the Devils is better than any regular season version we saw. Todd made a good point talking about Zajac playing like a number 1 center.

Where I am concerned about this series is that I feel in the playoffs we have been the team more vulnerable to a defensive breakdown than the Rangers.

On the positive side, we bring several lines of offensive potential. Girardi and McDonagh can't play against all of them. IF we are playing a strong, stable systematic game, all 3 of our D pairs can be relied upon to work well defensively.

It's too close to call and beyond that I am afraid of jinxing anything with a prediction. During the season, I felt the Devils' group of 18 was slightly better than the Rangers' group with Lundqvist being the difference maker. Against Florida, the team was subpar defensively with Brodeur being a difference maker.
Against Philly the forecheck and backcheck were stellar. Not knowing what team shows up in a series that will be much different from the Philly series makes this tough to call.

Lost in all this is that the Devils have not had their "regular" 18 skaters healthy all year. But with Zajac playing like Zajac, the playoff version of the Devils is better than any regular season version we saw. Todd made a good point talking about Zajac playing like a number 1 center.

Where I am concerned about this series is that I feel in the playoffs we have been the team more vulnerable to a defensive breakdown than the Rangers.

On the positive side, we bring several lines of offensive potential. Girardi and McDonagh can't play against all of them. IF we are playing a strong, stable systematic game, all 3 of our D pairs can be relied upon to work well defensively.

It's too close to call and beyond that I am afraid of jinxing anything with a prediction. During the season, I felt the Devils' group of 18 was slightly better than the Rangers' group with Lundqvist being the difference maker. Against Florida, the team was subpar defensively with Brodeur being a difference maker.
Against Philly the forecheck and backcheck were stellar. Not knowing what team shows up in a series that will be much different from the Philly series makes this tough to call.
- BarryB1124

Marc Staal is back and is every bit the player he was before his injury, he was great vs the Capitals.

Good luck, it will be entertaining, hard hitting and low scoring so it will really come down to the two goaltenders. Neither team gives up much ice so both teams skill players will be restricted and you're overstating the back to back 7 games thing. The Devils came off a double OT 7 gamer and really could've won game 1 and then swept them after that. The Rangers conditioning is top notch so that will not be an issue. Enjoy the games!
- Blueshirts4ever

This is all just code for the reality that the Rangers are probably the most tedious front runners to play in the conference finals for a very long time. I thought last night's game was just plain ugly. Switched to NBA at the end of the second period.

Tortarella has done a great coaching job. Lundqvist has been brilliant. But, it cannot be good for hockey that such an ugly team becomes the standard bearer for winning. Hard to believe that we would find ourselves hoping that the Devils might be able to add some excitement to a Ranger game style that is excruciatingly boring.

I understand the mayor of Newark predicted a sweep. Didn't know he was such s hockey fan. Good luck in the series.

I understand the mayor of Newark predicted a sweep. Didn't know he was such s hockey fan. Good luck in the series.
- GStone

He's not he hates us actually. Him and Vandeerbeek are having a Richard waving contest at the moment.

This is all just code for the reality that the Rangers are probably the most tedious front runners to play in the conference finals for a very long time. I thought last night's game was just plain ugly. Switched to NBA at the end of the second period.

Tortarella has done a great coaching job. Lundqvist has been brilliant. But, it cannot be good for hockey that such an ugly team becomes the standard bearer for winning. Hard to believe that we would find ourselves hoping that the Devils might be able to add some excitement to a Ranger game style that is excruciatingly boring.
- spatso

Ah Spaz I mean Spatso..If ignorance is bliss you must be the happiest man alive

Marc Staal is back and is every bit the player he was before his injury, he was great vs the Capitals.
- jimbro83

I'm aware. I watch the games and all the players. I'd still rather go up against Staal/Del Zotto or Staal/Stralman than Girardi/McDonagh. Though maybe my means of communication was poor. The second group is certainly not weak.

New Jersey has more skill to go along with their great defensive play, Jersey in six sounds about right!
- LeftCoaster

They have skill but no more than the Caps skill level. Rangers with Kreider skati g up front are a quicker team than they were at seasons end. Staal reverting back to his all star form provides the Rangers with two formidable pairs which the Devils
havent seen yet and they have a world class goaltender who they haven't played against in these playoffs. Rangers haven't yielded more than 3 goals/game yet I'm not saying the Devils can't or won't win but I am sensing the Devils ate getting a lot of love bc they beat Philly bc Philly beat Pittsburgh who was everyones cup winner pre playoffs

I'm aware. I watch the games and all the players. I'd still rather go up against Staal/Del Zotto or Staal/Stralman than Girardi/McDonagh. Though maybe my means of communication was poor. The second group is certainly not weak.
- BarryB1124

Not a single d pair on Philly comes close

They have skill but no more than the Caps skill level. Rangers with Kreider skati g up front are a quicker team iw than try were at seasons end. Staal reverting back to his all star form provides the Rangers with two formidable pairs which end Devsg
Haven't seen yet and they have a world class goaltender who they haven't played against in these playoffs. Rangers haven't yielded more than 3 goals/game yet I'm not saying the Devils can't or won't win but I am sensing the Devils ate getting a lot of love bc they beat Philly bc Philly beat Pittsburgh who was everyones cup winner pre playoffs
- Blueshirts4ever

I agree that the Devils are definitely getting a disproportionate amount of attention for how easily they beat a very vulnerable Philly team.

I think this series will be more controlled on both ends. Less of the ridiculous forechecking pressure that both teams applied last series but with far more conservative and controlled breakouts. One of the analysts made a good point...I forget which one (if it's Milbury I may need to wash out my mouth with sand) but it definitely applies here. He said that the Philly and Washington breakouts had d and forwards very far apart. I know the Caps were trying to create odd man situations up the ice, but that was not all that effective a tactic against the Rangers. The Devils and Rangers both have much more controlled 5-man breakouts from their own end. Both teams also forecheck very well and aggressively when they are on. I'd figure more team-oriented breaks out of the zone. Less ugly than the way the Caps played but less free than the Flyers allowed us to be. I think the series has the potential for 7 exciting one-goal games as a result. Two fairly even teams with similar systematic approaches. A situation where it is not so much how much skill the Devils have compared to the Caps...or for that matter the Rangers' offensive skill level compared to Philly...but how each team utilizes what it has and maximizes what it does well.

Not a single d pair on Philly comes close
- Blueshirts4ever

Well...that is partially true. Coburn and Timmonen (Coburn is much better defensively than a few years ago) are really good players but the depth is not there compared to the Rangers. I don't think what happened to Philly was only about the D. They just were not a unit in any area of the ice. The D were often in no-man's land in their own end with no outlets to move the puck to.

I agree that the Devils are definitely getting a disproportionate amount of attention for how easily they beat a very vulnerable Philly team.

I think this series will be more controlled on both ends. Less of the ridiculous forechecking pressure that both teams applied last series but with far more conservative and controlled breakouts. One of the analysts made a good point...I forget which one (if it's Milbury I may need to wash out my mouth with sand) but it definitely applies here. He said that the Philly and Washington breakouts had d and forwards very far apart. I know the Caps were trying to create odd man situations up the ice, but that was not all that effective a tactic against the Rangers. The Devils and Rangers both have much more controlled 5-man breakouts from their own end. Both team also forecheck very well and aggressively when they are on. I'd figure more team-oriented breaks out of the zone. Less ugly than the way the Caps played but less free than the Flyers allowed us to be. I think the series has the potential for 7 exciting one-goal games as a result. Two fairly even teams with similar systematic approaches. A situation where it is not so much how much skill the Devils have compared to the Caps...or for that matter the Rangers' offensive skill level compared to Philly...but how each team utilizes what it has and maximizes what it does well.
- BarryB1124

It's easy to forget that the Devils REALLY struggled against Florida because it seems so long ago. But the Panthers had excellent mobility and puck movement from their back end and they were well organized.

The Devils also did not play the most motivated series of games against Florida. The Rangers will get out of their own zone much more like Florida did than like Philly did. What we did against Philly does not really apply in those terms.

What is beneficial to us playing NYR is that motivation and intensity should not (better not) be an issue. We were motivated against Philly, maybe because of the rivalry or maybe because the Devils took them more seriously. So in that sense, the intensity and motivation levels should be similar or even higher because there is even more at stake.

It's easy to forget that the Devils REALLY struggled against Florida because it seems so long ago. But the Panthers had excellent mobility and puck movement from their back end and they were well organized.

The Devils also did not play the most motivated series of games against Florida. The Rangers will get out of their own zone much more like Florida did than like Philly did. What we did against Philly does not really apply in those terms.

What is beneficial to us playing NYR is that motivation and intensity should not (better not) be an issue. We were motivated against Philly, maybe because of the rivalry or maybe because the Devils took them more seriously. So in that sense, the intensity and motivation levels should be similar or even higher because there is even more at stake.
- BarryB1124

The Rangers definitely do not have the same type of speed and break out as Florida. They also don't have Brian Campbell who was a monster in the first round.

The Rangers definitely do not have the same type of speed and break out as Florida. They also don't have Brian Campbell who was a monster in the first round.
- Pomegrant

That's insightful. Rangers have just as much speed as any other team. Keep enjoying stomping the Flyers just like the Flyers enjoyed stomping the Penguins. See a trend here? Enjoy the series, Sam!

That's insightful. Rangers have just as much speed as any other team. Keep enjoying stomping the Flyers just like the Flyers enjoyed stomping the Penguins. See a trend here? Enjoy the series, Sam!
- DONMURDOCH14

His main point is actually accurate. Campbell and Kulikov are faster than any Rangers D-man. Gudbranson is a mobile, young stud who can log big minutes as well.

But...that does not mean their D is better as a group. It is definitely the strength of their team though, which is why they gave us so much trouble. The Rangers are more of a get-it-out using the boards type of team than Florida, and they do it extremely well. And Girardi, McDonagh, Del Zotto, Stralman and Staal are all quite mobile. Just that two of the Florida d-men are INSANELY fast.

His main point is actually accurate. Campbell and Kulikov are faster than any Rangers D-man. Gudbranson is a mobile, young stud who can log big minutes as well.

But...that does not mean their D is better as a group. It is definitely the strength of their team though, which is why they gave us so much trouble. The Rangers are more of a get-it-out using the boards type of team than Florida, and they do it extremely well. And Girardi, McDonagh, Del Zotto, Stralman and Staal are all quite mobile. Just that two of the Florida d-men are INSANELY fast.
- BarryB1124

Stop making valid points. In response we should probably just slam on our keyboards and see how that goes.

The Rangers definitely do not have the same type of speed and break out as Florida. They also don't have Brian Campbell who was a monster in the first round.
- Pomegrant

No, they don't. They definitely are different in style from Florida. But organized and effective with their breakout nonetheless, which is more how I was comparing.

But you're right style-wise.

Stop making valid points. In response we should probably just slam on our keyboards and see how that goes.
- Pomegrant

I can't help myself sometimes.

No, they don't. They definitely are different in style from Florida. But organized and effective with their breakout nonetheless, which is more how I was comparing.

But you're right style-wise.
- BarryB1124

The Rangers are a quick team because they position themselves so well. Florida was positioned poorly a lot but could use their speed to correct it.

The Rangers are a quick team because they position themselves so well. Florida was positioned poorly a lot but could use their speed to correct it.
- Pomegrant

Florida used their d-men a lot more to lead rushes. Forced us back on our heels a lot.

Florida used their d-men a lot more to lead rushes. Forced us back on our heels a lot.
- BarryB1124

That's true too. I don't think we'll see that much from the Rangers defense which is great because that caused us fits.