The playoffs are here! I will take a look at the Eastern Conference today; the Western Conference tomorrow and them the Predators / Blackhawks series on Thursday. Also, the SlapShot Radio Playoff Preview is Wednesday night at 7pm central on 102.5 the Game. Let’s get going…
It has been a fascinating battle in the East, but the clear favorite to come out of the conference is the Washington Capitals, power, speed, talent, experience… they have it all and, on paper… should win the cup in a walk.
Too bad they don’t award the cup on paper.
Washington vs Toronto – This is a series that fascinates me. The ultimate in battle between a team that has all the expectations in the world heaped upon them versus a young team ahead of the curve, playing with house money. It is a very dangerous matchup for the President’s Trophy winners. X-Factor – The Ovechkin vs Matthews matchup. Mike Babcock has a limited ability to protect his youngsters in the playoffs, all of them seeing their first NHL playoff experience. AO has adjusted his game and is hungry… this will be a fascinating matchup to watch. How Can the Underdog Win? - The key for Toronto may be Brian Boyle and his 100 games of playoff experience. How loud his voice is in the room could flip the script on Washington and make a difference for the Leafs. Prediction - Does the weight of expectations get to the Caps? Nah… Caps in Five… and a sweep wouldn’t surprise me.
Montreal vs New York – An O6 matchup that features two all-world goaltenders and a classic matchup of shutdown players vs. scoring depth. The key for this series will be the Habs ability to control the Rangers balanced attack and the Rangers ability to control the high powered line of Pachoretty, Danault and Radulov. Should be a good one. X-Factor – Shea Weber who may be on a mission to erase the last playoff game he played for the Predators… one of the worst games I have ever seen him play. If he stays healthy, he will be a huge factor in this series. How Can the Underdog Win? – The New York Rangers need to (with a nod to Herb Brooks) play their game. If they are able to roll four lines and get the kind of performance they have traditionallyt gotten from Henrik Lundqvist, they will move on. Prediction - Montreal will control the play, get the scoring they need from their secondary players and win in six.
Ottawa vs Boston – Ottawa is my dark horse to come out of the East. They are deceptively good and running into a team where the midseason coaching change seemed to work and work well. Ottawa dominated the season series, going 4-0-0 by playing a grind it out system combined with solid netminding. The Bruins have excellent goaltending that covers for a porous defense, but when their offense gets clicking… watch out. X-Factor – The coaches… which one can handle the playoffs well as both have limited playoff experience, although Ottawa’s Guy Boucher has more recent experience. How Can the Underdog Win? - While Boston is the lower seeded team, it’s hard to call either team the underdog. Boston wins if they can figure out a way to bust out of the stranglehold defense played by the Sens. Prediction - Home ice makes a difference in this one. Ottawa in seven, home team wins them all.
Pittsburgh vs Columbus – The whining about this series is astounding, wow, two good teams meeting in the playoffs… wow, what a concept /sarcasm off. This could be a whale of a series, an injury depleted defending champ vs. a team that has finally seemed to bust through. Both teams have been hot at points of the season and both teams have seen swoons. X-Factor – The injury factor see the Pens fairly banged up, although Evgany Malkin is set to return to the Pens lineup. How the Pens cover for Kris Letang will go a long way toward deciding this series. For Columbus, they need Zach Werensky back in the lineup… How Can the Underdog Win? - Calling Columbus an underdog is… well… appropriate. They have never seen playoff success and have limited playoff experience. That being said… Columbus wins by stealing one of the first two and holding serve at home. Prediction - I am having a hard time calling this, but it has to happen sometime… Columbus wins their first playoff series … in six.
Western Conference tomorrow… also… SlapShot Radio’s Playoff Preview with Yahoo.com’s Josh Cooper and Chicago broadcaster Troy Murray… Wednesday at 7pm on 102.5 the Game.
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Playoff Status
Eastern Conference
Washington vs Toronto – Series begins 4/13 in Washington
Montreal vs New York – Series begins 4/12 in Montreal
Ottawa vs Boston – Series begins 4/12 in Ottawa
Pittsburgh vs Columbus – Series begins 4/12 in Pittsburgh
Western Conference
Chicago vs Nashville – Series begins 4/13 in Chicago
Anaheim vs Calgary – Series begins 4/13 in Anaheim
Minnesota vs St. Louis – Series begins 4/12 in Minnesota
Edmonton vs. San Jose – Series begins 4/12 in Edmonton
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Playoff Random Notes
- Pontus Aberg has been recalled and is practicing with the team.
- The Preds announced the signing of Tyler Moy to a two-year entry level contract. Moy finished his four year career with Harvard after the Crimson lost in the Frozen Four.
- Predators finally get an NBC game… Saturday’s Game two is on the mothership.
- The coaching carousel continues to turn… Dallas gets rid of Lindy Ruff, Willie Desjardins is out in Vancouver. Daryl Sutter fired in LA.
- GM’s are also riding the merry-go-round… Dean Lombardi out in LA as part of a complete house cleaning… Dale Tallon is back as Panthers GM…
- No games in the NHL today, all times CST –
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