The NHL regular season is officially over. The best and worst of the season will be recapped later this week with all MMB writers sharing their views.
Here are the playoff matches:
Eastern Conference
#1 Boston Bruins vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
- Boston won the season series 5-1
Well Bob Gainey, it's now your time to shine. You fired Guy Charboneau and ended up in 8th. Expect the Lucic and Komisarek feud to blow up at some point. Carey Price and Alexei Kovalev will be under constant pressure to play at the top of theirs games.
Prediction - Boston is too good to lose to an inconsistant Montreal team. Bruins in 5
#2 Washington Capitals vs. #7 New York Rangers
-Washington won the season series 3-1
The Alexander Ovechkin show has landed on Broadway. Luckily for Caps fans it isn't a one man show anymore. It should be a breakout playoffs for Mike Green, Nicklas Backstrom, and Alexander Semin. Meanwhile, the Rangers have been a better team under John Tortorella going 12-7-2 since his arrival. Sean Avery and Nik Antropov have given the Rangers much needed offensive depth. This matchup should make for one of the better of the first round
Prediction - Hard fought, high scoring series, Washington in 7
#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Carolina Hurricanes
- Carolina won the season series 3-1
The Devils did what I suggested they would when Marty "Fatso" Brodeur came back. They shut down what was working for them, scoring goals. Carolina has played well and like the Rangers have benefitted from a coaching change. Paul Maurice has got the Hurricanes lighting the lamp and playing great hockey. Watch for Cam Ward to show signs of fatigue as he has sholdered the brunt of ice time playing in 28 straight games down the stretch
Prediction - Bore, yawn, who cares, Hurricanes in 6
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh won the season series 4-2
The battle of Pennsylvania gets another chapter. Last year produced a great series with Mike Richards and Sidney Crosby going at it. I hope to see the same thing out of the captains. Evgeni Malkin led the league in points, which at the start of the year didn't seem possible. The Penguins seem to be peeking at the right time of the year while the Flyers gave away home ice by not getting a point to finish out the season.
Prediction - This could be Crosby and Malkins first of many cups, Penguins in 6
Western Conference
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks
- Sharks won the season series 4-2
This should be a defensive battle with an unusually tough number eight seed. San Jose has been know for choking in the playoffs, but things have looked different this year. The players seem motivated, they have one of the best goaltenders in the league, and a Presidents Trophy.
Prediction - Anaheim will sneak a few but San Jose moves on, Sharks in 6
#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets
- Teams split the season series 3-3
The Blue Jackets make the post season for the first time in their history. I doubt Detroit will get the sentimental memo. They played each other very tough all year, but Hossa, Zetterberg, and Datsyuk are too much. Steve Mason will have his hands full and may steal a game or two but it will take more then that.
Prediction - Mason wins at least one on his own but so does Lidstroms presence, Red Wings in 5
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St.Louis Blues
- Teams split the season series 2-2
The Canucks were handed the division crown personally by the Flames, and get the surging St.Louis Blues. This is series could get interesting. The Blues have nothing to lose while the Canucks have tons of expectations. Roberto Luongo is a game changing goalie, but Chris Mason has led this team to the playoffs. Brad Boyes led the Blues this year with 71 points, and I expect a big playoffs from the ex leaf.
Prediction - Mats Sundin isn't what the Canucks expected, either will the end result of this series, Blues in 7
#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames
- Chicago won the season series 4-0
The Flames are getting healthy at all the right time. Dion Phaneuf, Cory Sarich and Curtis Glencross and Rene Bourque are all expected back for the first round. For a team that hasn't put out a full lineup in a while this is a good thing. Chicago meanwhile is back in the playoffs for the first time in seven years. Havlat is a UFA this offseason and has a great year. Should be a physical fast paced series.
Prediction - I bought the Kane jersey for a reason, well mainly because a kid was selling them on the side of the street for cheap, and its a great number, Blackhawks in 6.
There you go folks. Sorry for ruining the first round with the results already. Ill be back for the second round. Enjoy the playoffs!
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