NHL Playoffs Preview, Part II

Amazing, isn't it? This time last week, the playoff picture in both conferences looked dramatically different than they do today. To answer your question, Teich, I wasn't originally going to put the Detroit Red Wings in. With the injuries they've had to battle all year, I didn't think the Grand Rapids Griffins Red Wings would be able to finish the season strongly enough to make it. However, I think they're going to have just enough in the tank to make it in and keep the consecutive playoff appearance streak alive. I also predict the difference between being in the playoffs and going home early will be a single point. Here are my picks for the Eastern Conference:


ATLANTIC DIVISION

Boston Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Montreal Canadiens
Toronto Maple Leafs


     With the new playoff system being a bit confusing (see last week's post if you need clarification), Detroit, despite having the better regular season record, will be moving conferences for the playoffs due to the Wild Card seeding. Also, for the second year in a row, the Columbus Blue Jackets will miss the playoffs by one point. I hate that that's the prediction I came up with. I really want to see the Blue Jackets make the playoffs. I really do. But after looking at current standings and remaining schedules, I have Toronto and Columbus both winning their last regular season game, which would put Toronto one point ahead.

Now to the matchups:

Series 1: Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Boston Bruins

     There's nothing quite like a matchup between Original 6 teams, especially when they play each other in the playoffs. This series will be exceptionally physical, and probably quite high scoring. Tuukka Rask is probably going to be the Vezina Trophy winner this year, but his numbers will inflate a little bit against a talented Maple Leafs team (4th in Goals For in the eastern Conference), led by James van Riemsdyk and Phil Kessel. However, the Bruins have the upper hand in this series. I think this series is going to come down to goaltending. Rask is having one of the best years of his career, and Toronto's goaltending is always a question-mark. They have two capable goalies in Jonathan Bernier and James Reimer, and while Bernier is the clear starter of the two on paper, he has recently suffered injuries that leave his overall health status uncertain. Boston wins over Toronto in 6 games.

Series 2: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

     This should be a great series. The goalies for both teams are both able to give their teams a strong push. Ben Bishop is having an excellent season, while Montreal's Carey Price has turned his season around since the Olympic Break, during which Price led Team Canada to Olympic Gold. Both teams made trade deadline moves to bolster their rosters for a run; Montreal added Thomas Vanek, and Tampa Bay traded captain Martin St. Louis to New York for Ryan Callahan and two draft picks. In the end, I think Montreal, led by Carey Price, will take this matchup. The Canadiens are built for this year, and may not see a push like this again for a while. Watchout for Montreal; they win this series in 6.

ATLANTIC DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP:

Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins

     Another Original 6 matchup, this series again will come down to goaltending. While Carey Price has been known to heat up under pressure, Boston is too good this year to let this one slip away. Boston's +83 goal differential this year is remarkable, and they are tied for 3rd in the league in Goals For. Boston, heating up as of late and firing on all cylinders, should win this matchup. Boston wins this series in 5 games.




METROPOLITAN DIVISION

Pittsburgh Penguins
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Detroit Red Wings (From Atlantic Division)


SERIES 1: Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

     Sorry Teich, but this series will be over quickly. The injured Red Wings will not be able to keep up with a healthy Penguins team, led by the best player in the game, Sidney Crosby. I think Detroit will manage to steal a a game, but Pittsburgh will win the series at home in Game 5.

SERIES 2: Philadelphia Flyers vs. New York Rangers

     The Flyers are one of two surprise teams in the East this year, the other major surprise being Tampa Bay. At the beginning of the year, it didn't look like either of them would make the playoffs; now, both have clinched berths, as of the time of posting. I think the Flyers run will end in the first round, with Henrik Lundqvist carrying the Rangers to a first round win. The Broad Street Bullies will manage to win a few, but I think the Rangers will take this series in 6 games.

METROPOLITAN DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP:

This is really going to be the weakest Division Championship game. It was to be expected, really. The Metropolitan Division is the weakest in hockey (which is why they only sent 3 teams to the playoffs). Neither of these teams really jumps out as a team that can beat Boston. The Rangers have the advantage in net with Lundqvist, but the Penguins are a better team offensively than New York. I think offense will beat goaltending in this series. Penguins over the Rangers in 6 games.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS:

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Boston Bruins

     In a rematch of last year's Eastern Conference Finals, Boston will again emerge victorious. The only real challenge to Boston along the way will be Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh simply can't keep up with Boston this year. Boston has scored more goals than Pittsburgh this year, and has given up fewer. Boston is 9-0-1 in their last 10 games; Pittsburgh is 4-5-1 in the same span. Whether or not the Penguins have Evgeni Malkin healthy and ready for this series, Boston is the better team and will win this series. Bruins over the Penguins in 5 games.



And now, the moment you've been waiting for:

STANLEY CUP MATCHUP:

Boston Bruins vs. St. Louis Blues

     This series has everything a hockey fan could want. Both teams are physical, fast, have great goaltenders, block shots, fight, have deep forward and defensive pairings, and play smart hockey. I'm already excited at the thought of this matchup! Ryan Miller has picked his game up this year since being traded to St. Louis just before the Trade Deadline. Tuukka Rask has played well all year. Neither team seems to have any weaknesses coming into this series, assuming both teams are able to stay healthy and injury-free. I have the Blues winning the President's Trophy as the top team in the regular season. This also means they will get home ice for Game 7, which this series is all but destined for. I believe this is the year for the Blues, as they bring home their first ever Stanley Cup. I know I'm going to get a lot of disagreement on this. A lot of people are ready to crown the Bruins as Champions. But as the Blackhawks proved last year in just 17 seconds, anything can happen when it comes to the Stanley Cup. Blues over the Bruins in 7 games to become Stanley Cup Champions.