EASTERN CONFERENCE:
#1 Ottawa Senators vs. #7 BOSTON BRUINS
Season matchup: 4-0-0 OTT
Goalie matchup: Niemi (Ott) vs. Roloson (Bos)
Sv% rd1: .908 vs. .919
The Ottawa Senators went down 0-3 against the NY Islanders before coming back in style to win the series 4-3. The Bruins on the other hand were able to advance after a hard fought seven game series with #2 seed Florida Panthers. Can the Bruins knock out another top seed, this time the President Trophy winners? The Senators have to be seen as huge favorites, but the Bruins performed fairly well in the first round. The Senators 'did' win all four meetings during the regular season, but we've seen that anything can happen in these playoffs (see Chicago example below).
#5 Winnipeg Jets vs. #6 Toronto Maple Leafs
Season matchup: 2-2-0 TIE
Goalie matchup: Anderson (Win) vs. Bryzgalov (Tor)
Sv% rd1: .920 vs. .937
The Maple Leafs were the first team to qualify for the CSF by beating the #3 seed Pittsburgh Penguins in five games, impressive. The Jets on the other hand beat the NY Rangers by 4-2, never really looking like they'd lose. This is a series that could really go either way. Bryzgalov should have the edge in net and if Toronto's top line can continue to produce they have a good chance. The Jets know how to win though, winning season 6 and 8 (as Atlanta), so never bet against a champion. The season series finished all square, so no reason to think it'll be any different now = close series.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
#2 Minnesota Wild vs. #8 Chicago Blackhawks
Season matchup: 3-1-0 CHI
Goalie matchup: Dubnyk (Min) vs. Vokoun (Chi)
Sv% rd1: .923 vs. .927
Both clubs needed a game 7 to advance to the next round. One of the biggest upsets of the first round was to see the #8 seed Chicago Blackhawks knock out the top seeded San Jose Sharks (who had won the regular season matchup by 4-0-0). The Blackhawks have a hard nosed team with some top end players and a goalie that can (obviously) win big games. Should be a hard fought series with the Wild perhaps being the slight favorites, or are they? They lost the season matchup and the Blackhawks seem to be on a roll...
#3 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Vancouver Canucks
Season matchup: 2-1-1 NAS
Goalie matchup: Quick (Nas) vs. Thomas (Van)
Sv% rd1: .922 vs .939
This should be a very interesting series. Both clubs have strong goaltending and the Predators were able to advance after a game 7 win. Thomas is however the main reason, along with a couple of other AHL 7 champs, why they might just be the slight favorites here. This could really go either way though and it'll be vital for the Predators to get their offense going.
#1 Ottawa Senators vs. #7 BOSTON BRUINS
Season matchup: 4-0-0 OTT
Goalie matchup: Niemi (Ott) vs. Roloson (Bos)
Sv% rd1: .908 vs. .919
The Ottawa Senators went down 0-3 against the NY Islanders before coming back in style to win the series 4-3. The Bruins on the other hand were able to advance after a hard fought seven game series with #2 seed Florida Panthers. Can the Bruins knock out another top seed, this time the President Trophy winners? The Senators have to be seen as huge favorites, but the Bruins performed fairly well in the first round. The Senators 'did' win all four meetings during the regular season, but we've seen that anything can happen in these playoffs (see Chicago example below).
#5 Winnipeg Jets vs. #6 Toronto Maple Leafs
Season matchup: 2-2-0 TIE
Goalie matchup: Anderson (Win) vs. Bryzgalov (Tor)
Sv% rd1: .920 vs. .937
The Maple Leafs were the first team to qualify for the CSF by beating the #3 seed Pittsburgh Penguins in five games, impressive. The Jets on the other hand beat the NY Rangers by 4-2, never really looking like they'd lose. This is a series that could really go either way. Bryzgalov should have the edge in net and if Toronto's top line can continue to produce they have a good chance. The Jets know how to win though, winning season 6 and 8 (as Atlanta), so never bet against a champion. The season series finished all square, so no reason to think it'll be any different now = close series.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
#2 Minnesota Wild vs. #8 Chicago Blackhawks
Season matchup: 3-1-0 CHI
Goalie matchup: Dubnyk (Min) vs. Vokoun (Chi)
Sv% rd1: .923 vs. .927
Both clubs needed a game 7 to advance to the next round. One of the biggest upsets of the first round was to see the #8 seed Chicago Blackhawks knock out the top seeded San Jose Sharks (who had won the regular season matchup by 4-0-0). The Blackhawks have a hard nosed team with some top end players and a goalie that can (obviously) win big games. Should be a hard fought series with the Wild perhaps being the slight favorites, or are they? They lost the season matchup and the Blackhawks seem to be on a roll...
#3 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Vancouver Canucks
Season matchup: 2-1-1 NAS
Goalie matchup: Quick (Nas) vs. Thomas (Van)
Sv% rd1: .922 vs .939
This should be a very interesting series. Both clubs have strong goaltending and the Predators were able to advance after a game 7 win. Thomas is however the main reason, along with a couple of other AHL 7 champs, why they might just be the slight favorites here. This could really go either way though and it'll be vital for the Predators to get their offense going.
No comments:
Post a Comment