Here are the first round match-ups with regular season (points)
Eastern Conference:
Washington Capitals (118) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (95)
Pittsburgh Penguins (111) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (108)
Montreal Canadiens (103) vs. New York Rangers (102)
Ottawa Senators (98) vs. Boston Bruins (95)
Western Conference:
Chicago Blackhawks (109) vs. Nashville Predators (94)
Minnesota Wild (106) vs. St. Louis Blues (99)
Anaheim Ducks (105) vs. Calgary Flames (94)
Edmonton Oilers (103) vs. San Jose Sharks (99)
I find interesting the fact that last year there were no Canadian teams in the playoffs (and you could sense their disappointment all the way down here), but this year there are five.
Toronto could have made their lives much easier with one more point and a match-up against the Sens. They didn’t get that point so they get a moral victory of making it to the playoffs of the backs of very talented kids, but they are going to get curb stomped by the Caps. Caps in 4
Pens and Jackets is maybe the most interesting series. Columbus did something to Tortorella and turned him back into a good coach. Plus you have Dubinsky who plays Crosby better just about anyone. OTOH, Pens are defending champs playing a team with virtually no playoff experience. Statistically it is a toss-up with Columbus being a bit better defensively. Pens in 6
Even more of a statistical dead heat is the Habs and Rangers series. Montreal did win season series and I don’t think Lundqvist has been on top of his game this season. Plus I want a Canadian team to advance. Habs in 6
While the Sens and Bruins had similar records, Boston had a much better goal differential. Now that may due to Anderson spending time away from the team, or it may be that they are prone to imploding in their own zone every once in a while. Bruins top end talent up front may be too much for that D, even with a sliding Rask and Chara. Bruins in 5
Thanks to NBC’s and NBCSN’s bias for Eastern teams, I have seen Edmonton and Calgary only once all season. Furthermore, since I only see Western teams when they play the Stars, I have seen many of these teams at least half the time while asleep, since they are playing on West Coast time and I am living on Central time. I am looking forward to seeing all those West Coast teams and hope those series all go 7 games.
The good news is that the Caps and the Pens are in the same conference, so there’s no way the 'Hawks will have to face both teams during the post-season.
As a Blues fan, there are only two possible outcomes: either I will watch them get knocked out in the first round, or win first round and get swept in the second.
Washington Capitals (118) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (95) Caps 5
Pittsburgh Penguins (111) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (108) Pens 6
Montreal Canadiens (103) vs. New York Rangers (102) Habs 6
Ottawa Senators (98) vs. Boston Bruins (95) Bruins 7
Western Conference:
Chicago Blackhawks (109) vs. Nashville Predators (94) Hawks 6
Minnesota Wild (106) vs. St. Louis Blues (99) **Wild 6 **
Anaheim Ducks (105) vs. Calgary Flames (94) **Ducks 6 **
Edmonton Oilers (103) vs. San Jose Sharks (99) Oilers 6
That third period was a microcosm of everything I was afraid of in this series. Wave upon wave of Boston attacks that the Senators beat back feebly until it exploded in their face. I really don’t understand the urge to try and play it “safe” with a lead in the third period, when playing aggressive is what was successful in the first place. All of those stupid chips out of the zone were just turnovers that took all momentum away from the team, and even worse were the many half-hearted chips that were easy turnovers at the blueline.
I was really hoping that the Wild were gonna manage to get another one of their 51 SOG to actually go in, but Allen was on fire last night. Grats to St. Louis for winning when one of their 3 shots in OT went in.
