After finally recovering from my Shark’s Heartbreak I came to a realization about this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs. The realization is that this year’s playoffs have been the best in recent memory, and its only round one. I can’t get over how close most of the games and every series has been thus far.
Two of the series resulted in the higher seeded team getting the victory (#8 LA Kings and #5 Philly Flyers). Another two series were won by the team who was thought to be the underdog even though they had the better seed (Nashville and Phoenix). The only series that went the way everyone expected was the Sharks-Blues series. That leaves three series yet to be decided, with three game sevens in the next two days.
Here is my breakdown of the three games and how I see them playing out:
- Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins, Wed. 7:30 PM NBC Sports Network
This series has been the hardest one for me to predict a winner. Just when one team seems to gain momentum the other side steps up and takes it away. After an overtime win in game six the series heads back to Boston. This gives the immediate edge to the Bruins, whose fans will be hostile and rowdy throughout the entire game. The problem with this theory is that the home team is 2-4 in this series. Advantage Capitals? In the words of Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friend.” Prior to game six Bruins coach Claude Julien came out with a new top line: Seguin, Krejci, and Lucic. The combination proved deadly against the Caps as the trio broke out for six points in game six. If the Caps can’t find a defensive counter to this line, the game could be a blowout.
Washington coach Dale Hunter has been trying to find a way to get sustained offense in this series, and a way around the match-up of Alex Ovechkin vs. Zdeno Chara. This has resulted in lower playing time for Ovechkin who played a career low 15 minutes and 34 seconds in game five of the series. Ovechkin has expressed is displeasure in the low minutes which has only hurt his play that much more. For the Capitals to stand a chance Hunter needs to let Ovechkin off the reigns,and let him wear down Chara over the course of sixty minutes. Your stars have to play if you want to win in the playoffs.
Braden Holtby is the surprise of this years playoffs, a rookie who is coming up with save after save for the Capitals. Is he ready to keep his team in it during his first career game seven? Tim Thomas has been up and down in this series, but with his experience I give him the edge in this game. Prediction: Bruins 4, Capitals 2.
- Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers, Thurs. 7:00 PM NBC Sports Network
The series that nobody saw coming. The Bleacher Report picked the Senators to have the worst chances of any team to win the Stanley Cup, while the Rangers have been a lot of people’s favorites to win it all. But here we are six games in and the series tied at three apiece. The hard work of Ottawa’s young core of players and timely goal scoring have gotten them to this point. Again in this series the home ice advantage has meant nothing, so we will not give either team the edge in that department. The Senators have done a good job shutting down the Ranger’s offensive attack and have only been in trouble when they take too many penalties. This was the case in game six, which gave the Rangers a chance to score three quick goals in the second period and put a stranglehold on the game. If the Senators stay out of the penalty box they will have a chance to win this game.
Henrik Ludqvist has been the odds on favorite to win the Vezina Trophy (awarded to the best NHL goaltender) all year long, and has played very well in this series. In a playoffs dominated by the play of goaltenders (or lack there of in the Flyers-Penguins series), Ludqvist has proved he is the best in the game. Craig Anderson has been solid in this series giving up just over two goals a game, but I think the Rangers’ attack will prove too much in game seven, and the red, white, and blue will move on to the next round. Canada will have to wait another year for a Stanley Cup. Prediction: Rangers 3, Senators 1.
- New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers, Thurs. 8:30 PM NHL Network
This series has been the least talked about, and least televised of all the series in the first round. After watching game six I can see why. I do not know how the Panthers have forced this series to seven games. I am going to blame the soft goaltending of Martin Brodeur. He should have stopped many of the goals that have squeaked by him in this series, and he is proving that this should be his last season. The Devils outshot the Panthers 42-16 in game six of the series, yet the Devils still needed overtime to get the victory.
The Panthers, who are the third seed after winning a weak Southeast Division, look like the one team in this year’s playoffs that doesn’t belong. The one thing keeping them going is the timely goal scoring of Kris Versteeg, and very good defensive zone play. This is going to be my “upset special” pick, even though I know the Devils are probably the favorites to win the series anyway. Prediction: Devils 4, Panthers 3.
Two days of the most exciting scenario in sports, game seven. So sit back, relax, and enjoy some hockey!
Dangle Sauce 