Stanley Cup Playoffs Previews : Eastern Conference

NYR (8th) VS Detroit (1st)

Season: Rangers win season 2W (1OT) -   1 L

Great season for the Wings, above the expectations after trading quality veterans to the Kings during the off season.  Crosby and Hudler did lead the offensive but the Wings' trademark is the defense, the Wings finished first in the league with 182 goals allowed this year.  This being said, they finished their season with 3 straight losses, the last one against the Rangers 4-2.

The Rangers got points in 5 or their last 6 games of the season to clinch a playoff spot.  A well balanced team who's also playing well defensively.  Both teams just can't score on the PP, this might be the key, if one of them find a way to score goals with their special teams.  The Rangers will need the offensive support of Couture, Kane and Pacioretty. Bishop will most likely get the call to start the playoff but Pavelec did pretty well too this year with a save % of 922 in 31 games.

Overall, the Wings have a better team but it looks like the Rangers got Detroit's number this year.

Prediction: won't predict a series where I'm involve ;-)


Buffalo (5th) VS Bruins (2nd)

Season: Sabres win season 3 W (1OT) - 1 L

2 of the best teams in the league on paper and it reflects in the standings with the Bruins finishing 4th overall and the Sabres 7th.

There's no apparent weaknesses on both sides except for the special teams.  So many players can score on both teams and defensively, the Bruins finished 2nd with the Kings and the Blues but Buffalo was not far behind finishing 6th in the league.  GM Blanchard has traded several players along the season to get a better team and the Sabres would probably finish higher in the standings having this roster from the beginning of the season.

If it goes down to goaltending, the Bruins got the advantage, Bobrovsky is coming out of the best season of his career with a  2.05 GAA and a save % of 929.

Expect a long series.

Prediction:  Bruins in 7


Capitals (7th)  VS Flyers (3rd)

Season:  2-2 (3 games went in OT, the Flyers won the only game decided in regulation)

The Stanley Cup champs got a difficult start, it actually took them several months to start winning regularly but during the last 2 months of the season it seems they were on the same path as last year.   They won 21 of their last 30 games, finishing the season with 5 straight wins.

The Capitals have been out of the playoffs portrait for pretty much all season, they've played well enough during the last month of the season to move ahead of the struggling Rangers and Lightning.

The Capitals are having a hard time scoring goals and it should be even more difficult in a best of seven series against Philly tight defensive play.   The Caps are young, inexperienced...  If Price is not standing on his head, that could be a short series.

Prediction: Flyers in 5

Columbus (6th) vs Islanders (4th)

Season:  Islanders win season 3W (2 OT)  - 2 L

GM Cyr has made numerous trades... too many.... but surprisingly the Islanders came out of all this with a pretty good team, a well balanced squad and a good mix between youth and veterans.

Gm Clarke did stick to his plan, trying to improve with young players only.  the Jackets have been in the playoffs portrait all year long in a very competitive Eastern Conference.  Columbus will need Oshie, Backes and Carlson to lead the way offensively and hope their defensive can hold on against all the offensive weapons NY has on their side.

Prediction: Islanders in 6