Eastern Conference
Buffalo Sabres [1] vs. New York Islanders [8]
This year’s President’s Trophy winner, the Buffalo Sabres, enter the playoffs facing the New York Islanders. The Islanders were expected to finish at or near the bottom of the NHL by most critics, but surprisingly made it into the playoffs, clinching the eighth and final playoff spot on the last day of the season. However, the Islanders are without star goaltender Rick DiPietro, who is out for the season. The Islanders will likely be starting Wade Dubielewicz in his place, who has only 17 NHL games under his belt. Buffalo should have no problem taking this series, as they are superior offensively and defensively.
Prediction: Buffalo in five games.
New Jersey Devils [2] vs. Tampa Bay Lightning [7]
New Jersey has one of the elite goaltenders of his generation in Martin Brodeur. Tampa Bay have the deadliest one-two punch in the NHL – Vincent Lecavalier (who led the NHL in goals this season with 52), and Martin St. Louis (the 2003-04 Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner, who had a career high 102 points this season), making any team from Buffalo to Philadelphia nervous to play against them. This should be a very exciting first round series, with New Jersey more likely to win, as they have more depth than Tampa Bay does.
Prediction: New Jersey in seven games.
Atlanta Thrashers [3] vs. New York Rangers [6]
The Atlanta Thrashers clinched the Southeast Division late in the season, and have qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The New York Rangers struggled for most of the season, but caught fire down the stretch. The Rangers have not advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs since 1997. Rangers fans tend to be more excited about them making the playoffs this season than last season, as they limped in last year (and eventually got swept in the first round against New Jersey), while they stormed in after playing mediocre hockey for quite a while. Atlanta fans, well, they’re just happy to see them in the playoffs for the first time, period.
Prediction: New York in seven games.
Ottawa Senators [4] vs. Pittsburgh Penguins [5]
The Pittsburgh Penguins return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001, and play the Ottawa Senators. Both teams are very offensively skilled – Pittsburgh have this year’s scoring race champion Sidney Crosby (the youngest Art Ross winner of all time), Evgeni Malkin, and two time Cup winner Mark Recchi; Ottawa have Dany Heatley (50 goal scorer), Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfreddson. Pittsburgh have two very offensively talented defensemen in Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar, but not much as far as defensive defensemen go, although Alain Nasreddine was a pleasant surprise (the 32 year old played 44 games, and was +12, second to Jordan Staal). Ottawa has Tom Preissing, Wade Redden and Chris Phillips. Ottawa has a slight goaltending edge, as Ray Emery has playoff experience, while Penguins top goaltender, Marc Andre Fleury, does not. This should prove to be one of the most entertaining first round match-ups.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in seven games.
Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings [1] vs. Calgary Flames [8]
Calgary were predicted to finish at or near the top of the Western Conference this season, but struggled at the start of the season, and didn’t clinch a playoff spot until season’s end. The Detroit Red Wings finished at the top of the Western Conference for the third straight season, but only lasted two rounds in 2003-04 and one round last season. Both teams were expected by many to go to the Conference Finals last season, but were first round victims.
Prediction: Detroit in seven games.
Anaheim Ducks [2] vs. Minnesota Wild [7]
A rematch of the 2003 Western Conference Final, in which Anaheim swept Minnesota in four straight (Minnesota set a record by becoming the first team in NHL history to win a series after trailing three games to one twice in the same post-season that year). Anaheim have the best one-two defenseman punch in the NHL, consisting of Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer. Minnesota have an edge as far as goaltending is concerned, as Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom led the NHL in both goals against average and save percentage this season. This should prove to be a tight series.
Prediction: Anaheim in six games.
Vancouver Canucks [3] vs. Dallas Stars [6]
Canucks goaltender Roberto Luongo finally gets to play for a team that qualifies for the Stanley Cup playoffs. Luongo is one of the league’s best goaltenders, but has never played in a playoff game in his life. Dallas fell from second place in the Western Conference to sixth, but are still very much a threat. Vancouver are the more offensively talented team, with players such as the Sedin twins and Markus Naslund. Defensively Dallas has a slight edge – Vancouver has Sami Salo, Kevin Bieksa (who seems to be filling the void left by Ed Jovanovski), and Brent Sopel; Dallas have Phillipe Boucher and Sergei Zubov. Goaltending, Vancouver wins hands down. They have Luongo – far more than enough said.
Prediction: Vancouver in six games.
Nashville Predators [4] vs. San Jose Sharks [5]
Both teams finished in the exact same position they did last season. The series was expected to be one of the most exciting first round events last season, but San Jose defeated Nashville in just five games. San Jose have the offensive edge (Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo make a deadly one-two punch), but Nashville have the better defense and better goaltending (both of Nashville’s goalies, Chris Mason and Tomas Vokoun provided excellent goaltending this season). This rematch should hopefully be more exciting.
Prediction: Nashville in seven games.
Subject: The NHL playoffs - Conference Quarter-Finals 
Sun Apr 08, 2007 11:12 pm
