2008 NHL Playoff First Round Rundown!

By:  TBL
 

EAST

1. Montreal vs. 8. Boston - In a season where just about everything has gone the Habs’ way, this first-round matchup shows no indication of that luck changing. Both goaltenders enter the game never having started a playoff game in their careers. Tim Thomas makes his first career post-season appearance at the ripe age of 33, while 21 year-old rookie net minder Carey Price will get his first taste of the NHL playoffs after being handed the team to be carried on his back with the deadline-day trade of Cristobal Huet to Washington. Montreal has the clear advantage offensively, with their 257 goals on the season matching up against Boston’s 206. Though both teams’ deference appear to be similar, Montreal narrowly escapes with the edge as far is depth is concerned.

My pick: Montreal- Boston won’t make this much of a series.

2. Pittsburgh vs. 7. Ottawa - This is a matchup that, at the beginning of the season, would have produced tremendous offensive fireworks. Due to Ottawa’s injury problems, and an even more disturbing situation in goal, Pittsburgh emerges as an almost clear victor in this series. So what’s the hesitation? Even if Daniel Alfredsson (currently listed as doubtful) does not play for the Sens, keep in mind they still posses one of the game’s top young centerman in 24 year-old Jason Spezza as well as left wing Dany Heatley, who recorded his third consecutive 40 goal season. Regardless, Pittsburgh has just as many, if not more, weapons offensively to counter- sophomore sensation Evgeni Malkin, last year’s MVP in Sidney Crosby, (if he’s ready to play) along with newly acquired Marin Hossa.

My pick: Pittsburgh- Ottawa’s injury problems prove to be the ultimate problem.

3. Washington vs. 6. Philadelphia - Washington enters the playoffs hotter than a John Torturella press conference, and Philly is tasked with cooling these guys off. Making the playoffs for the first time since 2003, Alexander Ovechkin and his record setting 65 regular-season goals for a left wing will square off against a team in which their “star” (or at least the player who makes star money) may not even be able to go for the first round due to a knee injury. Flyer’s goalie Marty Biron finished the year with a win and two losses against the Caps, while Cristobal Huet’s only game against the Flyers resulted in a five goals to two win.

My pick: Washington- Philly might be able to contain the Caps early, but they eventually slip on to the next round.

4. New Jersey vs. 5. New York Rangers - Not much distance separates these two Atlantic division teams, and no blood is certainly lost between the two. Both teams bring All-Star caliber goaltenders to the table- New York’s Henrik Lundqvist and New Jersey’s Martin Brodeur. Each goalie boast tremendous numbers this season, but only one will advance. Those looking for a high-scoring affair should look elsewhere, because this match-up pit two of the games’ best twines minders head-to-head. Offensively, the Rangers have the edge with such talents as 25 goal scorers Jaromir Jagr and Chris Drury.

My pick: New York- King Henrik out-duels Brodeur in a back-and-forth series.

WEST

1. Detroit Red Wings vs. 8. Nashville Predators - Despite Detroit’s President’s Trophy-winning-performance in the regular season, something in Nashville draws people to predict that the Preds could pull out a first-round upset. I can’t see what it is. The Predators lost this central division season series 3-3-2, even though Nashville’s two goalies, Chris Mason and Dan Ellis, average for a spectacular .937 save percentage in the eight game season series. Red Wings’ goaltenders Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood both recorded 27 wins during the season as well as finishing with a save percentage of over .9. Also, it’s hard to think that Detroit doesn’t have the edge in offense with such players as Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

My pick: Detroit- business as usual for the Wings, as they have little trouble in overtaking the Predators.

2. San Jose Sharks vs. 7. Calgary Flames - San Jose enters the playoffs with high expectations, while Calgary arrives with a sigh of relief. The Flames won the series season three games to one this year, with Miikka Kiprusoff in goal for all four games, as did Sharks’ goalie Evgeni Nabokov. The Flames’ glaring weakness shows on their 81.4 penalty kill percentage, 20^th in the league, which looks to stop a potent San Jose power play that ranks 8^th. Calgary brings rugged third-year man Dion Phaneuf to the table on defense, while San Jose boasts former Sabre Brian Campbell, a tremendous puck-moving defenseman who recorded 62 points this season, fourth among defenseman.

 My pick: San Jose- In what should be close contests, the Sharks advance in six or possibly seven games.

3. Minnesota Wild vs. 6. Colorado Avalanche - These two northwestern division opponents look to take each other on in what should be one of the best match-ups the first round has to offer. For Minnesota, advancing past the first round, as they failed to accomplish last year against the Anaheim Ducks, is a goal not too far out of reach. Colorado re-joins the quest for the cup after missing out on last year’s post-season. Marian Gaborik, Minnesota’s top goal- and point-getter, looks to have a repeat, if not better, performance than last year’s five game series with the Ducks in which he scored three goals; meanwhile Colorado’s explosive Paul Stasny looks to light the lamp in his first taste of the NHL playoffs.

My pick: Colorado- Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, and the rest of the Avs take down the Wild in an intense seven game series.

4. Anaheim Ducks vs. 5. Dallas Stars - In what is certainly the most intriguing match up of the first round, Teemu Selanne and the Ducks square-off against newly-acquired Brad Richards and the Stars. Rugged Ducks’ defenseman Chris Pronger, second on the team with 128 regular-season penalty minutes, looks to add a second Stanley cup to his resumé already filled with the James Norris Memorial Trophy as well as the Hart Trophy, both won in 2000. For Dallas, Brendan Morrow ends a career year with 32 goals and 42 assists. Savvy veteran Mike Modano hopes to earn a second cup ring after winning Lord Stanley with the Stars back in 1999. Two proven goalies, Dallas’ Marty Turco who finished the year with a .909 save percentage, and Anaheim’s J.S. Giguere, finishing with .91, will face-off in what’s sure to be a great series.

My pick: Dallas- Brad Richards finds great post-season success with the Stars as they overtake defending-cup-champion Anaheim.