When people think spring is near they talk about the first signs of the new season being when they first see buds on the trees or the sounds of migratory birds chirping but I guess for myself the NHL playoffs were the sign to me that Spring is finally here. It also usually meant things were going to get real intense and real hectic in a hurry. The Stanley Cup playoffs are a brutal grind in every possible way. The first team to win 16 games in the post season earns the honor to hoist Lord Stanley’s chalice above their heads but it too marks an end of an emotional roller coaster as well as it usually requires a heavy physical toll to be paid. The closest thing real, non-sporting example I can think of that can compare to how these players appear after winning 16 brutal games is that of a U-boat crew in World War II, faces battered and often pale in appearance with scruffy beards would make any player that advanced through the post season be a great extra for the Oscar-nominated film Das Boot.
For the fan, it often is a tumultuous time of emotional extremes where in one moment you feel complete exhilaration, incredible anger and rage over a missed call or a bad play, and then hopefully an emotional release akin to achieving nirvana when your team wins it all. If you’re a fan of a Western Conference team like myself, the playoffs also means sleep deprivation and even after a multiple overtime game ends around 1AM you find yourself being almost unable to sleep because the adrenaline is still coursing through your body. Eastern Conference fans likely have no idea what I’m talking about until their team advances to the Stanley Cup Finals, but that isn’t always a guarantee they’ll find out just how taxing multiple timezones can be as evidenced by the last two Stanley Cup Finals where Detroit played Pittsburgh, two cities located in the Eastern timezone. While playoffs can certainly be fun they really can wear you out and sometimes a series loss by your favorite team is sometimes felt with more relief than grief. I know I felt that way when the Wild finally were swept in four games by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (which is what they were called then) in the 2002-03 Western Conference Finals. It was a raucous magical ride, but after forcing myself to watch game after game with 9:00PM and 9:30PM start times I appreciated being able to sleep normally when it was over. So with all the trials and tribulations that go with being a fan in the NHL playoffs, here is a preview of the Western and Eastern Conference quarterfinals as well as a prediction as to who will triumph in each. We will provide updates on this page as the first round is in progress. All games will be listed in Central Standard Time. Enjoy!
Eastern Conference:
#1 Washington Capitals
1st in Goals For – 3.82 goals per game
16th in Goals Against – 2.77 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #8 Alexander Ovechkin ~ 50G 59A = 109pts
2. #19 Nicklas Backstrom ~ 33G 65A = 101pts
3. #28 Alexander Semin ~ 40G 44A = 84pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #60 Jose Theodore (30-7-7) 2.81GAA .911%SP
vs.
#8 Montreal Canadiens
26th in Goals For – 2.56 goals per game
13th in Goals Against – 2.66 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #14 Tomas Plekanec ~ 25G 45A = 70pts
2. #91 Scott Gomez ~ 12G 47A = 59pts
3. #13 Michael Cammalleri ~ 26G 24A = 50pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #41 Jaroslav Halak (26-13-5) 2.40GAA .924%SP
Series schedule: (Montreal wins the series at 4-3)
Thursday, April 15th @ 7:00PM at Verizon Center – TSN & Versus (3-2 Canadiens win)
Saturday, April 17th @ 7:00PM at Verizon Center – TSN & Versus (6-5 Capitals OT win)
Monday, April 19th @ 7:00PM at Bell Centre – TSN (5-1 Capitals win)
Wednesday, April 21st @ 7:00PM at Bell Centre – TSN (6-3 Capitals win)
*Friday, April 23rd @ 7:00PM at Verizon Center – TSN & Versus (2-1 Canadiens win)
*Monday, April 26th @ 7:00PM at Bell Centre – TSN & Versus (4-1 Canadiens win)
*Wednesday, April 28th @ TBD at Verizon Center – TSN (2-1 Canadiens win)
I have a bad feeling this series could get ugly very quickly as the Montreal Canadiens who scratched and clawed their way into the post season is taking on the season dynamo in the high powered Washington Capitals. Jaroslav Halak will have to stand on his head if the Canadiens are to have a chance in this series. While the Capitals will give up some scoring chances, I do not believe the Habs are potent enough offensively to take full advantage of those opportunities. Tomas Plekanec, Scott Gomez, and the Kostitsyn brothers will need to bury their chances off turnovers to give Halak all the goal support they can. Jacques Martin‘s defensive style will be tested by Bruce Boudreau‘s aggressive approach but Washington will give you some quality odd-man chances if you are patient. Prediction: Capitals win in 4 game sweep.
#2 New Jersey Devils
19th in Goals For – 2.56 goals per game
1st in Goals Against – 2.27 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #9 Zach Parise ~ 38G 44A = 82pts
2. #19 Travis Zajac ~ 25G 42A = 67pts
3. #15 Jamie Langenbrunner ~ 19G 42A = 61pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #30 Martin Brodeur (45-25-6) 2.24GAA .916%SP
vs.
#7 Philadelphia Flyers
8th in Goals For – 2.83 goals per game
15th in Goals Against – 2.71 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #18 Mike Richards ~ 31G 31A = 62pts
2. #17 Jeff Carter ~ 33G 28A = 61pts
3. #20 Chris Pronger ~ 10G 45A = 55pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #33 Brian Boucher (9-18-3) 2.76GAA .899%SP
Series schedule: (Philadelphia wins the series 4-1)
Wednesday, April 14th @ 6:30PM at Prudential Arena – TSN (2-1 Flyers win)
Friday, April 16th @ 6:30PM at Prudential Arena – TSN (5-3 Devils win)
Sunday, April 18th @ 5:00PM at Wachovia Arena – TSN (3-2 Flyers OT win)
Tuesday, April 20th @ 6:30PM at Wachovia Arena – TSN2 (4-1 Flyers win)
*Thursday, April 22nd @ 6:00PM at Prudential Arena – TSN (3-0 Flyers win)
*Sunday, April 25th @ TBD at Wachovia Arena – TSN
*Tuesday, April 27th @ 6:30PM at Prudential Arena – TSN
This one will be a bitter struggle all the way, as these two teams so close together are natural geographic rivals. Without question there will be lots of fans that will make the trip to the opposing arena to make for a very lively and intense atmosphere. Jacques Lemaire‘s team seems to be operating on all cylinders while the Flyers just managed to sneak into the playoffs on a shootout goal from Claude Giroux. Zach Parise leads a well-rounded Devils offense that is as good in transition as any team in the league. This quick strike offense for New Jersey could spell doom when you consider the fact Philadelphia is going into this game with its 3rd string goaltender in Brian Boucher. The Flyers will hope to counteract the neutral zone trap with a fast and physical forecheck. Will this be enough to overcome its deficiency between the pipes? The Devils have one of the best big-game goaltenders in the game in Martin Brodeur and he will be ready to shut down the Flyers offense. Prediction: New Jersey wins this series in 6 hard fought games.
#3 Buffalo Sabres
10th in Goals For – 2.82 goals per game
4th in Goals Against – 2.45 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #9 Derek Roy ~ 26G 43A = 69pts
2. #19 Tim Connolly ~ 17G 48A = 65pts
3. #29 Jason Pominville ~ 24G 38A = 62pts
Top Goaltenders:
1. #30 Ryan Miller (41-18-8) 2.22GAA .929%SP
vs.
#6 Boston Bruins
30th in Goals For – 2.39 goals per game
2nd in Goals Against – 2.33 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #37 Patrice Bergeron ~ 19G 33A = 52pts
2. #46 David Krecji ~ 17G 35A = 52pts
3. #33 Zdeno Chara ~ 7G 37A = 44pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #30 Tim Thomas (17-18-8) 2.56GAA .915%SP
Series schedule: (Boston win the series at 4-2)
Thursday, April 15th @ 6:00PM at HSBC Arena – CBC (2-1 Sabres win)
Saturday, April 17th @ 12:00PM at HSBC Arena – NBC, CBC (5-3 Bruins win)
Monday, April 19th @ 6:00PM at TD Banknorth Garden – Versus, CBC (2-1 Bruins win)
Wednesday, April 21st @ 6:00PM at TD Banknorth Garden – Versus, CBC (3-2 Bruins 2OT win)
*Friday, April 23rd @ 6:00PM at HSBC Arena – CBC (4-1 Sabres win)
*Monday, April 26th @ 6:00PM at TD Banknorth Garden – CBC (4-3 Bruins win)
*Wednesday, April 28th @ 6:00PM at HSBC Arena – CBC
A late season surge was what allowed a sputtering Boston team to claw its way back into the post season. However will it be enough against the red hot Sabres? One player who was absolutely on fire down the stretch was highly paid sniper Thomas Vanek who was lighting the lamp with great frequency. While the Sabres again are a team that scores by committee the Bruins are very good at shutting teams down defensively and it will be a classic battle of the immovable object (the Bruins defense) vs. the unstoppable force (the Sabres offense). Buffalo’s Ryan Miller is in his prime and playing outstanding hockey so the Sabres do not give up many goals either and that may be too much for the least potent offense in the league this season. Watch for Boston to try to ratchet up their physical game; with Steve Begin, Milan Lucic and Shawn Thornton in effort to slow down the speedy sabres. Prediction: The Sabres ability to score will outpace the meager offensive attack the Bruins have and they will prevail in 6 games.
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins
5th in Goals For – 3.04 goals per game
20th in Goals Against – 2.87 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #87 Sidney Crosby ~ 51G 58A = 109pts
2. #71 Evgeni Malkin ~ 28G 49A = 77pts
3. #55 Sergei Gonchar ~ 11G 39A = 50pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #29 Marc-Andre Fleury (37-21-6) 2.65GAA .905%SP
vs.
#5 Ottawa Senators
15th in Goals For – 2.68 goals per game
18th Goals Against – 2.84 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #11 Daniel Alfredsson ~ 20G 51A = 71pts
2. #19 Jason Spezza ~ 23G 34A = 57pts
3. #12 Mike Fisher ~ 25G 28A = 53pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #30 Brian Elliot (29-18-4) 2.57GAA .909%SP
Series schedule: (Pittsburgh wins the series 4-2)
Wednesday, April 14th @ 6:00PM at Mellon Arena – CBC, Versus (5-4 Senators win)
Friday, April 16th @ 6:00PM at Mellon Arena – CBC, Versus (2-1 Penguins win)
Sunday, April 18th @ 5:30PM at Scotiabank Arena – CBC, Versus (4-2 Penguins win)
Tuesday, April 20th @ 6:00PM at Scotiabank Arena – CBC, Versus (7-4 Penguins win)
*Thursday, April 22nd @ 6:00PM at Mellon Arena – CBC, Versus (4-3 Senators 3OT win)
*Saturday, April 24th @ 6:00PM at Scotiabank Arena – CBC, Versus (4-3 Penguins OT win)
*Tuesday, April 27th @ 6:00PM at Mellon Arena – CBC
It almost seems like a broken record but the outcome of this series will be determined by how good Ottawa’s goaltender(s) play in this series. It is somewhat amazing that this continues to be a question for the Senators over the last 7-8 seasons but both Brian Elliot and Pascal Leclaire are best described as “streaky” goaltenders and if they find the right groove the Senators could give Pittsburgh a run for its money but any average performance by either of them will likely result in their team losing the game. While Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin certainly will be the go-to scoring threat for the Penguins, Pittsburgh’s secondary scoring deserves some credit too and players like Bill Guerin, Tyler Kennedy, Maxime Talbot and Pascal Dupuis are the types of players that seem to get hot during the playoffs. Ottawa will need a huge series from its top 3 scorers of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Mike Fisher. Another approach the Senators might take is to try to punish Crosby phyiscally with a combination of Shean Donovan, Jarkko Ruutu, and Chris Neil. One other major advantage for the Penguins, they’ve been there so they’re not likely to be rattled if by some chance they stumble out of the gate in this series. Prediction: The Penguins will win this series in five games.
Western Conference:
#1 San Jose Sharks
4th in Goals For – 3.13 goals per game
8th in Goals Against – 2.55 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #19 Joe Thornton ~ 20G 69A = 89pts
2. #12 Patrick Marleau ~ 44G 39A = 83pts
3. #15 Dany Heatley ~ 39G 43A = 82pts
Top Goaltenders:
1. #20 Evgeni Malkin (44-16-10) 2.43GAA .922%SP
vs.
#8 Colorado Avalanche
6th in Goals For – 2.89 goals per game
17th in Goals Against – 2.78 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #26 Paul Stastny ~ 20G 59A = 79pts
2. #25 Chris Stewart ~ 28G 36A = 64pts
3. #9 Matt Duchene ~ 24G 31A = 55pts
Top Goaltenders:
1. #41 Craig Anderson (38-25-7) 2.64GAA .917%SP
Series schedule: (San Jose wins the series 4-2)
Wednesday, April 14th @ 9:30PM at HP Pavillion – CBC, Versus (2-1 Avalanche win)
Friday, April 16th @ 9:30PM at HP Pavillion – CBC, Versus (6-5 Sharks OT win)
Sunday, April 18th @ 8:30PM at Pepsi Center – CBC, Versus (1-0 Avalanche OT win)
Tuesday, April 20th @ 9:00PM at Pepsi Center – CBC, Versus (2-1 Sharks OT win)
*Thursday, April 22nd @ 9:30PM at HP Pavillion – CBC, Versus (5-0 Sharks win)
*Saturday, April 24th @ TBD at Pepsi Center – CBC (5-2 Sharks win)
*Monday, April 26th @ TBD at HP Pavillion – CBC
The big story during the first half of the season was the surprising play of the unexpectedly good Colorado Avalanche who were using a plethora of young players along with a rookie NHL coach but the magic would fade towards the middle of the season and Colorado had just enough to earn the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. Rookie Matt Duchene had an outstanding year and has showcased his deft hands and an excellent on-ice vision was key when veterans on the Avalanche were having ho-hum seasons. However there was another youngster who showed surprising scoring touch and that was the play of Chris Stewart, the big bodied forward with a wicked shot who not only could be a physical mismatch but had a terrific nose for the net as well. Eventually, veteran stalwarts Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk caught up to the youngsters but Colorado’s biggest surprise performance was between the pipes with Craig Anderson demonstrating he could be a very competent starting goaltender. The Illinois-native has been a rock for the Avalanche that has been very important to a team that will give up some great scoring chances due to its aggressive style and smallish blue line. So what about the Sharks? It has been an old refrain for the Sharks about being fantastic during the regular season as evidenced by being again atop the Western Conference standings but what will this mean for the playoffs? Last season, San Jose added some veteran blueliners in Dan Boyle and Rob Blake to bring some necessary experience to a well-rounded blueline. This season it added a pure sniper in Dany Heatley and again the Sharks took off right from the start of the season. Without question, Sharks management, its coaching staff and players will be expecting to prove their more than just a dominant regular season team by having a long and deep run in the post-season. The three-headed monster of Heatley, set up man Joe Thornton and the lightning fast Patrick Marleau will be a difficult combination for the Avalanche to contain but all three of these vets have been criticized throughout their careers for not doing all that much in the playoffs and they’re in need of some redemption. Equally important, the Sharks need to also find a source for some secondary scoring and will no doubt look to Ryane Clowe, Devin Setoguchi and Joe Pavelski to chip in offensively. Will the Sharks experience be enough to overwhelm the young and fearless Avalanche? Prediction: I think the Sharks will overwhelm Colorado in a very entertaining 6 game series.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks
3rd in Goals For – 3.20 goals per game
6th in Goals Against – 2.48 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #88 Patrick Kane ~ 30G 58A = 88pts
2. #2 Duncan Keith ~ 14G 55A = 69pts
3. #19 Jonathan Toews ~ 25G 43A = 68pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #31 Antti Niemi (26-7-4) 2.25GAA .912%SP
vs.
#7 Nashville Predators
18th in Goals For – 2.65 goals per game
14th in Goals Against – 2.70 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #27 Patric Hornqvist ~ 30G 21A = 51pts
2. #26 Steve Sullivan ~ 17G 34A = 51pts
3. #10 Martin Erat ~ 21G 28A = 49pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #35 Pekka Rinne (32-16-5) 2.53GAA .911%SP
Series schedule: (Chicago wins the series at 4-2)
Friday, April 16th @ 7:30PM at United Center – TSN2, Versus (4-1 Predators win)
Sunday, April 18th @ 7:30PM at United Center – TSN, Versus (2-0 Blackhawks win)
Tuesday, April 20th @ 8:00PM at Sommet Center – TSN, Versus (4-1 Predators win)
Thursday, April 22nd @ 7:30PM at Sommet Center – TSN2, Versus (3-0 Blackhawks win)
*Saturday, April 24th @ 2:00PM at United Center – NBC, TSN (5-4 Blackhawks OT win)
*Monday, April 26th @ TBD at Sommet Center – TSN (5-3 Blackhawks win)
*Wednesday, April 28th @ TBD at United Center – TSN
Chicago’s youth movement proved to be successful last year granting the Blackhawks a spot in the Western Conference Finals last season against Detroit, and without question they believe they can go even farther this season. With the dynamic and creative duo of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane as well as veteran Marian Hossa who is hoping the 3rd time will be a charm as the Blackhawks provide a number of headaches for any of their opponents. The tandem of stay-at-home blueliner Brent Seabrook with the smooth skating Duncan Keith will see lots of ice time and provide both physicality and plenty of speed to an already fast team. Fast moving big bodies like Troy Brouwer, Andrew Ladd, and Ben Eager are excellent on the forecheck and will no doubt be crashing the Nashville crease with great frequency. The unsung story of Joel Quenneville‘s success in Chicago is that in addition to being very potent offensively the Blackhawks also play solid team defense and they use their speed well to capitalize on turnovers made in the neutral zone. The only real question mark for the Blackhawks is whether young goaltender Antti Niemi is ready for the increased pressure and intensity of playoff hockey. Niemi has basically replaced Cristobal Huet and while he’s been fairly solid for Chicago he is unproven in the post-season and if he falters he could prove to be the Blackhawks’ Achilles heel. On the other side of it is the scrappy Nashville Predators who are often overlooked by the league’s experts. They’ll never scare you on paper statistically but they are a team that is rarely ever outworked and their blue collar approach make them a very frustrating team to play against because they rarely give up anything easy. While the Predators have been a consistent playoff qualifier they have not had much success in the post-season and they’d like to change that playing against a Chicago team they’re very familliar with. The Predators best asset apart from excellent team speed is a talented and deep blueline and Shea Weber and Ryan Suter will spend a lot of time trying to contain Toews, Kane and Hossa. Offensively, the Predators are a scoring by committee sort of team led by Patric Hornqvist, Martin Erat, and veterans Jean-Pierre Dumont, Steve Sullivan and Jason Arnott. Nashville also must have a fantastic performance from big Finnish goaltender Pekka Rinne, who can be nearly air tight when he’s on. He’ll have to be if Nashville is to have any chance at all. Expect to see a gritty if not chippy series between these two clubs. Prediction: I think Chicago wins this series in 5 games because they have just too much offense for the Predators to contain.
#3 Vancouver Canucks
2nd in Goals For – 3.27 goals per game
12th in Goals Against – 2.66 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #33 Henrik Sedin ~ 29G 83A = 112pts
2. #22 Daniel Sedin ~ 29G 56A = 85pts
3. #17 Ryan Kesler ~ 25G 50A = 75pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #1 Roberto Luongo (40-22-4) 2.57GAA .913%SP
vs.
#6 Los Angeles Kings
9th in Goals For – 2.82 goals per game
9th in Goals Against – 2.57 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #11 Anze Kopitar ~ 34G 47A = 81pts
2. #8 Drew Doughty ~ 16G 43A = 59pts
3. #23 Dustin Brown ~ 24G 32A = 56pts
Top Goaltenders:
1. #32 Jonathan Quick (39-24-7) 2.54GAA .907%SP
Series schedule: (Vancouver wins the series at 4-2)
Thursday, April 15th @ 9:00PM at GM Place – CBC, Versus (3-2 Canucks win)
Saturday, April 17th @ 9:00PM at GM Place – CBC, Versus (3-2 Kings OT win)
Monday, April 19th @ 9:00PM at Staples Center – CBC, Versus (5-3 Kings win)
Wednesday, April 21st @ 9:00PM at Staples Center – CBC, Versus (6-4 Canucks win)
*Friday, April 23rd @ 9:00PM at GM Place – CBC (7-2 Canucks win)
*Sunday, April 25th @ TBD at Staples Center – CBC, Versus (4-2 Canucks win)
*Tuesday, April 27th @ TBD at GM Place – CBC
You could be forgiven if you simply called this the “late night” series since virtually every game will begin around 9:00PM Central Standard Time making this a matchup you could literally lose lots of sleep over. Yet this could be one of the best wildcard series of the entire first round of the playoffs. The Vancouver Canucks did not let a nearly one-month long road trip derail their quest to win the Northwest Division and look to be playing some of their best hockey at just the right time. Henrik Sedin shocked many in the East who have rarely seen him play in that timezone to win the league scoring title and along with his brother Daniel Sedin are easily the best cycling combination in the league driving teams crazy with their unreal ability to find each other down low in the offensive zone before setting up a great scoring chance. The Canucks are not a one-trick pony, as Alexandre Burrows, Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond and Mikael Samuelsson all combine terrific speed with excellent scoring ability giving Vancouver two potent scoring lines. On the blueline, Christian Ehrhoff has been a revelation and Kevin Bieksa seems to be heating up as well. Between the pipes, Roberto Luongo demonstrated in the Olympics he can win the big game and no doubt will look to take Vancouver deep into the post-season. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Kings are a team that seems to be in a bit of a recovery mode after a strong start to the season. Much like the Colorado Avalanche the Kings have a young core of players led by amazingly poised defenseman Drew Doughty and Slovenian phenom Anze Kopitar. Terry Murray’s squad is a team that plays a gritty forechecking style that can frustrate you and also punish you as they storm the crease for the ugly tap in goal which are the specialty of veterans Michael Handzus and Ryan Smyth. Jonathan Quick has been very sharp in his first full season as the Kings’ starter but will he have enough left in the tank to deal with the Canucks? Prediction: After careful thought, I think the Canucks experience will be the difference as they win in 5 games in a series that will be eerily similar to last year’s first round matchup between Vancouver and St. Louis.
#4 Phoenix Coyotes
24th in Goals For – 2.57 goals per game
3rd in Goals Against – 2.39 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #19 Shane Doan ~ 18G 37A = 55pts
2. #15 Matthew Lombardi ~ 19G 34A = 53pts
3. #17 Radim Vrbata ~ 24G 19A = 43pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #30 Ilya Bryzgalov (42-20-6) 2.29GAA .920%SP
vs.
#5 Detroit Red Wings
14th in Goals For – 2.72 goals per game
7th in Goals Against – 2.52 goals per game
Top 3 Scorers:
1. #13 Pavel Datsyuk ~ 27G 43A = 70pts
2. #40 Henrik Zetterberg ~ 23G 47A = 70pts
3. #5 Niklas Lidstrom ~ 9G 40A = 49pts
Top Goaltender:
1. #35 Jimmy Howard (37-15-10) 2.26GAA .924%SP
Series schedule: (Detroit wins the series at 4-3)
Wednesday, April 14th @ 9:00PM at Jobing.com Arena – TSN, Versus (3-2 Coyotes win)
Friday, April 16th @ 9:00PM at Jobing.com Arena – TSN, Versus (7-4 Red Wings win)
Sunday, April 18th @ 2:00PM at Joe Louis Arena – NBC, TSN (4-2 Coyotes win)
Tuesday, April 20th @ 5:30PM at Joe Louis Arena – TSN (3-0 Red Wings win)
*Friday, April 23rd @ 9:00PM at Jobing.com Arena – TSN, Versus (4-1 Red Wings win)
*Sunday, April 25th @ 1:00PM at Joe Louis Arena – NBC, TSN (5-2 Coyotes win)
*Tuesday, April 27th @ TBD at Jobing.com Arena – TSN (6-1 Red Wings win)
People are still waiting for the clock to strike twelve and watch Phoenix turn back into a pumpkin from the winning machine it has been all season long. The lineup did not change all that significantly from the previous season but the Coyotes continued to find ways to win games and their stifiling defense under the tuteledge of Head Coach Dave Tippett has worked wonders for the Desert Dogs. The Coyotes great team defense disguises a team that possesses great team speed and one that counterpunches very effectively by transforming turnovers in the neutral zone into odd-man scoring chances. Team Captain Shane Doan has waited quite a while for another shot at the playoffs but his patience has paid off as the Coyotes hope to turn regular season success into playoff magic. Radim Vrbata, Matthew Lombardi, Martin Hanzal, and Petr Prucha provide the lethal counterpunch if teams are not careful. The blueline, led by veteran Ed Jovanovski and former Wild farmhand Zbynek Michalek help press the attack as well as shut other teams down however the key to their outstanding defense is the play of goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov who is perhaps one of the best waiver wire acquisitions ever as he has had a Vezina-like season. For Detroit it was not their typical campaign of complete regular season domination like they’re used to. Detroit struggled and really had to battle to make the playoffs as a lack of offense plagued them throughout much of the season but the return of the “Mule” Johan Franzen from injury solved those issues in a hurry. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are still a tremendous two-way combination that can be just as good defensively as they can be wizards with the puck in the offensive zone. Tomas Holmstrom will be planted near Ilya Bryzgalov all series and causing all kinds of headhaches near the crease while Brian Rafalski quarterbacks the power play and really helps set up the rush. Fast grinding forwards like Darren Helm, Daniel Cleary are the kind of unsung players who seem to save their best hockey for the post-season and will be looked to chip in some secondary scoring along with the big bodied Todd Bertuzzi. Yet the key for the Red Wings will be solid play from Jimmy Howard between the pipes, if he can’t deliver Detroit will be forced to go to Chris Osgood who has been shakey at best this season. Prediction: While experience means alot I think the Coyotes style of play will keep games close and they’ve shown an outstanding ability to win those types of games and I think Phoenix will win in a 7-game shocker.
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