-
Preview: (4) PENGUINS vs. (8) CANADIENS
EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: (4) Pittsburgh vs. (8) Montreal | (6) Boston vs. (7) Philadelphia
WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: (1) San Jose vs. (5) Detroit | (2) Chicago vs. (3) VancouverBY MIKE BROPHY
sportsnet.ca
(8) CANADIENS 
(4) PENGUINS
It's the hockey equivalent of going from the frying pan to the fire.
After a monumental upset of Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals, the Montreal Canadiens now have the privilege of trying to get past Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins.
FOR THE PENGUINS TO WIN:
For starters, Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is going to have to kick his game up a notch, especially if Montreal stopper Jaroslav Halak continues with his George Vezina impression. Following the opening round of playoffs, Fleury ranks a paltry 11th in goals-against average at 2.75 and 15th in save percentage at .890. Considering only 16 teams make the playoffs, his rankings are awful.
Considering he has eight points in six games it may seem funny to suggest Evgeni Malkin needs to pick his game up a little bit, too. But while he managed to get his points against Ottawa, he did not display the same magic as he did in last year's playoffs. Also, veteran Ruslan Fedotenko has a history of being a clutch player in the playoffs, but he was a healthy scratch in four games in the first round. He needs to be more engaged if he gets back into the lineup.
Obviously, Sidney Crosby also needs to continue to score at his torrent pace. Crosby loves to play in Montreal.
PENGUINS UNSUNG HERO:
If you are chewing on food, please swallow quickly. We do not want to be responsible for anybody choking. Done? OK, read on: The Pens unsung hero in Round I was none other than Matt Cooke. After scoring just once in 24 playoff games a year ago, Cooke erupted for three goals in six games versus the Sens. One of this season's most controversial players showed once again that when he sticks to hockey he's not a bad player. Maybe we shouldn't be totally shocked. Cooke did manage to equal a career-high with 15 goals this season.
FOR THE CANADIENS TO WIN:
Like the Pens, it all starts in the crease, where Halak emerged as the first-round MVP. He stymied Washington shooters time and time again and was ably helped by defencemen who willingly threw themselves in front of just about everything the Capitals could fire their way.
Beyond that, the Canadians benefited hugely from coach Jacques Martin's impeccable preparation. They did a masterful job slowing Alexander Ovechkin through the neutral zone where he likes to pick up his speed on his end-to-end rushes. Crosby uses his teammates better than Ovechkin, so he won't be as easy to contain.
The Habs must also take advantage of Pittsburgh's struggling penalty-killing unit, which was 15th after the first round at 68.2 per cent.
CANADIENS UNSUNG HERO:
First Dominic Moore does his Ovechkin impression, rushing the puck coast-to-coast for one of the prettiest goals of the opening round in Game 2, and then he connects for the series-winning goal in Game 7. Not bad for a guy best known for checking the opposition's most dangerous scorers. The Canadiens, more so than the Penguins, depend on a more balanced scoring attack so it helps when their grinders can chip in with offence.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
The first inclination is to propose the defending Stanley Cup champion Penguins will roll over the Canadiens, who should be thrilled to just make it to the second round after an up-and-down season. But watching Montreal grow as a team in the post-season and also seeing the Penguins struggle at times against Ottawa suggests this could be closer than first expected.
Pittsburgh wins in 6.
INTERESTING STAT:
The Canadiens led all 16 teams in the first round with 182 blocked shots, including 41 in Game 7. The Canadiens averaged 26 blocked shots per game. Ottawa was second with 129 in six games. Washington arguably takes more shots from the point than the Penguins, who prefer to work the puck down low in the offensive zone, but when Pittsburgh winds up to shoot, Habs defenders will have to continue to aid their goaltender by getting in the way of the puck.
-
Poll
-
Who will win the Penguins-Canadiens series?
EASTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW: (1) San Jose vs. (5) Detroit |