BY ANDREW GHARIB – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
The Stanley Cup playoffs are among us once again, and in this shortened NHL season, teams sprinted to the finish line (Chicago Blackhawks), some took the rollercoaster route (New York Islanders) and some limped and didn’t make it in even though they should have (Hi Winnipeg Jets).
Regardless of the shortened season, these are the best teams from this year’s season, and all deserve their spots. Here are my previews and predictions of round one of the 2013 NHL playoffs.
Eastern Conference:
Pittsburgh Penguins (1) vs. New York Islanders (8)
The Pittsburgh Penguins made some serious noise at this year’s trade deadline, acquiring the likes of Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, and Douglas Murray. This gives them absolutely crushing offensive weapons in the face of what I perceive to be a fairly weak defensive corps and questionable goaltending. Fleury can get hot, but even still this team will outscore you before you can blink. With the pending return of Crosby, the Pens are primed for a long playoff grind.
The Islanders meanwhile surprised this year with their solid play and while I believe they are a talented team, they simply cannot compete with the physicality that Pittsburgh brings. Tavares has had a great year and I look for that to continue into the playoffs. Nabokov has the edge in net, and he will be peppered relentlessly by the Pens offence.
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While I like the Isles, this is the Pens’ for the taking. Their offence will be too much to overcome.
Prediction: PENGUINS IN 5
Montreal Canadiens (2) vs. Ottawa Senators (7)
Montreal clinched the Northeast division title and this will give them plenty of momentum after a very suspect finish to the season that saw the Habs look in disarray and very much unlike the team that looked so good all season. As usual, this team will live and die by Carey Price. Gallagher will be a playoff beast, and Galchenyuk will get his first taste of the craziness that is coming. Look for Pacioretty to have a great series. The Habs have the edge in speed and in scoring.
The Senators meanwhile were predicted not to make the playoffs, so they have no pressure to perform here. On top of this, they are much better than their record and seeding indicates. They have the best goalie in the league, the best defenceman, in the league, the league’s second best penalty killing unit, and they don’t allow a lot of goals. Their weakness is scoring up front and with 14 rookies coming into the lineup this year, it has been a scoring by committee as no player reached 20 goals or more on the team. At the end of the day, these are two very evenly matched teams and the Sens hold the edge physically. This will be a very entertaining series as it is the first all Canadian match up since 1996.
PREDICTION: SENATORS IN 7
Washington Capitals (3) vs. New York Rangers (6)
Is there any player more unfairly scrutinized in the NHL than Alex Ovechkin? Many media outlets claimed he should be playing in the KHL and has fallen so far that he shouldn’t be in the league anymore. How utterly silly do they look now. Ovechkin is taking on a leadership role that he never has before, willing his team to 11 wins in 14 to finish the season. They play a tough brand of hockey, unlike the Boudreau years where they were easily physically dominated into submission. Oates style of play is all over this team and they should be taken seriously.
The Rangers meanwhile had a rollercoaster season which saw them out of a playoff spot in the last weeks of the season, only to come on late with some very key wins. As usual their leader Ryan Callahan comes through in the clutch and he must do so again for the Rags to move forward. The addition of Brassard helps a lot, and when Lundqvist gets hot he is a top tender in the league and the Rags have the definite edge in goal.
Although this is a pretty close matchup, the Caps are playing really well right now.
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PREDICTION: CAPITALS IN 6
Boston Bruins (4) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (5)
The Leafs will have their hands full with an experienced and tough Bruins squad that has been in some turmoil in this season. The Leafs, on the other hand, are a much improved team, and they will not be wasting their first playoff appearance in nine years to anyone let alone the Bruins. The Leafs are very tough, can score in bunches, and have solid goaltending. They also have the edge in coaching right now as the Bruins are in disarray.
The weakness the Leafs have here is their vast, vast inexperience. No one on the team has won a Cup, while the Bruins won the Cup two years ago and have most of that team intact. James van Riemsdyk has a lot of playoff games under his belt but otherwise this is a team that will be facing tons of pressure especially from the media. If they are going to compete in this series they will have to stay poised and keep to their game plan.
Still, the Bruins have the edge in experience, goaltending, and defense, and their forwards are no slouch either. I’m taking the Bruins, but it won’t be a cakewalk.
PREDICTION: BRUINS IN 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
Chicago Blackhawks (1) vs. Minnesota Wild (8)
Another playoff sputterer, the Minnesota Wild underachieved this year after their big acquisitions but managed to make it into the postseason as the number eight seed and have the pleasure of facing the best team in the league in the Chicago Blackhawks. After a dynamite start to the season, the Hawks remained very consistent and have a sure Jack Adams nominee in Joel Quenneville. This is my only sweeping prediction of the first round as the Wild are not on the same level as the Hawks.
PREDICTION: BLACKHAWKS IN 4
Anaheim Ducks (2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (7)
No one expected the Ducks to be as good as they are this year, but this is what a good coach does. Bruce Boudreau went in and meshed his style in with the offensive threats in Anaheim (which are many) and the Getzlaf line is extremely dangerous and one of the best in the NHL. They have great goaltending and are a solid all-around team.
On the other hand, Detroit somewhat limped into the playoffs, but no one doubted for a minute that their incredible playoff streak would end with the talent they have. Howard is the most underrated stopper in the league and the wings can never be counted out. I do think that this is a different and weaker team than in year’s past and Anaheim has been an extremely consistent team all season.
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PREDICTION: DUCKS IN 6
Vancouver Canucks (3) vs. San Jose Sharks (6)
No Canadian team has as much drama as the Canucks, who continually have mountains of pressure and expectation put on them year after year, and it increases when they lose. They remind me of the 2003 Senators, who should have won a Cup, but despite their best efforts cannot seem to find the way. The Canucks are better than that team however, and have the best goalie tandem in the NHL in Luongo and Schneider. Niemi on the other hand has been great all season.
The Sharks meanwhile stay fairly consistent from one year to the next and are solid top to bottom, but I don’t see any reason why they will shake their playoff demons this year especially after trading Douglas Murray and Ryan Clowe. Despite the fact that the Canucks haven’t beaten the Sharks this season, I don’t think it will affect the outcome of this series, which will be a grind.
PREDICTION: CANUCKS IN 7
St. Louis Blues (4) vs. Los Angeles Kings (5)
Congratulations to Jay Bouwmeester on his first playoff appearance in his long and solid career. His trade added to what is already one of the best defensive corps in the Western Conference (and NHL) and the Blues do not have a problem scoring. Their problem lies in net with a bi-polar Brian Elliott who will get the start in the playoffs. They will go as Elliott goes, it’s just a matter of finding out which Elliott will show up.
The defending champions have most of the tools they need for another playoff run but they have sputtered all season and it remains to be seen if they have enough gas in the tank to grind out another 16 wins. I don’t think they do, however they hold the edge in goaltending and offence here and despite the fact that they don’t have home ice advantage, they hold a big edge in experience.
PREDICTION: KINGS IN 6