NHL: It's Playoff Time!

It’s the best time of year for hockey fans and so many more sports fans. It is that time where 16 teams will put all of their hard work in and determination to work for one common goal: Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Some have cruised all year long into the postseason. Some have clawed their way in at the last minute. It matters no more. This is a new season. Everyone is 0-0. The team that manages to put together 16 wins will be the champion.

Who are the contenders and what are the first round matchups? Following will be an overview of each series with a prediction.

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round

Eastern Conference

#1 Montreal Canadiens vs. #8 Boston Bruins

Overview: Here is one of the most intense rivalries in the NHL. Montreal managed to beat Boston all eight times during the regular season and the playoffs will probably bring the same thing. Montreal is too hot right now to be stopped by a weak Boston team. Rookie goalie Carey Price for Montreal will be the player to look at in the series, seeing how he will respond to playoff pressure. The rivalry will make things physical but Montreal has too much.

Prediction: Montreal in five.

#2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #7 Ottawa Senators

Overview: Talk about cooling off. The Senators had such a great start but lately they have just gone straight down with no ground in sight to stop the fall. While Pittsburgh is not on fire, Crosby, Malkin, and company should be able to get the job done. Ottawa has the experience of beating Pittsburgh in last year’s playoffs and advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals last year. That will buy them a seven game series, but not enough to win.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in seven.

#3 Washington Capitals vs. #6 Philadelphia Flyers

Overview: The only team that can claim such an amazing hot streak as the Capitals is the Sharks. There was so much more pressure on Washington. Ovechkin in his third year has finally carried his team to the playoffs. Edging out Carolina for the division title in the final few games, the Caps look to keep the streak going in the playoffs. They run into an underachieving Flyers team who could have easily been the top seed. However, the Flyers are 7-2-1 in their last ten games. The match up I am looking at is Alexander Ovechkin vs. Flyers goalie Martin Biron. I will take Ovechkin every time.

Prediction: Capitals in six.

#4 New Jersey Devils vs. #5 New York Rangers

Overview: Probably the most overlooked series in the playoffs; it will certainly be the most physical. The Rangers need to get over this playoff hump and get to the Conference Finals, at least. Standing in their way is the best goaltender in the game right now: Martin Brodeur. The Devils have lost six of their last ten games, which doesn’t bode well for them facing a hot Rangers team. Brodeur will get knocked out this time, but not without a fight.

Prediction: Rangers in seven.

Western Conference

#1 Detroit Red Wings vs. #8 Nashville Predators

Overview: The Red Wings are the top seed, some surprise, huh? Their opponent is division rival Nashville but I use the word ‘rival’ tentatively because this is going to be a quick series. There really are no marquee matchups in this series, except maybe how Detroit handles the racous Nashville crowd. Unfortunately for the Preds, the fans can’t suit up and help them. Get the brooms out Detroit fans, or attach your octopi to a stick.

Prediction: Red Wings in four.

#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #7 Calgary Flames

Overview: These two have tangled in the playoffs before and each time they have been very physical. There will be nothing different this time either. Calgary is simply overmatched in every aspect of the game. The Flames may have taken three of four games from the Sharks during the season but this is different. The Sharks are ready to take a bite out of the Cup and Calgary is the first obstacle in their way. Too much Joe Thornton for the Sharks, not enough miracles for Calgary.

Prediction: Sharks in five.

#3 Minnesota Wild vs. #6 Colorado Avalanche

Overview: The Wild were poised to have a great season and they did finishing first in the Northwest Division. Their reward is facing division foe Colorado freshly stocked with defenseman Adam Foote and hockey’s version of Roger “I’ll come back in the middle of a season” Clemens – Peter Forsberg. The Avalanche have the gritty guys you need to advance in the playoffs and the Wild don’t. Minnesota fans will be disappointed again in the playoffs. Minnesota needs to do a lot more in free agency and trades to be successful in the postseason.

Prediction: Avalanche in six.

#4 Anaheim Ducks vs. #5 Dallas Stars

Overview: The defending Stanley Cup Champions get division rival Dallas as their opponent. A lot of people think Stars goalie Marty Turco can get them past Anaheim. I don’t. Anaheim defenseman Scott Niedermayer came back to the team after pondering retirement and his experience is too much for a first round exit. All the games in this series will be close, and it will go the distance. I think Anaheim will get it, but if Dallas center Brad Richards gets hot, it could easily be the Stars advancing.

Prediction: Ducks in seven.

It’s playoff time! Enjoy it! Nothing beats playoff hockey!