2010 NHL Eastern Conference playoff preview

With the second season of the National Hockey League just around the corner, I felt it appropriate to give the best fans in the world a preview and my personal view of each series in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. As an added bonus, I’ll make a prediction of who I think will be the winner of each series.

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 Montreal Canadians

This matchup pits the best team in the NHL against a team that barely made the playoffs and struggled of late.

Washington is the cream of the crop. They have one of the most potent offenses in the NHL and they are deep on the blue line as well. They’ve gotten a lot deeper as a team this season and that’s coupled with the experience they gained in the playoffs last season. The only question mark when it comes to the Capitales is José Teodoro’s goal.

The Canadiens have some strengths in their power play, are ultimately healthier than they were during their struggles, and have some offensive threats.

Prediction: In the end, the Capitals are a much better team. They don’t need to win games 1-0 so goalkeeping shouldn’t be a problem early on because they can score with the best. The only chance the Canadians have is if their power play continues to shine and they dominate a poor Washington penalty, and if goalie Jaroslav Halak stands on his head. Capitals in five games.

#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Philadelphia Flyers

However, the flyers were able to sneak into the playoffs on the last day of the season in a penalty shootout. They can possibly build on that momentum and carry it into their first round matchup against the Devils. If anyone wasn’t happy about the Flyers’ win over the Rangers on the final day, it was the Devils, who have been beaten five out of six times this season by the Flyers.

Prediction: The Flyers will scare the Devils in this first round and create a great series against the old Patrick Division Rivals. While the Flyers struggled later in the season, they showed they can beat the best teams, including New Jersey at times. In the end, it’s tough going up against one of the best NHL goaltenders of all time in Martin Brodeur and an offense featuring the likes of Ilya Kovalchuck and Zack Parise. Heck in 7 games.

#3 Buffalo Sabers vs. #6 Boston Bruins

This matchup features another team, the Boston Bruins, who barely made it to the playoffs. The Bruins also proved tough by winning the season series against the Northeast Division Champion Sabres, even defeating them last Thursday.

I think this series will be a goalie story, with the Sabers led by American goaltender Ryan Miller, many of whom believe he is the reason the Sabers are where they are (as is Team USA). ), and the situation in Boston with Tuuka Rask most likely to be the starter over veteran Tim Thomas. If Tuuka struggles in his first NHL playoffs, it will be interesting to see how short of a leash he is on.

Prediction: The Bruins have been battle-tested all season and will continue to battle it out in a hard-hitting series between rivals. In the end, goalie Ryan Miller will still stand on his head and shut out the Bruins. Sabers in seven games.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Ottawa Senators

Once again, the Penguins will be the fourth seed heading into the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. This turned out well for them last year, defeating the Detroit Red Wings in seven games to win the Stanley Cup.

The Penguins need to prove the critics wrong this season, as they have shown signs of inconsistency and an inability to get up for big games. They’ve also dealt quite the injury bug this season, with Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar on the shelf for some time. Their struggles of late also cost them their division title, which was very close at hand as New Jersey didn’t want to take the crown towards the end either.

Speaking of streaks, the Ottawa Senators have done the same thing, too. At one point during the season he had established an eleven game winning streak and six games. If this team has playoff streaks, it should be a force.

Prediction: In the end, the penguins will find their way. The depth up front combined with the experience the Senators possess pushes them forward. Penguins in six games.