Post by League Commish (Hurricanes GM) on May 5, 2013 14:02:36 GMT -5
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins versus (8) New York Islanders
PIT (111 PTS) 54-25-3 - RECORD - 39-33-10 (88 PTS) NYI
PIT (3.26 GFPG) 267 - GF - 219 (2.67 GFPG) NYI
PIT (2.68 GAPG) 220 - GA - 231 (2.81 GAPG) NYI
PIT 23.1% - PP - 21.0% NYI
PIT 85.0% - PK - 83.8% NYI
Season Meetings
PIT 4 - 2 NYI
PIT 3 - 2 NYI
PIT 3 - 2 NYI
PIT 4 - 3 NYI
PIT 1 - 5 NYI
PIT (111 PTS) 54-25-3 - RECORD - 39-33-10 (88 PTS) NYI
PIT (3.26 GFPG) 267 - GF - 219 (2.67 GFPG) NYI
PIT (2.68 GAPG) 220 - GA - 231 (2.81 GAPG) NYI
PIT 23.1% - PP - 21.0% NYI
PIT 85.0% - PK - 83.8% NYI
Season Meetings
PIT 4 - 2 NYI
PIT 3 - 2 NYI
PIT 3 - 2 NYI
PIT 4 - 3 NYI
PIT 1 - 5 NYI
The Penguins barely missed capturing the President's Trophy and will be a huge test for any team, especially the Isles, who finished with the lowest amount of points of all playoff teams. With an offense containing three of the best players in the world and a pretty great second line as well, it will be a uphill battle for the Isles and they'll need to commit to team defense. The Isles did win a game in the regular season series, so who knows what will happen in the post season.
Key Players for Pittsburgh
Ovechkin/Crosby/Malkin - As a line, these three were dynamite. Ovechkin led the league in goals and his linemates each put up great seasons as well.
Brad Richards - Acquired from Calgary at the deadline, the talented, former Conn Smythe winner Richards will take some of the strain off of the Pen's top line while making it hard for teams to defend against two excellent even strength units.
Kris Letang - If the Penguins have a weakness at all, it would have to be their D, which isn't quite on the same level as their all star forward group. Letang will log heavy minutes on the blueline for the Penguins in all situations.
Key Players for the Islanders
Rick DiPietro - After somewhat of a career revival, DiPietro will be put to the test to shut down this high scoring Penguins team.
John Tavares - He's the top guy in Long Island, and although he didn't have a season as good as the stars from Pittsburgh, he quietly put up 31 goals and 37 assists. They'll need him at the top of his game, especially if this series turns into a shootout.
Duncan Keith - Much like Letang, Keith will play big minutes in every situation as the Isles try to find a way to shutdown the Pen's stars.
Prediction
4-1 Penguins. I don't think the Isles can match or shut down the sheer firepower that the Penguins have.
(2) Carolina Hurricanes versus (7) Montreal Canadiens
CAR (107 PTS) 52-27-3 - RECORD - 42-32-8 (88 PTS) MON
CAR (3.02 GFPG) 248 - GF - 243 (2.96 GFPG) MON
CAR (2.52 GAPG) 207 - GA - 250 (3.05 GAPG) MON
CAR 18.8% - PP - 16.1% MON
CAR 79.4% - PK - 76.0% MON
Season Meetings
CAR 3 - 1 MON
CAR 1 - 3 MON
CAR 4 - 3 MON
CAR 4 - 2 MON
CAR (107 PTS) 52-27-3 - RECORD - 42-32-8 (88 PTS) MON
CAR (3.02 GFPG) 248 - GF - 243 (2.96 GFPG) MON
CAR (2.52 GAPG) 207 - GA - 250 (3.05 GAPG) MON
CAR 18.8% - PP - 16.1% MON
CAR 79.4% - PK - 76.0% MON
Season Meetings
CAR 3 - 1 MON
CAR 1 - 3 MON
CAR 4 - 3 MON
CAR 4 - 2 MON
The Hurricanes quietly put together a great year in the Southeastern Conference, as theHabs did the same, sliding into seventh. The Hurricanes were a high scoring squad while allowing few goals (second lowest in the east) in the process, while the Habs let in maybe a few more than they would've liked. They'll need to limit their scoring chances and shutdown the Hurricanes offense while finding a way to break Ward down with their snipers.
Key Players for Carolina
Cam Ward - Ward has had a year that has placed him amongst the top goaltenders in the year. He's a key piece to the Hurricanes puzzle and they'll need him to step up again and return to Conn Smythe winning form.
Michael Ryder - A proven playoff performer acquiring at the deadline, Ryder went point per game after becoming a Hurricane and led the team in goals (38) and points (69).
The Staals - The Staals had good, but not spectacular years all around. They form the core of the Hurricanes team and they'll need to play well to help the Hurricanes defeat the Habs.
Key Players for Montreal
Alex Galchenyuk - In his rookie season, the former 4th overall pick led the team in scoring with a team high 40 assists and 65 points. A front runner for the Calder Trophy, he's become a huge part of the Habs offense and will need to survive the pressure of a media meccha in the playoffs.
Brendan Gallagher - Another young player who had a great year was Gallagher. The fiesty forward will need to get under the skin of the Cane's defense and get a few goals along the way.
Carey Price - Price struggled throughout the year, but he'll need to tighten up to shut down the Canes. If he falters, Simeon Varlamov is waiting in the wings, so Price will need to be sharp.
Prediction
4 - 1 Canes. At the risk of sounding over-confident or provoking the Habs, I think the Canes are a better team and that should playout in the playoffs, but if Price gets back onto his game, the Canadiens could make this more competitive than I expect.
(3) Boston Bruins versus (6) Washington Capitals
BOS (101 PTS) 48-29-5 - RECORD - 53-33-6 (92 PTS) WAS
BOS (3.05 GFPG) 250 - GF - 258 (3.15 GFPG) WAS
BOS (2.67 GAPG) 219 - GA - 236 (2.88 GAPG) WAS
BOS 21.7% - PP - 21.7% WAS
BOS 84.2% - PK - 76.7% WAS
Season Meetings
BOS 5 - 3 WAS
BOS 4 - 2 WAS
BOS 4 - 3 WAS
BOS 3 - 5 WAS
BOS (101 PTS) 48-29-5 - RECORD - 53-33-6 (92 PTS) WAS
BOS (3.05 GFPG) 250 - GF - 258 (3.15 GFPG) WAS
BOS (2.67 GAPG) 219 - GA - 236 (2.88 GAPG) WAS
BOS 21.7% - PP - 21.7% WAS
BOS 84.2% - PK - 76.7% WAS
Season Meetings
BOS 5 - 3 WAS
BOS 4 - 2 WAS
BOS 4 - 3 WAS
BOS 3 - 5 WAS
The Bruins became the champions of a mostly uncompetitve division while the Capitals made the most of another weak division to sneak into the sixth seed. Both teams have had some ownership issues this season but despite that have succeeded on the strength of their stars. With identical powerplay stats, if this team becomes a specialty team war, it'll be all about who's PK steps up to the bat.
Key Players for Boston
Brooks Laich - Laich had a season that surprised almost everybody and for a while in the early going, led the entire league in scoring. His new found nose for the back of the net will be tested here.
Joe Thornton/Rick Nash - Thornton and Nash clicked well and both had solid years, with Nash netting 41 goals. They'll be a hard duo to play and defend against.
Tuukka Rask - In the shadow of Tim Thomas, Rask has yet to grab the Bruins and carry them the way that Thomas did, but this is his chance against a high scoring Capitals squad.
Key Players for Washington
Tyler Seguin - Playing against his former team, look for the young star to step up to the plate and try to prove his worth.
Claude Giroux - Giroux led the league in scoring with 101 points. The Bruins will need to keep him and his line in check.
Braden Holtby - Holtby will face alot of traffic dueling with the power forward duo of Nash and Thornton. He'll be the key to Washington staying in these games.
Prediction
4 - 2 Washington. Maybe a bold pick but I think the Capitals have too much fire power and their top line has been on an incredible roll.
(4) New York Rangers versus (5) Winnipeg Jets
NYR (104 PTS) 50-28-4 - RECORD - 43-31-8 (94 PTS) WPG
NYR (3.05 GFPG) 256 - GF - 247 (3.15 GFPG) WPG
NYR (2.67 GAPG) 187 - GA - 233 (2.88 GAPG) WPG
NYR 23.1% - PP - 22.0% WPG
NYR 88.1% - PK - 81.6% WPG
Season Meetings
NYR 3 - 2 WPG
NYR 2 - 3 WPG
NYR 4 - 2 WPG
NYR 5 - 4 WPG
NYR (104 PTS) 50-28-4 - RECORD - 43-31-8 (94 PTS) WPG
NYR (3.05 GFPG) 256 - GF - 247 (3.15 GFPG) WPG
NYR (2.67 GAPG) 187 - GA - 233 (2.88 GAPG) WPG
NYR 23.1% - PP - 22.0% WPG
NYR 88.1% - PK - 81.6% WPG
Season Meetings
NYR 3 - 2 WPG
NYR 2 - 3 WPG
NYR 4 - 2 WPG
NYR 5 - 4 WPG
The Rangers started kinda slow but picked up steam and were competitive to the end of the season. The Jets bursted onto the playoff scene after a couple of huge acquisitions turned their team into a contender. This should be a pretty even, competitive series with alot of fire power on both sides. Both teams rely on their blue line for offense, so expect to see alot of pinching from the D. The Rangers had the best PK and the second best PP, so the Jets will need to avoid making this into a specialty team's battle if they want success.
Key Players for the Rangers
Magnus Paajarvi - Paajarvi had a breakout year with 58 assists and 88 points, and a tremendous +22. He's been the cog that has turned the Ranger's offense this year, and he'll need to continue that.
Kari Lehtonen - Lehtonen had a great year, finishing amongst the top of the league in all goalie stats. He'll need to shut down the likes of Kane and Hossa.
Ryan McDonagh - McDonagh, as part of an active D core, chipped in 45 points and was a tidy +17. He logs big minutes and puts up big points, making him dangerous whenever he's on the ice.
Key Players for Winnipeg
Marian Hossa - Acquired from the Blackhawks, Hossa was the main reason why the Jets ascended so quickly through the standings, with a team high 42 goals and 80 points. He's dangerous in the offense zone and will need to be paid special attention to by the Rangers defense.
Johan Franzen - Franzen has a nose for the net and he's hard to defend against. He's had dynamic playoff performances in the past, and he'll need to be watched as well.
Ondrej Pavelec - Pavelec struggled at times despite the Jets success. He'll need to find his game and quick, as the Rangers have a very deep offense.
Prediction
4-3 Rangers. This should be a very tight series but I think the Rangers will barely edge out the upstart Jets.