NHL First Round Playoffs Preview: Eastern Conference

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs start this week and last for about three months. GET EXCITED! While NHL coverage has been lacking on this site (mainly my fault since Dustin designated me “lead NHL writer” and I designated myself “lazy NHL writer”), that doesn’t mean that we aren’t excited to cover the greatest playoffs in sports. Today I’ll preview the first round in the East and tomorrow the West will get some love. LET’S DO IT!

 

 

Florida Panthers vs. New York Islanders

No one expected the Panthers to win the Atlantic. Most, myself included, figured that the young guys weren’t ready and the old guys were too old. Turns out, there young guys are really good and their old guys are still good as well. The Islanders finished just one point behind the Panthers, but had to settle for a wild card spot because the Metropolitan division was really good this year. 

Goaltending: Here's a phrase you’re going to read a lot in this preview and just about every single NHL playoff preview you ever read until the end of time: it all comes down to goaltending. That’s why it’s the first bullet in these previews. In this series, the Panthers have Roberto Luongo, a Hall of Fame goalie playing at a high level that is only matched by his twitter game. The Islanders have Thomas Greiss, a guy you’ve probably never heard of and can’t decide if you should pronounce his last name as “Gry-Ice” or “Grease.” 

Best Player: Aside from goaltending, the playoffs are about the best player showing up to carry his team. In this series, Islanders center John Tavares is the best player on either team. He’s an elite level goalscorer who has formed a deadly combo with Kyle Okposo over the last couple of seasons. 

Other Factors: The Panthers are really good 5-on-5 but struggle on special teams. If the Islanders can get their power play going, that could be a problem for Florida. The Islanders haven’t won a playoff series since 1993. The last team they beat in a playoff series? Jaromir Jagr’s Pittsburgh Penguins. 

My Pick: Panthers in Six

Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Detroit Red Wings

The Lightning were inconsistent this season, possibly due to a Stanley Cup Final hangover, but they were able to turn it around and solidify themselves as one of the top teams in the East. The Red Wings are in the playoffs for the 25^th straight year as Detroit continues to wonder why they are financially hurting. 

Goaltending: Ben Bishop is one of the top goaltenders in the league and has proven to be a big game goaltender for the Lightning in the playoffs. I don’t know who Detroit is going with in the playoffs. Peter Mrazek has been their #1 for most of the season, but Jimmy Howard was their #1 last season. Basically, they have two starters, which really means they have no starters. Big edge for Tampa Bay. 

Best Player: Normally, it’d be Lightning forward Steven Stamkos. However, he’s hurt and will likely miss the entire series. Tyler Johnson, who has huge for the Lightning during last year’s run, would probably be second. But he’s hurt as well. Then there’s Anton Stralman. Just kidding, he wouldn’t crack the top 10 of most important players in this series. But he’s a good defenseman for the Lightning. Who also happens to be hurt. So we’ll go with Pavel Datsyuk in what could be his final games for Detroit. He’s not really the best player in the series, or even on his own team, but he’s a proven playoff performer who needs to deliver if he really is leaving for Russia after this season.

Other Factors: The Lightning are the better team, but they’re really banged up right now. As mentioned, Stamkos, Johnson, and Stralman are all injured and those are all important players for Tampa Bay. Detroit is healthier, but they’re not a great team. They have a rookie coach, have trouble scoring, and are plagued with inconsistent goaltending. The Lightning win this series easily if healthy. Also a factor, my girlfriend is a Lightning fan and she’s a good luck charm until a championship is on the line. Then it’s all her fault that the Panthers lost the Super Bowl. 

My Pick: Lightning in Six

Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers

The Capitals were the best team in the league with the best player in the league and the best goaltender in the league. So they’re good. The Flyers got really hot down the stretch and have been in “playoff mode” for over a month. So they’re playing really well.

Goaltending: Caps goaltender Braden Holtby led the league in wins. He also started 66 games after starting 73 games last season. If there’s any concern for the Caps, it’s that Holtby is worn down and can’t perform up to his usual level. I don’t think that will be an issue in the first round, but it’s something to keep an eye on as the playoffs go forward. Steve Mason kept the Flyers playoff hopes alive during the final month of the season with his spectacular play. However, his playoff track record isn’t very good.

Best Player: Alex Ovechkin. And it’s not even close. He’s the greatest goalscorer of this generation and he put up another 50 goals this year. But he’s always been great in the regular season. The joke is “You can’t spell ‘choke’ without Ovechkin” and it’s appropriate as Ovi has never made it out of the second round of the playoffs. He’s also never had a team this good. Ovechkin probably won’t need to be great this series since his team is much better, but he’ll definitely need to be great moving forward.

Other Factors: The Flyers have a terrible penalty kill and the Capitals have a great power play. 

There could be a couple of routes in this series if the Caps PP catches fire. 

My Pick: Capitals in Four

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. New York Rangers

This is the marquee match-up that the NHL wanted. The Penguins survived a slow start and a coaching change and started playing up to their potential while the Rangers were consistently strong all season. 

Goaltending: Henrik Lundqvist is the best goalie in the league. He’s the guy I want in net for my team on a night-to-night basis and he’s definitely the guy I want in net for the playoffs despite his lack of a Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh has a Cup winning goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury, but he’s been dealing with a concussion for the last few weeks. It appears that Fleury will be ready to start game one, but how effective hell be remains a question. 

Best Player: The Penguins go as Sidney Crosby goes. He wasn’t good to start the year and neither was the team. All of a sudden, Crosby became one of the best players in the league again and the Penguins followed. Funny how that works. Without Evgeni Malkin, the Penguins will rely heavily on Crosby to get them through this series.

Other Factors: The Rangers have eliminated the Penguins from the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The Rangers are a deeper team and play a physical style with their bruising forwards, which is a recipe for success in the playoffs. If the Penguins can turn it into a track meet, they have the advantage, but things usually slowdown in the playoffs, which favors New York. 

My Pick: Rangers in Seven