Eastern Conference Playoff Predictions

This season saw one of the tightest races for the top eight positions in the Eastern Conference in years. The top six positions were separated by only five points. Six teams in the Eastern Conference had over one hundred points with the sixth place team, the New Jersey Devils, finishing with an even one hundred. It will be difficult to classify any upsets this season as all eight teams have an opportunity to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup final. Let’s take a look at this year’s first round playoffs match ups with conference seeding in brackets.

Tampa Bay Lightning (1) vs. New York Islanders (8)
The Tampa Bay Lightning just capped off a franchise season winning the Eastern Conference with one hundred and six points. They have one of the most riveting young players in the game in Martin St. Louis, who will win this year’s Art Ross Trophy and will also be a serious candidate for the Hart Trophy. The Lightning have one of the best veteran players in the game as well in Dave Andreychuk who finished the season with twenty one goals, his nineteenth twenty goal season. The only possible question mark for the Lightning will be in goal as Nikolai Khabibulin and John Grahame have not proven themselves to be solid netminders deep into the playoffs. The Islanders will play a very tight checking game out of necessity as they lack the kind of offensive firepower Tampa Bay has. Look for Tampa Bay to win this series in five games.

Boston Bruins (2) vs. Montreal Canadiens (7)
The Boston Bruins just capped off their second Northeast Division title in three years and have surprised many with their outstanding play this season. Andrew Raycroft, who is one of the best young goalies in the league, has filled the hole many thought they had in goal extremely well. He is also a serious candidate for the Calder Trophy. When they are healthy, Joe Thornton, Glen Murray and Mike Knuble give the Boston Bruins one of the best lines in the league; however, Thornton recently injured his wrist and his status for game one is still up in the air. The Montreal Canadiens also have some outstanding young players of their own. Michel Ryder has led all rookies this season in scoring and will challenge Raycroft for the Calder Trophy. Jose Theodore has proven he can be a game breaking goalie, something Raycroft has not done yet. Many Montreal players who had been in a slump had a breakout game offensively last night against Buffalo and it could not have come at a better time. The Canadiens will need strong contributions from their best players if they have intentions of moving on to the next round. Look for this series to go seven games with the Montreal Canadiens moving onto the second round.

Philadelphia Flyers (3) vs. New Jersey Devils (6)
New Jersey has one of the two best netminders in the game right now in Martin Brodeur. He can steal a series on his own if he gets in a groove. Despite being the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Devils have struggled at times this year, especially with their offensive production. Patrick Elias, Scott Gomez and Scott Niedermayer will be counted on heavily to produce the bulk load of the scoring for the Devils. The Flyers have a big question mark in goal which may lead to their downfall. In Sean Burke, they have a goaltender who has played so-so since coming over from Phoenix and has not won a playoff round in over thirteen years. In Robert Esche, the have a goaltender who has approximately thirty minutes of playoff experience. The Flyers have a number of guys who can put the puck in the net but, as a team, they are nowhere near as good as New Jersey at team defense. Look for New Jersey to win this series in six games.

Toronto Maple Leafs (4) vs. Ottawa Senators (5)
Well, here we go again. This is the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams in the last five years. The Leafs have won all three previous meetings and there is no reason why they should not win the fourth. They have one of the best teams they have had in years. Ed Belfour is a big game goalie and is one of three goalies in this year’s playoffs to have won a Stanley Cup. A potent offensive attack mixed in with a solid defensive core gives the Leafs an excellent shot at this year’s Stanley Cup. The Senators have not proven they can consistently go deep into the playoffs and when they have gone deep, they have choked. Until they start producing consistently in the playoffs, it will be tough to consistently pick them to win playoff series. Look for the Maple Leafs to win this series in six games.