Eastern Quarterfinals Preview 2008

Montreal Canadiens (1) vs Boston Bruins (8)

Records

Montreal: 47-25-10 (104 pts) Home: 22-13-6 Away: 25-12-4
Boston: 41-29-12 (94 pts) Home: 21-16-4 Away: 20-13-8

Head-to-Head

Oct 22, 2007 - MON 6 BOS 1
Nov 8, 2007 - MON 2 BOS 1
Nov 17, 2007 - MON 7 BOS 4
Dec 6, 2007 - MON 4 BOS 2
Jan 10, 2008 - MON 5 BOS 2
Jan 22, 2008 - MON 8 BOS 2
Mar 20, 2008 - MON 4 BOS 2
Mar 22, 2008 - MON 3 BOS 2 (SO)
Montreal won season series 8-0.

Fights

Nov 8, 2007 - Steve Begin vs Jeremy Reich
Nov 17, 2007 - Tom Kostopoulos vs Andrew Alberts
Nov 17, 2007 - Andrei Kostitsyn vs Mark Stuart
Nov 17, 2007 - Guillaume Latendresse vs Zdeno Chara
Nov 17, 2007 - Tom Kostopoulos vs Mark Stuart
Dec 6, 2007 - Francis Bouillon vs Jeremy Reich
Jan 22, 2008 - Sergei Kostitsyn vs Chuck Kobasew
Jan 22, 2008 - Tom Kostopoulos vs Shane Hnidy
Mar 20, 2008 - Tom Kostopoulos vs Jeremy Reich
Mar 2, 20082 - Maxim Lapierre vs P.J. Axelsson
Mar 22, 2008 - Steve Begin vs Shane Hnidy

Lineup

Goaltending: DRAW
Scoring: EDGE Montreal
Defense: EDGE Montreal
Coaching: DRAW
Grit: EDGE Boston

Schedule

Thurs, April 10, 2008
Sat, April 12, 2008
Sun, April 13, 2008
Tues, April 15, 2008
Thurs, April 17, 2008
Sat, April 19, 2008
Mon, April 21, 2008

Prediction

A great rivalry in the first round. Unfortunately, I can't see this one being very competitive. Montreal just has too much speed and offence for Timmy and the Bruins to handle. This should be quick one, Habs in 5.

David's Pick

It'd be nice if Bruins fans could pick up a win at home. That seems like the best-case scenario for them here. Habs in 4, 5 if Bruins fans get a wish answered.

Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs Ottawa Senators (7)

Records

Pittsburgh: 47-27-8 (102 pts) Home: 26-10-5 Away: 21-16-3
Ottawa: 43-31-8 (94 pts) Home: 22-15-4 Away: 21-16-4

Head-to-Head

Nov 22, 2007 - PIT 6 OTT 5 (SO)
Dec 13, 2007 - PIT 1 OTT 4
Feb 23, 2008 - PIT 3 OTT 4 (OT)
Mar 1, 2008 - PIT 4 OTT 5
Ottawa wins season series 3-1.

Fights

Nov 22, 2007 - Georges Laraque vs Brian McGrattan
Dec 13, 2007 - Georges Laraque vs Brian McGrattan
Mar 1, 2008 - Maxime Talbot vs Antoine Vermette

Lineup

Goaltending: DRAW
Scoring: EDGE Pittsburgh
Defense: EDGE Ottawa
Coaching: EDGE Pittsburgh
Grit: EDGE Pittsburgh

Schedule

Wed, April 9, 2008
Fri, April 11, 2008
Mon, April 14, 2008
Wed, April 16, 2008
Sat, April 19, 2008
Sun, April 20, 2008
Tues, April 22, 2008

Prediction

Ottawa is probably the biggest question mark in the post-season. If this team could somehow turn it around, they'll probably beat Pittsburgh. Without Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher, I can't see that happening. Ottawa is a mess right now and Pittsburgh looks really good, and just got Gary Roberts back into the lineup... the only guy who showed up last year. Pittsburgh gets revenge in 6 games, if that.

David's Pick

The young Pens seem hungry and they should past the Sens easy this season. Penguins in 5.

Washington Capitals (3) vs Philadelphia Flyers (6)

Records

Washington: 43-31-8 (94 pts) Home: 23-15-3 Away: 20-16-5
Philadelphia: 42-29-11 (95 pts) Home: 20-14-6 Away: 21-15-5

Head-to-Head

Nov 2, 2007 - WSH 2 PHI 3
Nov 23, 2007 - WSH 4 PHI 3 (OT)
Jan 13, 2008 - WSH 4 PHI 6
Feb 6, 2008 - WSH 4 PHI 3
Season series tied 2-2.

Fights

Nov 2, 2007 - Brooks Laich vs Mike Richards
Nov 2, 2007 - Brian Sutherby vs Ben Eager
Nov 23, 2007 - Donald Brashear vs Riley Cote
Nov 23, 2007 - Chris Clark vs Scott Hartnell

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE Washington
Scoring: DRAW
Defense: DRAW
Coaching: DRAW
Grit: EDGE Philadelphia

Schedule

Fri, April 11, 2008
Sun, April 13, 2008
Tues, April 15, 2008
Thurs, April 17, 2008
Sat, April 19, 2008
Mon, April 21, 2008
Tues, April 22, 2008

Prediction

I like how TSN put it - "Good vs Evil", pretty much how I see the hockey community looking at this series. Alex Ovechkin and everyone's new 2nd favorite team vs all those criminals . What kind of leadership will Washington get when the going gets tough? You know the Flyers will lean on guys like Jason Smith and Mike Richards. Ovechkin can take care of himself, but The Donald will have to be policeman extraordinaire for the little guys. I think Ovechkin and the Caps will start off slow, but pull it off at home in game 7.

David's Pick

I believe in momentum, and I think the Caps have it going into the playoffs. The Flyers are going to do their best to wear Washington down, and unlike Jamie, I don't know if either team has a playoff goaltending edge. I'm going with the Caps in 7.

New Jersey Devils (4) vs New York Rangers (5)

Records

New Jersey: 45-29-7 (97 pts) Home: 24-14-2 Away: 21-15-5
NY Rangers: 43-27-10 (96 pts) Home: 25-13-3 Away: 17-14-9

Head-to-Head

Oct 25, 2007 - NJD 0 NYR 2
Nov 3, 2007 - NJD 1 NYR 2 (SO)
Nov 14, 2007 - NJD 2 NYR 4
Dec 9, 2007 - NJD 0 NYR 1 (OT)
Feb 1, 2008 - NJD 1 NYR 3
Mar 19, 2008 - NJD 1 NYR 2 (SO)
Mar 27, 2008 - NJD 2 NYR 3
Apr 6, 2008 - NJD 3 NYR 2 (SO)
Rangers win season series 7-1.

Fights

Nov 3, 2007 - Michael Rupp vs Colton Orr
Mar 19, 2008 - Sean Avery vs David Clarkson

Lineup

Goaltending: DRAW
Scoring: EDGE NY Rangers
Defense: EDGE New Jersey
Coaching: EDGE New Jersey
Grit: DRAW

Schedule

Wed, April 9, 2008
Fri, April 11, 2008
Sun, April 13, 2008
Wed, April 16, 2008
Fri, April 18, 2008
Sun, April 20, 2008
Tues, April 22, 2008

Prediction

These two teams meeting in the playoffs just seems right. I really can't pick a series-deciding factor for either team. Will it be the Rangers game-breakers? Will coach Brent Sutter be the difference? It's hard for me to pick the Devils knowing the Rangers absolutely owned them this season, but I'm going with them; just a gut feeling I guess. It'll be up to David Clarkson to get Sean Avery under control, I think he's up to it. Regardless, I think we're in for a long, fun series.

David's Pick

I want this to be one that goes the distance, but the Rangers owned the Devils this season and it's unlikely to change now. I think we'll see overtime at least twice, but outside of the last day of the season, the Rangers always knew how to come through. Rangers in 6.