Conference Semifinals Preview 2008

Montreal Canadiens (1) vs Philadelphia Flyers (6)

Records

Montreal: 47-25-10 (104 pts) Home: 22-13-6 Away: 25-12-4
Philadelphia: 42-29-11 (95 pts) Home: 20-14-6 Away: 21-15-5
Both teams needed 7 games to knock off their first round opponent.

Head-to-Head

Nov 1, 2007 - MON 5 PHI 2
Dec 13, 2007 - MON 4 PHI 1
Feb 16, 2008 - MON 1 PHI 0
Feb 17, 2008 - MON 5 PHI 3
Montreal swept the season series 4-0.

Fighting

Nov 1, 2007 - Michael Komisarek vs Scott Hartnell
Nov 1, 2007 - Tom Kostopoulos vs Ben Eager
Feb 17, 2008 - Steve Begin vs Jason Smith

Lineup

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

Schedule

Thu, April 24, 2008
Sat, April 26, 2008
Mon, April 28, 2008
Wed, April 30, 2008
Sat, May 3, 2008
Sun, May 4, 2008
Tue, May 6, 2008

Key for Montreal

Time to wake the power play up. After having the league's best during the regular season, they're operating at under 10%.

Key for Philadelphia

Get to the kids. The Flyers did just about everything they could to get Alex Ovechkin off his game but he's got ice in his veins. Hit them every time they touch the puck and get traffic in front of Carey Price.

My Prediction

As much as it pains me, I'm taking the upset. If Mike Richards & co. can repeat their performance against Ovechkin, they'll cause fits for the Montreal forwards. Philly is getting solid goaltending from Martin Biron and Montreal didn't look very good against 8th place Boston.

David's Pick

Both teams looked very human in the first round, and potentially slower bodies benefits the Flyers. Speed, power play and hitting are all out the window if Carey Price plays well. He had a few lapses in the first round, but prevailed in the end. The Flyers aren't going to let up. Habs in a shaky 7.

Pittsburgh Penguins (2) vs New York Rangers (5)

Records

Pittsburgh: 47-27-8 (102 pts) Home: 26-10-5 Away: 21-16-3
NY Rangers: 43-27-10 (96 pts) Home: 25-13-3 Away: 17-14-9
Pittsburgh swept the Sens and New York needed 5 games to eliminate New Jersey.

Head-to-Head

Oct 23, 2007 - PIT 1 NYR 0
Nov 8, 2007 - PIT 2 NYR 4
Nov 17, 2007 - PIT 3 NYR 4 (OT)
Dec 18, 2007 - PIT 0 NYR 4
Jan 14, 2008 - PIT 4 NYR 1
Mar 18, 2008 - PIT 2 NYR 5
Mar 30, 2008 - PIT 3 NYR 1
Mar 31, 2008 - PIT 1 NYR 2 (OT)
New York won season series 5-3.

Fighting

Nov 17, 2007 - Jarkko Ruutu vs Brandon Dubinsky
Jan 14, 2008 - Georges Laraque vs Colton Orr
Jan 14, 2008 - Adam Hall vs Marc Staal
Mar 30, 2008 - Kristopher Letang vs Marc Staal
Mar 31, 2008 - Ryan Malone vs Sean Avery

Lineup

Goaltending: DRAW
Scoring: EDGE Pittsburgh
Defense: EDGE NY Rangers
Coaching: DRAW
Grit: DRAW

Schedule

Fri, April 25, 2008
Sun, April 27, 2008
Tue, April 29, 2008
Thu, May 1, 2008
Sun, May 4, 2008
Mon, May 5, 2008
Wed, May 7, 2008

Key for Pittsburgh

Neutralize Sean Avery. He'll target Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Marc-Andre Fleury and did a masterful job against the New Jersey Devils. It'll be up to fellow pest Jarkko Ruutu to fight fire with fire and try and get Sean Avery and the rest of the Rangers to take a bad penalty or two. I'm sure Geroges Laraque will have a few words for Sean.

Key for NY Rangers

Score. The Rangers offense was clicking against the defensive Devils. If New York is planning on grinding out 1-0 wins, I don't like their chances. To beat the dangerous Pens, they'll need a number of 3 or 4 goal games.

My Prediction

Penguins in 6. I think this has the potential to be the best second round match-up. If people were sick of Avery's antics against the Devils, just wait for round 2. His glove/stick will be in Crosby's face every chance he gets. Still, Pittsburgh has too many weapons. Fleury has been incredible since returning from injury and I can't see New York having an answer for Pittsburgh's offense.

David's Pick

The Rangers had no trouble with the Devils, but the young Pens rolling over the Senators was more impressive. The Rangers only chance in the series is to contain the Penguins' firepower, but I wouldn't bet on that. Pens in 5.

Detroit Red Wings (1) vs Colorado Avalanche (6)

Records

Detroit: 54-21-7 (115 pts) Home: 29-9-3 Away: 25-12-4
Colorado: 44-31-7 (95 pts) Home: 27-12-2 Away: 17-19-5

Head-to-Head

Dec 27, 2007 - DET 4 COL 2
Jan 8, 2008 - DET 1 COL 0
Feb 1, 2008 - DET 2 COL 0
Feb 18, 2008 - DET 4 COL 0
Detroit swept the season series 4-0.

Fighting

Feb 18, 2008 - Aaron Downey vs Ian Laperriere

Lineup

Goaltending: DRAW
Scoring: DRAW
Defense: EDGE Detroit
Coaching: DRAW
Grit: EDGE Colorado

Schedule

Thu, April 24, 2008
Sat, April 26, 2008
Tue, April 29, 2008
Thu, May 1, 2008
Sat, May 3, 2008
Mon, May 5, 2008
Wed, May 7, 2008

Key for Detroit

The Defense. The Wings are led again by this year's sure-fire Norris winner Nicklas Lidstrom. Detroit averaged only 24 shots against and the back-end can certainly pitch in offensively. Another tip: Leave Dominik Hasek on the bench.

Key for Colorado

Stay Healthy. After struggling with major injuries for most of the season, the Avs boast a fairly deep lineup. Recently added Adam Foote is playing like he did during his last tenure in Colorado.

My Prediction

Colorado is turning back the clock. Jose Theodore is looking more like the Hart trophy winner of 2002, and they've reunited the old gang. But when it comes down to it, it's hard to bet against Joe Sakic. Avs in 6.

David's Pick

I wish these two teams would turn back the clock even further and give us the late 90s rivalry we once saw, but it's unlikely to repeat, so don't fall for the Patrick Roy vs Chris Osgood or Mike Vernon highlights you will definitely see on TV. This Detroit team is just as stacked as the former Cup winners, and the outcome of this series will look similar to the regular season. Wings in 5.

San Jose Sharks (2) vs Dallas Stars (5)

Records

San Jose: 49-23-10 (108 pts) Home: 22-13-6 Away: 27-10-4
Dallas: 45-30-7 (97 pts) Home: 23-16-2 Away: 22-14-5
San Jose needed all 7 games to beat Calgary and Dallas defeated Anaheim in 6.

Head-to-Head

Oct 29, 2007 - SJ 4 DAL 2
Nov 7, 2007 - SJ 1 DAL 3
Nov 14, 2007 - SJ 4 DAL 3 (SO)
Dec 5, 2007 - SJ 3 DAL 2
Dec 15, 2007 - SJ 2 DAL 4
Jan 17, 2008 - SJ 2 DAL 4
Mar 27, 2008 - SJ 3 DAL 2 (OT)
Apr 6, 2008 - SJ 2 DAL 4
Season series tied 4-4.

Fighting

Oct 29, 2007 - Steve Bernier vs Brenden Morrow
Oct 29, 2007 - Doug Murray vs Todd Fedoruk
Dec 15, 2007 - Craig Rivet vs Steve Ott
Jan 17, 2008 - Craig Rivet vs Trevor Daley
Mar 27, 2008 - Kyle McLaren vs B.J. Crombeen
Apr 6, 2008 - Kyle McLaren vs Krys Barch
Apr 6, 2008 - Joe Thornton vs Steve Ott
Apr 6, 2008 - Milan Michalek vs B.J. Crombeen
Apr 6, 2008 - Doug Murray vs B.J. Crombeen
Apr 6, 2008 - Jody Shelley vs Steve Ott

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE San Jose
Scoring: DRAW
Defense: DRAW
Coaching: EDGE San Jose
Grit: EDGE Dallas

Schedule

Fri, April 25, 2008
Sun, April 27, 2008
Tue, April 29, 2008
Wed, April 30, 2008
Fri, May 2, 2008
Sun, May 4, 2008
Tue, May 6, 2008

Key for San Jose

Joe Thornton, who else. If you're looking for San Jose to succeed, he's the first guy you look to, and with good reason. Another solid regular season, but so far a fairly average playoff performance. He wasn't bad against the Flames, but he's going to need to be better. If he picks up his game, maybe he can bring along Milan Michalek with him.

Key for Dallas

Marty Turco. Just like Thornton, blame usually falls on Turco for Dallas' playoff disappointments. But last year Turco played great even though the Stars had a first round exit. So far, so good for Turco, as he's played well as Dallas knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champs.

My Prediction

This is basically a coin flip. Dallas looks great in upsetting Anaheim and while San Jose showed some weaknesses, they displayed great character in knocking off the Flames. Will the extra rest Dallas had play a factor? Judging by the last game of the season, both teams aren't going to be very friendly at the end of this. Coin says heads, Sharks take advantage of home ice in 7.

David's Pick

Turco was great in net the first round, but Evgeni Nabokov is rightfully nominated for the Vezina trophy. If the goaltenders cancel each other out, San Jose is just too deep for the Stars to beat. Sharks in 6.