Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Playoff Preview
| 1. New Jersey Devils 48-19-12-3 111pts vs 8. Carolina Hurricanes 38-32-9-3 88pts | ||
| Season Series: 2-1-1-0 Devils advantage | ||
| 10/27 | 3-3 Tie | 1 fight |
| 11/18 | 3-2 Devils in OT | 0 fights |
| 2/23 | 3-2 ‘Canes | 0 fights |
| 3/2 | 7-3 Devils | 1 fight |
| Notes: | Carolina, tied with the Boston Bruins with 88 points in the standings, wins the tie-breaker with 2 more wins. They might wish they didn’t. With this series we have a matchup looking like stingy defense against lacking offense. This seems like a no-brainer, but odder things have happened. The odds here seem pretty stacked for the Devils though. As long as Martin Brodeur plays his playoff games even close to last year’s postseason, the ‘Canes shall be no match for these boys from Jersey. |
| Key Stat: | Scott Stevens was a plus-40 this year, Sandis Ozolinsh was a minus-22. |
| Fight Fans: | New Jersey: 52 fights (9). Carolina: 26 fights (28t). Jim McKenzie fought This series has the possibility of being extremely boring, or extremely |
| Prediction: | Jersey in 4, add a game if Brodeur falls asleep during one. |
| 2. Ottawa Senators 48-21-9-4 109pts vs 7. Toronto Maple Leafs 37-29-11-5 90pts | ||
| Season Series: 5-0-0-0 Senators advantage | ||
| 10/14 | 4-0 Senators | 0 fights |
| 10/31 | 4-3 Senators | 2 fights |
| 11/25 | 4-2 Senators | 1 fight |
| 3/3 | 3-2 Senators in OT | 0 fights |
| 4/7 | 5-3 Senators | 0 fights |
| Notes: | Sure, the Senators had over 100 points this year. Sure, they beat the Leafs in all 5 games they played in the regular season. Sure, they’re trying to beat that non-physical style play reputation they have. Sure, they will be upset yet again. Can anyone expect anything less? I think Ottawa pulling through would be the true upset. Especially against such a rugged team like Toronto. This will be a hard-fought series. This is a rematch of last year’s Quarterfinals series. Toronto did win it in 6 games. Ottawa tried to regain their pride in the regular season. The question now: Can Ottawa shed the soft reputation? |
| Key Stat: | Curtis Joseph – .915 save percentage. Patrick Lalime – .914 save percentage. |
| Fight Fans: | Toronto: 50 fights (10). Ottawa: 33 fights (24). 3 fights in 5 games does not make the outlook good for fight fans. Both Roy is only a possibility in the playoffs. The passive play of the |
| Prediction: | Toronto in 7, if 3 games don’t go into overtime Canadian fans will be disappointed . |
| 3. Washington Capitals 41-27-10-4 96pts vs 6. Pittsburgh Penguins 42-28-9-3 96pts | ||
| Season Series: 2-2-0-0 no advantage | ||
| 1/3 | 3-2 Penguins | 0 fights |
| 1/8 | 5-3 Penguins | 0 fights |
| 3/3 | 4-3 Capitals | 1 fight |
| 3/7 | 4-3 Capitals | 1 fight |
| Notes: | These two teams will meet in the first round for the fifth time in 8 years. Can the Caps win this time? Doubtful. more than Mario Lemieux, Olaf Kolzig will be the ultimate key in this series. If Olie the goalie can stop the Penguins potent offense, the Caps may have a shot. After all, only 1 goal separated the teams after 4 games. |
| Key Stat: | Caps – 2 players with more than 60 points. Pens – 5 players more than 60 points, one being that guy named Lemieux who had 76 points in 43 games. |
| Fight Fans: | Pittsburgh: 65 fights (4). Washington: 25 fights (30). Both fights during the regular season were between Brantt Myhres and Krzysztof Oliwa. After Lemieux’s return, the Penguins acquired a series of tough guys |
| Prediction: | Pittsburgh in 5. The Pens will save their 4 or 5 OT game for the next round. |
| 4. Philadelphia Flyers 43-25-11-3 100pts vs 5. Buffalo Sabres 46-30-5-1 98pts | ||
| Season Series: 4-0-0-0 Flyers advantage | ||
| 11/4 | 3-0 Flyers | 1 fight |
| 11/22 | 3-1 Flyers | 0 fights |
| 3/1 | 2-0 Flyers | 0 fights |
| 4/8 | 2-1 Flyers | 0 fights |
| Notes: | Another playoff matchup with a regular season sweep. This is the fifth time in 7 years these teams will meet in the playoffs. Last year, the Flyers dispensed with the Sabres in 5 games in the first round. This year looks to bring a similar result. Like most playoff matchups, goaltending is looked at first. Roman Cechmanek and Dominik Hasek are the keys in this series. Cechmanek, a former backup to Hasek (on the Olympic gold-medal 1998 Czech team), will have to prove he’s more than a regular season fluke with a stellar playoff performance if the Flyers wish to advance. The lack of Eric Lindros is no problem, the Flyers have handled that before. The Sabres weren’t able to beat Philly with Michael Peca in the lineup. How will they play without him this year? Will the trade-deadline deals to get more offense cure the 2 goals in 4 games the Sabres had against the Flyers this year? |
| Key Stat: | The two Czech goaltenders are separated by .001 in save percentage, .08 in goals against average and 1 shutout. |
| Fight Fans: | Philadelphia: 67 fights (2). Buffalo: 38 fights (20t). The one fight was between Rob Ray and Todd Fedoruk. Surprising isn’t it? You’d think two tough teams with a playoff rivalry |
| Prediction: | Philly in 6. |
