2012 NHL Playoff Preview
By Nolan Stout
- New York Rangers vs. 8. Ottawa Senators
The Senators return to the playoffs after missing last season, but this trip will be short lived. The Sens are 3-1-0 against the Rangers this season, but went 6-7-2 over their last 15 games, dropping out of seventh place. Ottawa is not as good as New York. This Rangers team has something special going and are poised to make a deep run this season. The Rangers finished 9-6-0 over their final 15 and Henrik Lundqvist’s 1.97 GAA will send the Senators home early. Rangers in 4
- Boston Bruins vs. 7. Washington Capitals
The Bruins are back in the playoffs after ending a 39-year Stanley Cup drought last season and face a less-than-average Washington Capitals team. Nicklas Backstrom also sat out three months for the Caps and is not at 100 percent. Washington has also found a way to falter in the last four years when expectations were high. As a road team, the Caps are at a disadvantage with their weak 16-21-4 record away from home. Washington has broken a five-year streak of conference champions and Boston will break the Capitals early. Bruins in 5
- Florida Panthers vs. 6. New Jersey Devils
It is definitely a down year for the Southeast division as the Panthers won their first division title and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2000. The Panthers are stumbling into the playoffs with their young team after going 7-3-5 over their last 15. Florida is also not strong in big game situations with a 7-18 overtime record. In goal, Jose Theodore is struggling for Florida and Scott Clemmensen has virtually no playoff experience. These two will be matched up against Martin Brodeur, one of the greatest goaltenders of all time, who has three Stanley Cup rings. The Devils have much more experience than the Panthers and their 16-6 overtime record is best in the league. This shows they are ready to step it up in clutch situations and advance to round two. Devils in 6
- Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5. Philadelphia Flyers
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a phenomenal season despite the coming and going of Sidney Crosby due to concussions. Pittsburgh finished with 108 points, one less than the first place Rangers and three less than President’s Trophy-winning Vancouver. Crosby has only played 22 games this season, scoring 37 points, as he comes back from a concussion last season and suffering another this season. Evgeni Malkin has picked up the slack with 50 goals and 59 assists on the season. The Flyers have had a good season, but Ilya Bryzgalov has not performed very well in April. In 2010 and 2011 with Phoenix he was a combined 3-8 with GAA’s of 3.44 and 4.36. A change of scenery can do little for Bryzgalov and the Flyers, but the battle of Pennsylvania will be the series to watch in the East. Penguins in 7
WEST
1.Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. Los Angeles Kings
The Kings dropped their final two games in overtime to squander a chance at a division title or a number seven seed. They now have to face the Canucks, who won the President’s Trophy for the second straight year. Jonathan Quick has 35 wins and a 1.97 GAA for the Kings which will extend this series, but the experience of the Canucks and the hunger for victory in Vancouver will take this team further and keep the Kings out of the semifinals for the eleventh straight year. Canucks in 7
2. St. Louis Blues vs. 7. San Jose Sharks
The Sharks come into this matchup on a four-game winning streak and have won 10 of their last 15 games. The Blues are in the playoffs for the first time since 2009 and are making their second playoff appearance since the lockout. San Jose is no stranger to knocking out big names and defeated the NHL-best Blues in 2000. The Blues have gone 30-6-5 at home this season and that does not bode well for the Sharks, who sport a 17-17-7 road record. A dismal penalty kill by the Sharks this season will also open up the door for the Blues offense. St. Louis swept San Jose in the regular season and the Sharks will be singing the Blues this postseason. Blues in 6
3. Phoenix Coyotes vs. 6. Chicago Blackhawks
It’s a big season in the desert. The Coyotes won their first division championship, despite having fewer points than the opposing Blackhawks. The Coyotes have been lead by Mike Smith in goal and Ray Whitney on the front line. Smith has 38 wins and a 2.21 GAA and Whitney is thirteenth in the league with 24 goals and 53 assists. Also, Jonathan Toews has not played for Chicago since February 19. Even though he is expected to return for the playoffs, it is still uncertain what level he will be playing. The Coyotes are 3-1-0 against the Blackhawks this season and Chicago’s weak penalty kill might provide the edge a struggling Coyotes power play needs to get this team its first postseason series win since 1987. Coyotes in 7
4. Nashville Predators vs. 5. Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings are in a very unfamiliar underdog position in their twenty-second straight postseason appearance against a hungry Nashville team. Detroit has struggled over their last 15, getting by with a 5-7-3 record. While having a phenomenal 31-7-3 record at home, they have struggled away from Joe Louis Arena with a 17-21-3 record. This should be a goaltending matchup between Jimmy Howard of Detroit and Pekka Rinne of Nashville. They have the twenty-first ranked penalty kill and Nashville’s top ranked power play gives the edge to the Predators in this exciting matchup. Predators in 7
SEMIFINALS EAST
- New York Rangers vs. 6. New Jersey Devils
Rangers in 6
- Boston Bruins vs. 4. Pittsburgh Penguins
Bruins in 7
SEMIFINALS WEST
- Vancouver Canucks vs. 4. Nashville Predators
Canucks in 7
- St. Louis Blues vs. 3. Phoenix Coyotes
Coyotes in 7
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
- New York Rangers vs. 2. Boston Bruins
Rangers in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
- Vancouver Canucks vs. 3. Phoenix Coyotes
Coyotes in 7
STANLEY CUP FINALS
1. New York Rangers vs. 3. Phoenix Coyotes
Rangers in 5