2012 Playoff Preview - Eastern Conference

(1) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (8) New Jersey Devils

Offense:

It’s a very odd comparison between these two teams. Philly has the veteran Selanne leading the way, with big guns like Lecavalier and Krejci not far behind. While in New Jersey a couple of players have had breakout years, both Matt D’Agostini and Jason Blake have led the Devils to the playoffs.  Both teams sport two 40 goal scorers, so plenty of offense on both sides. Jarrett Stoll has been a huge pickup for the Devils with 37 points in 34 games since joining the team, and with his defensive side as well is a huge plus in the playoffs. The Flyers have a few guys who have been lackluster this year but if they step up, it could make for an easy run to the finals.

Advantage: Tie

Defense:

Both sides are led by a flurry of veteran defenseman.  The combo of Visnovsky and Corvo have been shut down on the backend, and the Devils will have to be mindful of Visnovsky’s 20 goals this year. Like D’Agostini and Blake no one has quite broken out like All-Star Brett Clark. Not only did he have 54 points this year on D, but he made sure the puck never hit his net, blocking a league leading 154 shots.  Both defenses are well rounded and neither will be making any mistakes these playoffs.

Advantage: Tie

Goaltending:

 Rick Dipietro wasn’t great but he managed to put up decent numbers to get into the playoffs, the Devils brought in Kiprusoff at the deadline and while he wasn’t great, the veteran had 2 shutouts in 11 games for the Devils. That’s one more than Tim Thomas got in 80 games with the Flyers, but one thing Thomas has displayed is consistency, and that’s what carried him to 52 wins this year. Really hard to argue with a guy who has put up great numbers all year.

Advantage: Flyers

Prediction: Flyers in 7

Devils have been the underdog all year, but the Flyers are just more well rounded and can be even more scary if they pull it all together.

(2) Florida Panthers vs. (7) New York Islanders

Offense:

 The Florida Panthers are a revitalized team from a year ago, with high powered guns like Jamie Benn, Sidney Crosby and Rick Nash up front there is a lot of top end talent up front. But they are up against a very similar Islanders team that won the cup last year, and its not hard to find out why. Maxim Afinogenov and Derek Roy had huge chemistry all year and that’s what got them both over 100 points, and in Martin Havlat who has been pretty good since joining the team.  While the Islanders have the better top end scorers, the Panthers have been more consistent through 3 lines, but its hard to argue with production on the top line though.

Advantage: Islanders

Defense:

The Islanders are strong on the backend, Mark Streit is definitely the shining force there with 70 points and 104 blocked shots, but the Swiss defender was a -7 this season. The Panthers on D are built from youth to veterans. The likes of Pietrangelo and Fowler to Regehr and Lydman, none more than Lydman who justified the big contract he signed in the off-season. Lydman did not score any goals this year, but was a +31 and played over 26 minutes a game, along with Pietrangelo. Add in the additions of Vlasic and Regher at the deadline it’s a much stronger Defense in Florida.

Advantage: Florida

Goaltending:

 The Panthers a few weeks before the deadline sent out All-Star Corey Crawford for another all-star in Jonathan Quick, who has been good in his short time in Florida. On the other end, Semyon Varlamov hasn’t been winning games by himself this year, but has kept his team in it every game. Watch out for his transition game though, he had 7 assists this season.

Advantage: Slight Florida

Prediction: Florida in 7

 The Islanders have cup experience going for them and have the pieces to try at it again, but the Panthers have more than 1 line that’s been scoring this year and that could prove the difference.

(3) Ottawa Senators vs. (6) Washington Capitals

Offense:

  Plenty of changes in Ottawa all year, except for their key threat all year in Nicklas Backstrom who was dominate all season long, add in the addition of Marian Gaborik mid-season who has been on a similar level, the Sens have a lot going right upfront. Thing is, the Capitals have been better, the Caps boast two players over 90 points, and a trio of 30 goal scorers. Both teams have 3 solid lines, both with a little grit and scoring. But the production was always there in Washington all season.

Advantage: Capitals

Defense:

 A little bit of a veteran makeup in Washington, with Tyutin who led the charge with a 135 blocked shots to go along with his 53 points. Over in the other nations capital they made the surprising move of shipping out there best defenseman in Drew Doughty. The Sens are led primarily of youth with anchored by veteran d-men Ed Jovanovski and Johnny Oduya.  But even with that, there does not seem like there is as much punch back there without Doughty.

Advantage: Capitals

Goaltending:

Jean-Sebatien Giguere has been the furthest away from being the best goalie in the MRFHL, but he has gotten the job done and has done well to this point, and if the past tells us anything he is a guy who can turn it on during the playoffs.  The Senators have a distinct advantage here, Carey Price has been out of this world good since coming to Ottawa. Averaging just over 2 goals a game, he could make life a living hell for the opposing offense and could make all the difference who wins this series.

Advantage: Already told you, Senators

Prediction: Capitals in 6.

Even though the Senators swept the season series, which leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of the Capitals. It could all come down to whose government is better.

(4) Tampa Bay Lightning vs. (5) New York Rangers

Offense:

 Dave Bolland was huge all year for the Lightning and a key piece to their success, but unfortunately so was David Legwand who is injured and is a huge blow to the Lightning offense. Over on Broadway, Alexander Steen was entirely different person this year with 97 points. Neither team’s offense is deep but they both can get the job done.

Advantage: Tie

Defense:

  The Rangers were led by veterans Brian Campbell and Andrei Markov, who are both excellent defenders and proved that this year, both being a +12 and Brian Campbell with 49 points. But over in Tampa, they must have been feeding their defenseman something unnatural.  The duo of Marc-Andre Bergeron and James Wisniewski were unstoppable this year, combing for 144 points on defense! Bergeron was 2^nd on the Lightning in goals  with an outstanding 36 goals.

Advantage: Lightning

Goaltending:

Both goalies in this battle are very comparable, and that is both were excellent. Jimmy Howard carried the load in New York and led the way 7 shutouts. Not to mention he had 13 points this year, which carries a huge transition game for the Rangers. In Tampa Bay, Rinne was excellent, with a 2.02 GAA, but unlike the Rangers, the Lightning didn’t need Rinne to carry them all year as they had backup Craig Anderson play 24 games who was very good as well. This gives Tampa the option if Rinne gets injured or struggles.

Advantage: Slight Tampa Bay

Prediction: Lightning in 5

 Neither team has a scary offensive group, but the Lightning D has the offensive weapons the whole league drools over, add in Vezina like year from Rinne, you have to watch out for the Lightning.