2019 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals Preview

2019-05-30

(D1) Florida Panthers vs. (WC2) Philadelphia Flyers

Previous Playoff Result:

Panthers: 2018 QF, eliminated in 6 games by Montreal

Flyers: 2016 QF, eliminated in 5 games by New York Rangers

Season Series: 2-1 Florida (Star: Sidney Crosby, 4 points *and a fight)

This could be the last hurrah for the Florida Panthers. With many of their top players set to become free agents in a few months, Florida is hoping for another deep run. Anze Kopitar and Alex Ovechkin created some deadly chemistry, almost potting 100 goals just between the two of them. Sergei Bobrovsky is one of the early favourites for the Vezina, as the Panthers were the best defensive team in the league this year. Philly is finally back in the post-season after a few years of missing out. T.J. Oshie has definitely carried the offence, while Pekka Rinne at 36 can still steal a series. At the end of the day though, it's hard not to say the Panthers are definitely the better team on paper. Prediction: Panthers in 5

(D2) Boston Bruins vs. (D3) Toronto Maple Leafs

Previous Playoff Result:

Bruins: 2016 QF, eliminated in 7 games by Washington

Maple Leafs: 2018 MRFHL Champions

Season Series: 2-2 Tied (Star: Jakub Voracek, 7 points)

Years of underachieving, the Bruins are back in. Superstar Jack Eichel gets his first taste of the post-season on a team he is definitely leading at this point. Sami Vatanen has been a force at the backend, with Frederik Andersen providing a sense of stability. Even with a team that has Joe Thornton, the Bruins enter the spring with 4 rookies on their team, making them one of the more inexpereinced teams left. On the other side of the rivalry sits the Maple Leafs. It remains to be seen whether the Leafs were coasting on a Cup hangover or that they squandered their division lead, unable to handle the pressure of trying to repeat. This author believes it is the latter. Yes we know what Dylan Larkin and James Neal can do in the playoffs, but that doesn't matter now. Zdeno Chara is a year older and a year slower and will be prone to be burned down the wing of the young and quick Boston Bruins. Though they know what it takes, and that experience is no doubt valuable at this stage of the season. Prediction: Bruins in 7

(B1) New York Islanders (QF-4 vs. (WC1) Tampa Bay Lightning

Previous Playoff Result:

Islanders: 2018 QF, eliminated in 4 games by Toronto

Lightning: 2017 QF, eliminated in 6 games by Toronto

Season Series: 2-1 Lightning (Star: Tuukka Rask, 100 saves on 106 shots)

The two previous victims of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as they started their run to two straight finals. One of these teams has to move past the Quarterfinals, and luckily won't have to go up against the Leafs (note, the Leafs will be eliminated in the 1st round). This was set to be an exciting match, as boths teams played each other really close in their first two meetings this year. Then an ominous meeting near the end of the season had the Lightning crush the Islanders 5-1. Tampa is led by two of the most exciting young players in the game right now in David Pastarnak and Mikko Rantanen. The high flying duo has propelled the Lightning as one of the better offensive teams in the MRFHL. Rask has been as dominant this year, but has showed up when playing the Islanders. While on the other side, the Islanders are top heavy in their offence but that's not a problem with 3 players topped with over 90 points (Kessel, Landeskog, Schenn). The defence is spectacular, but Ivan Provorov has been adept at logging the big minutes all year. This series won't come easy for either team. Prediction: Islanders in 7

(B2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (B3) New Jersey Devils

Previous Playoff Result:

Penguins: 2018 SF, eliminated in 7 games by Hurricanes

Devils: 2016 ECF, eliminated in 7 games by Capitals

Season Series: 3-1Penguins (Star: Ryan O'Reilly, 5 points)

If the last series was about the past losers to the Leafs, this series is about teams who have lost crushing game 7's. The Penguins were humilated last year, being shutout 5-0 by the Carolina Hurricanes. While the Devils were an overtime goal away from a trip to the Finals in 2016. In their 4 meetings this season, three of the games finished in a shoot-out. Neither team could grab any sort of advantage against each other. Whether it was the dueling netminders in Devan Dubnyk and Carter Hutton, or the marquee battle of Ryan O'Reilly and.....Alex Killorn? At the end of the day it will come down to whether Justin Braun and Brent Seabrook have enough in the tank to shutdown the incredibly dynamic Evgeny Kuznetsov and his Russian winger Evgeni Dadanov. Prediction: Penguins in 6.

Jour 25	Match 166
Avalanche	2
Lightning	1
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Jour 25	Match 167
Blackhawks	1
Canadiens	2
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Jour 26	Match 168
Capitals
Sabres
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Jour 26	Match 169
Mammoth
Lightning
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