WESTERN CONFERENCE
FIRST ROUND
1. Detroit Red Wings
58-16-8 124 pts
1st in Central
8. Edmonton Oilers
41-28-13 95 pts
3rd in Northwest
Friday at Detroit, 6
Sunday at Detroit, noon
April 25 at Edmonton, 9
April 27 at Edmonton, 8:30
April 29 at Detroit, 2 *
May 1 at Edmonton, TBA*
May 3 at Detroit, 6*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Tied 2-2
Detroit has been the best team all season and everyone’s “Yeah, but . . . ” team. Yes, they’re good, but their goaltending is suspect. Yes, they can score, but they’re too old. Still, no team in the NHL has as much skill as the Red Wings. Manny Legace (37 wins, 7 shutouts, 2.19 goals-against average) has been better in goal than many thought he would be and backup Chris Osgood already has won a Cup. Top scorer Pavel Datsyuk could miss Game 1 with a thigh injury.
PICK: RED WINGS in five
4. Nashville Predators
49-25-8 106 pts
2nd in Central
5. San Jose Sharks
44-27-11 99 pts
2nd in Pacific
Friday at Nashville, 7
Sunday at Nashville, noon
April 25 at San Jose, 9:30
April 27 at San Jose, 9:30
April 30 at Nashville, 7:30*
May 2 at San Jose, 9:30*
May 4 at Nashville, TBA*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Tied 2-2
The Predators went from a potential Western Conference favorite to potential first-round casualty with the loss of goalie Tomas Vokoun. No team goes into the postseason hotter than San Jose, led by MVP candidate Joe Thornton. Nashville doesn’t have anyone to match up with Thornton and has been pretty average since the Olympic break. This is a series in which the Predators needed the goalie to win it and Chris Mason may not be up to it.
PICK: SHARKS in six
3. Calgary Flames
46-25-11 103 pts
1st in Northwest
6. Anaheim Mighty Ducks
43-27-12 98 pts
3rd in Pacific
Friday at Calgary, 9
Sunday at Calgary, 8
April 25 at Anaheim, 9
April 27 at Anaheim, 9
April 29 at Calgary, 8*
May 1 at Anaheim, TBA*
May 3, at Calgary, TBA*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Tied 2-2
Like the Sharks, the Ducks surged into the postseason in the final month. Led by right wing Teemu Selanne, defenseman Scott Niedermayer and a group of solid young players, Anaheim has survived with minimal offense and stellar defense with goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere (30 wins). Calgary is also strong in goal with Miikka Kiprusoff (42 wins, NHL-best 10 shutouts). At some point, the Flames’ lack of offense is going to cost them–but not yet.
PICK: FLAMES in seven.
2. Dallas Stars
53-23-6 112 pts
1st in Pacific
7. Colorado Avalanche
43-30-9 95 pts
2nd in Northwest
Saturday at Dallas, 2
Monday at Dallas, 8
April 26 at Colorado, 8:30
April 28 at Colorado, 9
April 30 at Dallas, 1*
May 2 at Colorado, TBA*
May 4 at Dallas, TBA*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Stars 3-1
Like the Red Wings, the Stars have been among the elite all season long, but without the recognition. Center Mike Modano (27 goals, 50 assists) has had a bounce-back year from a miserable ’03-04 campaign and Marty Turco (41 wins, 3 shutouts, 2.55 GAA) appears ready to make the leap into the realm of elite goaltenders in the NHL–that happens after long playoff runs.
PICK: STARS in five.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
FIRST ROUND
1. Ottawa Senators
52-21-9 113 pts
1st in Northeast
8. Tampa Bay Lightning
43-33-6 92 pts
2nd in Southeast
Friday at Ottawa, 6
Sunday at Ottawa, 5
April 25 at Tampa Bay, 6
April 27 at Tampa Bay, 6
April 29 at Ottawa, 6*
May 1 at Tampa Bay, 6*
May 3 at Ottawa, 6*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Sens 4-0
With Dominik Hasek still out, the task of taking the Senators to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time falls to Ray Emery, who has had an outstanding season (23 wins, 3 shutouts, 2.82 GAA) but never has felt the pressure of playing in the spring. Fortunately for Emery, he plays for one of the most explosive teams in the NHL and will be playing against a team that has had goaltending issues all season. Emery will survive and Tampa Bay’s reign as champions will end.
PICK: SENATORS in five.
4. Buffalo Sabres
52-24-6 110 pts
2nd in Northeast
5. Philadelphia Flyers
45-26-11 101 pts
2nd in Atlantic
Saturday at Buffalo, 6
Monday at Buffalo, 6
April 26 at Philadelphia, 6
April 28 at Philadelphia, 6
April 30 at Buffalo, 1*
May 2 at Philadelphia, 6*
May 4 at Buffalo, 6*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Sabres 3-1
Buffalo has been one of the best and quietest stories all season. The Sabres provide a blueprint for the new NHL–fast and skilled with good goaltending. The Flyers were a chic choice by many to win the Stanley Cup this season, but have been very inconsistent and have had to deal with injuries all season to Peter Forsberg. Goaltending is also an issue. Robert Esche will be the starter, though rookie Antero Niitymaki is ready if Esche falters.
PICK: SABRES in seven
3. New Jersey Devils
46-27-9 101 pts
1st in Atlantic
6. New York Rangers
44-26-12 100 pts
3rd in Atlantic
Saturday at New Jersey, 2
Monday at New Jersey, 6
April 26 at New York, 6
April 29 at New York, 2
April 30 at New Jersey, 5*
May 2 at New York, 6*
May 4 at New Jersey, TBA*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Tied 4-4
The Devils enter the postseason with 11 straight wins. In Martin Brodeur, they have the most accomplished playoff goaltender in the tournament and two dynamic players in Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta. But . . . Jaromir Jagr appears to be on a mission, Henrik Lundqvist–he of the Olympic gold medal–is back in goal and the stars seem to be aligned. Are the Rangers as good as 1994? No. But they may be good enough in what could be the year’s best first-round series.
PICK: RANGERS in seven
2. Carolina Hurricanes
52-22-8 112 pts
1st in Southeast
7. Montreal Canadiens
42-31-9 93 pts
3rd in Northeast
Saturday at Carolina, 6
Monday at Carolina, 6
April 26 at Montreal, 6
April 28 at Montreal, 6
April 30 at Carolina, 6:30*
May 2 at Montreal, 6*
May 4 at Carolina, 6*
* if necessary; all times p.m.
Season series: Canes 4-0
Another potent team, the Hurricanes scored 294 goals this season, second only to Ottawa in the East. Carolina’s goaltending is fine, not great, but the Canes have found a way to win all season. The Canadiens made a surge in the second half after GM Bob Gainey went behind the bench and put his trust in goalie Cristobol Huet (7 shutouts, 2.20 GAA). Carolina has too much firepower, though; they outscored Montreal 25-9 in sweeping the season series.
PICK: HURRICANES in five
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Red Wings vs. Sharks
Season series: Red Wings 3-1
As an eight-seed, the Sharks upset the Red Wings in 1994. They are a much better team now, but then so are the Wings. This could be the last go-around from some of the Wings and they will be sure it lasts as long as possible. Joe Thornton has carried San Jose since December, but it takes more than one superstar to beat Detroit in a long series.
PICK: RED WINGS in seven
Stars vs. Flames
Season series: Stars 3-1
Back in 1995, Jarome Iginla was traded from the Dallas Stars to Calgary for Joe Nieuwendyk, who helped Dallas win the Stanley Cup a couple of years later. After going season after season not making the playoffs in Calgary, Iginla led the Flames to the seventh game of the Cup Finals in ’03-04 before falling to Tampa Bay. Iginla will have to wait at least another year before getting back to the Finals.
PICK: STARS in seven
CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
Senators vs. Rangers
Season series: Senators 3-1
Now the klieg lights get brighter on Ray Emery and the Senators, who have a history of underachieving in the playoffs. Perhaps by now the Rangers get Steve Rucchin and Martin Rucinsky back from injuries, an inspirational lift, and an even more energized Jaromir Jagr behind a fanatical Madison Square Garden audience. There is speed galore in this series, but the Rangers need to keep things tight to keep the pressure on Emery. The best player in this series is Jagr and he could be the difference.
PICK: RANGERS in six
Hurricanes vs. Sabres
Season series: Hurricanes 3-1
A potentially thrilling series that no one outside of Buffalo and Raleigh will watch or pay attention to. Both teams are pretty even in terms of skill and scoring ability so the difference will come down to goaltending. Buffalo rates an edge here.
PICK: SABRES in six
CONFERENCE FINALS
Red Wings vs. Stars
Season series: Tied 2-2
Can Marty Turco win this series forthe Stars? That will be the question in what could be a classic series between the two best teams in the conference all season. Dallas’ best hope may be to keep it a low-scoring series because the Wings have enough offensive firepower to run-and-gun with anyone. A more tightly played series could put added pressure on Wings goalie Manny Legace, who never has been asked to take a team to the Stanley Cup Finals before. Still, it’s hard to bet against the RedWings, who have been way above everyone else all season.
PICK: RED WINGS in seven
CONFERENCE FINALS
Rangers vs. Sabres
Season series: 2-2
An all-New York matchup. Back in 1994 when the Rangers won the Cup, hockey was poised–some said–to pass the NBA in terms of popularity. Then the first half of the next season was lost in a labor dispute that sent the NHL’s fortunes sinking. Now, after another labor dispute, the league just held a strong coming-out party and once again, it’s the Rangers and New York that will put hockey back in the limelight.
PICK: RANGERS in six
STANLEY CUP FINALS
Red Wings vs. Rangers
Season series: Red WIngs 1-0
The NHL hasn’t had two Original Six teams meet in the Finals since Montreal beat the Rangers in 1979 for the last of their four straight Cup triumphs. The Red Wings beat the Rangers in seven games back in 1950. The Cup will be skated around the Garden for the first time since 1994, but it will be the Red Wings carrying it.
PICK: RED WINGS IN SIX
