Hossa Hurt in 1st Game with Pens

Alright, so the Pittsburgh Penguins give up their team's heart and soul (Colby Armstrong), a lower-end, but gifted, center (Erik Christiensen), a top prospect (Angelo Esposito), and a 1st round pick in a very deep draft for....Pascal Dupuis--and 10 minutes of play from superstar Marian Hossa.

Unfortuanately, I witnessed live the Pens' 5-1 defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins tonight. Hossa skated hard during his first shift, but that was about it. I believe it was early in the second when he went off with a "slight MCL sprain." The Pens were just plain flat (other than newcomer Dupuis). They weren't going for loose pucks and just didn't have any jump. I think losing Armstrong has really hurt team chemistry and has led to them losing their energy. I don't think people realize how important he was to this team. At a game I went to in Pittsburgh earlier this season (a 4-3 OT loss to the Rangers), Armstrong was a healthy scratch and it was obvious that something just wasn't right or normal with the Pens players.

A friend of mine told me that on the NY Islanders' broadcast of the Pens-Isles game the day of the trade deadline, they said that all of the Pittsburgh players planned a prank to play on Armstrong where they packed up all of his stuff to make him think he'd been traded...turns out he was and he was crushed. None of the players ever thought that a guy who could be considered their heart and soul would be shipped out.

To add to the bad news for the Pens, their flat play in the first and beginning of the second led to a few shoddy goals that got Ty Conklin pulled. M.A. Fleury didn't look bad for his first game back. It should be a good battle for number 1, I just feel bad for Dany Sabourin, who has been a great, reliable back-up all season and is now relegated to the number 3 position. At least he's a great insurance policy...

Jarkko Ruutu and Milan Lucic had a decent scrap, but way too much grabbing onto jerseys. Ruutu probably only got in one or two good punches after yanking Lucic's helmet, while Lucic got in some great punches and jabs. There was no take-down, but I'd probably call Lucic the winner. A video of the fight is below.

Lastly, Hal Gill is absolutely HORRENDOUS! I have no clue how he could be worth a 2nd and 5th round pick (especially in a good draft). I would struggle with the idea of giving up a 7th round pick for a man that can barely skate. Yeah, he's big, but he doesn't hit much and his lack of foot-speed caused at least one of the goals this evening.

If you have any questions about the game tonight, leave them in the comments please.

Deadline Deals

• Anaheim sends Brandon Bochenski to Nashville for future considerations
  

• Tampa Bay sends Jan Hlavac to Nashville for a 3rd round pick
  

• Atlanta sends Alexander Giroux to Washington for Joe Motzko

• Los Angeles sends J.S. Aubin to Anaheim for 7th round pick
  

• NY Islanders send Chris Simon to Minnesota for 6th round pick
  

• Los Angeles sends Brad Stuart to Detroit for 2nd and 4th round picks
  

• NY Islanders send Marc-Andre Bergeron to Anaheim for 3rd round pick
  

• Toronto sends Chad Kilger to Florida for 3rd round pick
  

• Phoenix sends David LeNeveu, Josh Gratton, and Frederick Sjorstrom to NY Rangers for Marcel Hossa and Al Montoya
  

• Atlanta sends Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh for Angelo Esposito, Erik Christiensen, Colby Armstrong, and a potential 1st round pick
• Ok, so the Pens are my favorite team, and at first I was ecstatic...then I saw what the Pens are giving up.
• The Pens lose a great prospect in Esposito, but I'm fine with that, but they also lose one of the best shootout guys in the league and one of the best locker room guys who is Sidney Crosby's best friend. I am not totally sure what the conditions are for this 1st round pick, but considering how deep this draft is, the only condition worth giving that away would be a Stanely Cup win.
• P.S. There is basically no way the Penguins will r-sign Hossa after this season as they need to extend Malkin and Staal. They are just taking the risk and going for it all this year.
• Note: My sources close to the league tell me that Atlanta was ready to pick between offers from Ottawa and Montreal, but Fred Shero (Pittsburgh's GM) came in at the last minute with this deal.
  

• St. Louis sends Christian Backman to NY Rangers for 4th round pick
  

• Toronto sends Hall Gill to Pittsburgh for 2nd and 5th round picks
• Pens got fleeced here
• Gill is a big defenseman, but his lack of mobility makes him nearly useless in the "new" NHL
  

• Vancouver sends Matt Cooke to Washington for Matt Pettinger
  

• San Jose sends Rob Davison to NY Islanders for a 7th round pick
  

• Columbus sends Sergei Fedorov to Washington for Theo Ruth
  

• Columbus sends Adam Foote to Colorado for conditional draft pick
  

• Chicago sends Martin Lapointe to Ottawa for 6th round pick
  

• Chicago sends Tuomo Ruutu to Carolina for Andrew Ladd
  

• Florida sends Ruslan Salei to Colorado for Karlis Skrastins and 3rd round pick
  

• Montreal sends Cristobal Huet to Washington for 2nd round pick
  

• Tampa Bay sends Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to Dallas for Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen, and Jeff Halpern
• Great trade for both teams, and I may be in the minority here, but I think Tampa Bay is the winner!

• Buffalo sends Brian Campbell and 7th round pick to San Jose for Steve Bernier and a 1st round pick
• Good deal for both teams.
  
• This may hurt the Sabres' chances for this year, but it helps them for the future.
• The Sharks needed a good puck-moving defenseman and they got him. They need to make a run now and Campbell will definitely help with that.

• Toronto sends Wade Belak to Florida for a 5th round pick

• St. Louis sends Bryce Salvador to New Jersey for Cam Janssen
  
• Nothing big, but at least SOMETHING has finally happened.
• NJ was looking for another solid d-man and they get that in Bryce Salvador while not having to give up much.
• The Blues get some added toughness they've needed since losing Dallas Drake

• 
  

No Sundin, No Tanguay, How Much is Left...?

Alright, so we're just at 24 hours before the trade deadline as I write this, and in the past two weeks there have been 3 trades, one of which can be deemed significant. I'm afraid Devils GM Lou Lamoriello may have been right when he suggested that he, "didn’t get a sense that there’s going to be an active market at the trade deadline."

Mats Sundin has decided not to waive his no-trade clause, a move that I can respect. It is his contractual right and by no means can he be blamed for exercising that right, despite what some fans and media may say. I do think that it would have been good for the franchise for him to do so, but if he can't play passionately for another team, they may not even want him.

Calgary GM Darryl Sutter made it clear today that he likes his team and will not be dealing winger Alex Tanguay. I think this is a smart choice. I wonder if this also means that he will be hanging on to Daymond Langkow and Kristain Huselius, both pending UFAs this summer. I understand that teams don't want to lose players to unrestricted free-agency, but when you are playing well, as the Flames are, and have the chance to be genuine playoff contenders (which is the reason behind all of this dealing, isn't it?) then why not hang on to your team, maintain chemistry, and go for it? I doubt either player will be moved, with Huselius being the more likely candidate.

So, with two big fish off the market, how much will really happen on deadline day? I agree with Lamoriello and don't think this year's deadline day will be as active as the past two (25 trades last year). Don't get me wrong, there are still some big names that will likely be on the move, but the overall activity will be nearly stagnant unless one big trade happens early to set off the rest.

The big names that I see moving are Marian Hossa (definitely), Brad Richards (likely), and Bryan McCabe (possibly), but beyond that there seems to be mostly speculation. If the Hossa deal happens today or very early tomorrow morning, I think it will open up the market for teams that were waiting to take a stab at him. But, if Waddell doesn't finish that trade until the last minute, I don't expect too much tweaking to go on between other teams. I think Toronto interim GM Cliff Fletcher will end up being forced to move some younger players signed beyond this year, like Alex Steen and Nik Antropov, as McCabe was the only one of Sundin, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, and Darcy Tucker, to even consider waiving his NTC.

I see the Sabres hanging on to Brian Campbell for the stretch drive and another playof push, as GM Darcy Regier usually dismisses the future when things are going well. If they have been having as much trouble as has been reported in signing Campbell, it would be wise to obtain something for him now as opposed to losing him after the season (Drury, Briere, cough!). If Campbell isn't moved, I see Regeir giving him a contract above market value some time between the end of the season and July 1 to ensure that he does not lose another UFA (mostly for the fans).

There is continued speculation that veteran LA defenseman Rob Blake will be moved, but he has stated that he has decided not to waive his NTC. Plus, he was recently out of the lineup with a stress fracture. The only way I see a deal going through is if it is to the Ducks (which I am not sure the Kings would deal with) or possibly the Sharks.

Players that have been speculated about that I don't see moving:
Michael Ryder, MTL
-The chemistry in Montreal is too good right now, and Ryder is just finding his game

Dan Boyle, TB
-Despite recent reports that new ownership has changed their mind and would like both Ricahrds and Boyle to be moved, I see GM Jay Feaster realizing how important Boyle is and getting him signed to a new deal after dealing Richards and freeing up some cap space

Antoinne Vermette
-Unless he is part of a deal for Hossa, don't expect GM Bryan Murray to deal this young, inexpensive gem

Ray Emery or Martin Gerber, Ott
-Not many GMs will want either of their contacts or Emery's attitude

Jarrett Stoll, EDM
-Too important to Oilers' future

Jaromir Jagr, NYR
-Sather wants to hang on to the aging veteran who doesn't mesh with his new centers when he should really be finding wingers that can play with Drury and Gomez

Glen Murray, BOS
-The Bruins and their fans love Glen Murray and hope his goal-scoring comes in handy for the playoff push

Border Players--only moving for the right deal or if someone will take them...
Olli Jokinen, FL
-Jokinen claims he doesn't want to go and GM Jacques Martin has given mixed responses. If the rumored Stars deal is real, I see him going there, or if some other team puts together a huge package he'll be on the way, but anything less than a prospect robbing won't due

Sergei Fedorov, DET
-the aging center still provides great two-way play, and would be an asset to almost any team's 3rd or 4th line, but his moving will depend on Gm Scott Howson's asking price

Patrick Marleau, SJ
-He'll only be moving if it is for a player of Hossa or Richards caliber, the Sharks need to be good now

John-Michael Liles, COL
-Liles' puck-moving abilities haven't been up to par this year and rumors have been flying around throughout the season, but he'll be staying put is GM Francois Giguere can't get another relatively solid d-man plus more in return

Other likely movers if there are takers: Vaclav Prospal, TB; Ladislav Nagy, Brad Stuart, LA; Dwayne Roloson, EDM; Marek Malik, NYR

So, I realize with my suggestion of an under-active trade market, I could be made a fool of if tomorrow is the biggest deadline day in history or something, but that's OK. I hope that does happen for the sake of enjoying the day and to listen to some facts instead of just speculation.

Peter Forsberg just signed with one of my two favorite team's the Colorado Avalanche. I swear I was planning to put at the end of my post that he could surprise us and come back, but I forgot to add it after I couldn't find the article I'd planned on referencing...darn!

MVP: What does it mean and who should it be?

I know it has been a while since my last post (college can get busy...and lazy), but I felt the need to post about something that has been irking me. Who should get the Hart Trophy? And by who, at least for this part of the post, I don't mean which player, I mean how should it be determined. There needs to be a set definition for this. The real question is, should it be given to the player that would be most valuable to any team (i.e. the best overall player) or the player most valuable to the success of the team that he is on. I think it should be the latter. If necessary, although it may be a stretch, to appease some people, there could be an alternate trophy for best all-around player. Actually, that is who the Lester B. Pearson Award should be given to ("outstanding player in the regular season as judged by the members of the NHLPA").

While this need for a definition seems to come up in my mind annually, sparking it this year was discussion of Nicklas Lidstrom being the top Hart Trophy candidate. As some of you know, I am an Avs fan and therefore hate the Wings, but I will concede that Nicklas Lidstrom is probably THE best hockey player in the world. He is incredibly consistent and makes difficult plays look easy. He doesn't always get the praise he deserves because he isn't flashy and is, from what I've watched and read, a pretty down-to-Earth guy. If you took Lidstrom off of Detroit's roster they would probably not be at the top of the league, but would likely still be in playoff contention. So, if they did give out a trophy for the best all-around player, he would likely get my vote, but he would not get my vote for the Hart Trophy.

The most valuable player to his team's success could be a few people, but my top two picks would be the Caps' Alex Ovechkin and the Canucks' Roberto Luongo. Ovechkin plays the game with as much passion as I've ever seen anyone play with. It's clear that he is out there to play his hardest at all times. Look at him after he scores a goal, you'll get it (especially an OT winner...) Without the ridiculous, yes, absolutely ridiculous play of Ovechkin, the Capitals would not only be out of playoff contention, but would likely be dead last in the league. I am not saying that there aren't some other contributing players, but when you watch some of the Caps' wins, it's pretty obvious. For example, last night's two-goal performance by Ovechkin that included the OT winner in a game in which Washington had been trailing 2-0 (and Ovechkin's first goal sparked the comeback). I remember another game earlier in the season in which Ovie scored the tying goal in the dying seconds of the 3rd period only to go on and get the OT winner. Also, his 45 goals are nearly 30% of Washington's goals for this season, not to mention the second leading goal scorer on the team is defenseman Mike Green with 14. If that is not most valuable, I don't know what is.

My inclusion of Luongo is partly an extension from last year when he really deserved the award just as much as Sidney Crosby. He was almost the sole reason the virtually goalless Canucks made it into the playoffs. While his game hasn't been as incredible as least season, Luongo is still providing the solid goaltending Vancouver needs to make a playoff push.

I am going to throw in a curve ball here as well and include Boston Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas as an example of extremely valuable. Living in Boston, I get to attend quite a few Bruins games, and I am telling you that this team would be nowhere without a goaltender as solid as Thomas has been for the B's. Despite improved team-defense, the B's still allow a barrage of shots on Thomas nightly, and it seems he stands on his head in every win and loss to give the Bruins a chance.

As I stated earlier, if the criteria for the Hart Trophy is deemed to be "most valuable to one's team," then the best way to determine that is to imagine that team without that player and where they would be in the standings. So, while Nicklas Lidstrom probably gets the Pearson Award award, I absolutely don't see how, on a team like the Wings, he could be deemed any more valuable to his team than Alexander Ovechkin is to the Caps.

Just for fun, I am going to give my MVP picks for each team. I am making the decision based on which player's removal from the team would make that team the worst (if that makes sense...) Feel free to dispute them in the comments:

Anaheim: Scott Niedermayer
While his return may have been disputed, his affect on the Ducks can't be

Atlanta: Ilya Kovalchuk

Boston: Tim Thomas

Buffalo: Brian Campbell

Calgary: Jarome Iginla

Carolina: Rod Brind'Amour

Chicago: Patrick Sharp
5 GWG, leads team in +/-, seems to play well when no one else does

Colorado: Paul Stastny
Although the team hasn't played as poorly as expected since losing him, it'll be tough to make the playoffs

Columbus: Rick Nash

Dallas: Mike Ribeiro
Stars would only have Morrow's scoring without this guy

Detroit: Nicklas Lidstrom

Edmonton: Shawn Horcoff
Might become obvious now that he's out for the season

Florida: Tomas Vokoun

Los Angeles: Alexander Frolov
While his point production may be below expectations, he's one of the few guys on the team that shows up on the scoresheet and his own end of the ice

Minnesota: Marian Gaborik

Montreal: Alex Kovalev
His increased confidence and two-way play this year has been invaluable to Habs

Nashville: Jason Arnott

New Jersey: Martin Brodeur

NY Islanders: Rick DiPietro

NY Rangers: Henrik Lundqvist

Ottawa: Dany Heatley
Argument could be made for Alfredsson, but the Sens have really hurt while Heater's been out

Philadelphia: Mike Richards

Phoenix: Ilja Bryzgalov
Proof: Look at the improvement of this team since he arrived

Pittsburgh: Evgeni Malkin (since Sid's injury, Crosby prior though)
Malkin has really stepped up his game since Sidney Crosby got hurt; Pens would be lost without both of them

San Jose: Evgeni Nabokov/Joe Thornton (couldn't decide)

St. Louis: Brad Boyes
Lighting it up and 3rd on the team in +/-

Tampa Bay: Vincent Lecavalier

Toronto: Mats Sundin

Vancouver: Roberto Luongo

Washington: Alexander Ovechkin


My next post (and there really will be another one prior to the trade deadline) will be about possible trades and what a few teams should be looking for.

NHL Jeff's Season Predictions

Analysis may or may not be coming soon...








1. Pittsburgh Penguins*
2. Ottawa Senators*
3. Tampa Bay Lightning*
4. New York Rangers
5. Buffalo Sabres
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Carolina Hurricanes
9. Toronto Maple Leafs
10. Atlanta Thrashers
11. Montreal Canadiens
12. Boston Bruins
13. Washington Capitals
14. Florida Panthers
15. New York Islanders









1. Detroit Red Wings*
2. Colorado Avalanche*
3. Anaheim Ducks*
4. San Jose Sharks
5. Calgary Flames
6. Vancouver Canucks
7. Dallas Stars
8. St. Louis Blues
9. Minnesota Wild
10. Nashville Predators
11. Chicago Blackhawks
12. Los Angeles Kings
13. Edmonton Oilers
14. Columbus Blue Jackets
15. Phoenix Coyotes

Stanley Cup Final Result and how NHL Jeff did with his prediction

Stanley Cup Final Results
Anaheim vs. Ottawa
Prediction: Ducks in 7
Outcome: Ducks in 5
I turned out to be right in my thinking that the Ducks would finally learn how to shut down the Sens' top line, they just did it faster than I expected. Anaheim minimized Ottawa's shots this series, but J.S. Giguere was huge in net for the Ducks when he had to be,m especially on the few 5-on-3 penalty kills. Sami Pahlsson came through both defensively and on the scoresheet, scoring the winner in my favorite game of the series, game 2 (Ducks 1, Sens 0).

NHL Jeff's 2007 Playoff Record: 10-5 (4 wins with exact game counts)

NHL Jeff's Stanley Cup Final Prediction

Click here for the full Round 4 Schedule.

NHL Jeff's take on the Final Match-Up:
Stanley Cup Finals

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (4) Ottawa Senators

Regular Season Series: None

ANA Key Players: J.S. Giguere (G), C. Pronger, S. Niedermayer, T. Selanne, "The Kid Line," F. Beauchemin, A. McDonald, S. Pahlsson

OTT Key Players: D. Alfredsson, D. Heatley, J. Spezza, R. Emery (G), A. Volchenkov, W. Redden

So, the time is finally here, the Stanley Cup Finals. Obviously, both of these teams have played so well throughout the playoffs, this is a really tough one to predict. One would think that if the Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley line can maintain their scoring touch that the Senators have the edge, especially when you add the superb defense they've gotten and the solid goaltending of Ray Emery, although, due to the strength of the D, I don't think Emery has seen the kind of quality shots and number of shots that he will see against the Ducks. This will be his ultimate test. Daniel Alfredsson has finally risen to the levels of play and leadership that were expected of him, and he is a top candidate for the Conn Smythe (playoff MVP) Trophy. It is extremely important to take note that the one game in the last series in which Buffalo beat Ottawa, for the first time in the playoffs, the Sens' top line was finally shut down; their not being allowed onto the scoresheet is obviously such a huge part of beating this team. As an aside, Ottawa coach Bryan Murray was the previous GM of the Ducks and was instrumental in obtaining many pieces of the team's puzzle. He knows the team very well, which could be an interesting advantage, but it was not one that seemed to help the Ducks' former head coach and current head in Detroit, Mike Babcock.

So, onto the Ducks. J.S. Giguere has been absolutely superb for Anaheim thus far and is also a leading Conn Smythe Candidate. In at least (and I stress at least) 2 or 3 of the wins against the Wings in the conference final, Giguere was the reason the Ducks had a chance of winning, and they often were lucky to put the puck in at the other end to make Giguere's work worthwhile. Ryan Getzlaf and Cory Perry really stepped up their offensive game, and Dustin Penner, the other member of the kid line was also solid. Teemu Selanne found a way later in the series to finally hit the net and it definitely paid off (see his beautiful move on Dominik Hasek in OT to win game 5--the turning point in the series). The most significant thing made apparent about Anaheim in the previous round is that everyone of their lines can contribute both on offense and defense. The checking line of Rob Niedermayer, Travis Moen, and Sami Pahlsson, as always, remained a huge defensive asset, but also majorly contributed on offense. Oh, and let's not forget that along with solid top-4 D-men Francois Beauchemin and Sean O'Donnell, the Ducks have 2 of the 3 best defensemen in the league in Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, who, playing injured (foot), by the end of the last series seemed to have finally returned to form. The Ducks also showed a lot of character in winning game 4 without Pronger, their leading scorer who was suspended for one game. The Red Wings did expose the Ducks as a team that can be somewhat streaky during games and that they are beatable when those times are capitalized upon.

If their big guns play like the stars they are and Ray Emery excels on this test of epic proportions, Ottawa could hold the cards in this series, but If the Sens' top line falters, and their other lines can't return to their regular season production totals, look for weaknesses in Ottawa's team to finally be made apparent. If the Ducks play like they did during the first 2 periods of game 6 of their previous series they will be incredibly tough to beat, even for Ottawa, but if they fall flat at any time during the series, look for Ottawa to expose their weaknesses.

Really, this could go either way. It is such a close series, and I will have no less confidence in my analysis skills if the Sens win, but I am thinking that Coach Randy Carlyle will keep the Ducks disciplined and on target while Pronger and Niedermayer, with a lot of help from defensive forward Sami Pahlsson and the rest of the Anaheim squad, finally find a way to slow down Ottawa's top line.

Prediction: Ducks in 7.

Conference Final Results and how NHL Jeff did with Predictions

A quick look back at the Conference Final winners:

Eastern Conference Results
Buffalo vs. Ottawa
Prediction: Sabres in 6
Outcome: Senators in 5
The Senators top line was just too much for the Sabres to contain. The one game that they were able to control the Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley line, they won. The Sabres were not the same team that they were when they won the Presidents' trophy during the regular season, and it showed. The off-season losses of grit guys like Jay McKee and Mike Grier started to finally show. If they end up losing both Briere and Drury to free agency, look for it to affect the Sabres less than expected. The depth of this team still hasn't even been realized, but also look for Regier to acquire some more grit this summer.

Western Conference Results
Detroit vs. Anaheim
Prediction: Ducks in 6
Outcome: Ducks in 6
The Ducks can thank J.S. Giguere for keeping them in the series when their play wasn't exactly up to par.


NHL Jeff's Record: 9-5 (4 wins with exact game counts)

NHL Jeff's Conference Final Predictions

Click here for the full Round 3 Schedule.

NHL Jeff's take on the 3rd Round Match-Ups:
Eastern Conference Finals

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (4) Ottawa Senators

Regular Season Series: Ott 5-3

BUF Key Players: R. Miller (G), D. Briere, C. Drury, T. Vanek, B. Campbell, but really, with this team, each player plays an important role.

OTT Key Players: R. Emery (G), D. Alfredsson, D. Heatley, J. Spezza, W. Redden, A. Volchenkov

The Rangers gave the Sabres a run for their money, but by the end of the series, the high-flying Sabres finally returned to their true form as the NHL's best offensive team. Their defense faltered at times, but when that happened, Ryan Miller was there to make the huge saves. Chris Drury came up big, especially with his game-tying goal with 7.7 seconds left in game 5. Had the Sabres lost that game, it would have been pretty tough to come back and win at MSG with the Rangers up. The Senators showed in their series that even one of the best defensive teams in the league can't stop their offense. Their defense was great too, holding back a New Jersey team that seemed to find an offensive touch in the first round. There's some bad blood between these teams after the brawl they had earlier in the season, and while I am sure this will be a rougher series than one would have originally expected between these two teams,, I don't think it will be as big of a factor as expected. Both teams' players know how important this series is and will likely leave personal vendettas behind. Look for the Buffalo offense to find ways to penetrate the Ottawa D and for this to be a pretty offensive series. That is not to say there will be a ton of goals as both teams are strong in net, the Sabres with Miller and the Sens with Ray Emery. Because I believe the defenses will be broken down, I think this series will come down to goaltending, and while Emery has been great thus far, I say Miller wins the battle.

Prediction: Sabres in 6.


Western Conference Finals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (2) Anaheim Ducks

Regular Season Series: Tie 2-2

DET Key Players: P. Datsyuk, D. Hasek (G), N. Lidstrom, H. Zetterbeg, J. Franzen, C. Chelios

ANA Key Players: C. Pronger, S. Niedermayer, T. Selanne, J.S. Giguere (G), R. Getzlaf, F. Beauchemin, A. McDonald

This should be an interesting series. The Ducks have had a lot of rest, which can be seen as either a negative or positive. I don't think Coach Randy Carlyle will allow the rest between series to hurt them as much as it did last year. They may have to take a period to get the rust off, but expect them to be ready. The Wings, on the other hand, are probably pretty worn out. They do have an older team, but their biggest issue is their depleted blueline. They showed that they could handle themselves without Kronwall, Lebda, and Schneider, but how long can that last? Lebda should be back during this series, which will definitely be a boost. Nicklas Lidstrom continues to be extraordinary, and 45-year-old Chris Chelios is actually thriving with the increased ice-time. This series will feature the games 3 best defensemen, which is definitely something to look forward to. Expect a low-scoring series. The team with the ability to penetrate the other's D has the best chance of taking this series. The goaltenders will also be strong. J.S. Giguere has played impressively so far, and I think the Ducks will work to get under Dominik Hasek's skin and also capitalize on his mistakes. While Hasek has been great thus far in teh playoffs, I just can't see him making it past this series. The Ducks top line has started to produce again, while also getting consistent production from other lines. Anaheim's Sammy Pahlsson-led checking line is the best in the league and can go up against any offense. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, and Holmstrom will have to work really hard to out-play the likes of Pronger, Niedermayer, and Beauchemin, and I just don't see that happening.

Prediction: Ducks in 6.

Round 2 Results and how NHL Jeff did with Predictions

A quick look back at round 2's winners:

Eastern Conference Results
Buffalo vs. NY Rangers
Prediction: Sabres in 6.
Outcome: Sabres in 6.

New Jersey vs. Ottawa
Prediction: Sens in 7.
Outcome: Sens in 5.
The Sens offense overpowered the Devils defesnse even faster than I expected, and while it wasn't his fault, Marty Brodeur was not true to his usual playoff form.


Western Conference Results
Detroit vs. San Jose
Prediction: Sharks in 6
Outcome: Wings in 6
While Joe Thornton's line continued to produce somewhat, the Sharks other lines faltered. Their powerplay was horrendous, which is what lost the series for them. In my opinion, Nabokov's giveaway goal in game 5 was the turning point in the series. Nabokov played well, and I think he is a proven playoff goaltender, but that was just a costly mistake. With Nick Lidstrom and Dominik Hasek, Detroit was able to keep pucks out of its net despite having a depleted blueline corps.

Anaheim vs. Vancouver
Prediction: Anaheim in 6
Outcome: Anaheim in 5


NHL Jeff's Record: 8-4 (3 wins with exact game counts)

NHL Awards Finalists and NHL Jeff's Picks

CALDER MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding rookie):
Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins; Jordan Staal, Pittsburgh Penguins; Paul Stastny, Colorado Avalanche.
NHL Jeff's Take: Malkin was amazing all season long. Yes, he started out on fire and slowed down a bit as the season went on, but he was definitely the best first-year player in the NHL. Stastny had a great stretch run while setting a rookie record with at least a point in 20 straight games, but his great effort did not push him past Malkin. Staal was amazing for an 18-year-old kid that was expected to remain in juniors this season. He started the season with the Pens because Malkin was injured, and he played so well that he earned a spot on the team, they couldn't send him back. That was an amazing feat for an 18-year-old kid, but I think he made this spot more for the publicity he's gotten while, based on play, LA's Anze Kopitar, and SJ's Matt Carle and Marc-Edouard Vlasic are interchangeable in that spot.

Pick: Evgeni Malkin


FRANK J. SELKE TROPHY (outstanding defensive forward):
Rod Brind'Amour, Carolina Hurricanes; Samuel Pahlsson, Anaheim Ducks; Jay Pandolfo, New Jersey Devils.
NHL Jeff's Take: As a big Chris Drury fan, I think he got snubbed here. He deserved a nomination for this award...but obviously we can't change the nominees. So, let's start by pointing out that the teams of these 3 players were all in the top 7 in penalty kill percentage for the year. Rod Brind'Amour had another great year for the 'Canes, but was unable to carry them to the playoffs. His defensive work in all types of situations was instrumental to the 'Canes keeping pucks out of their net, but did they keep enough out...? Pahlsson and Pandolfo were both huge parts of their teams' great success. Pahlsson is one of the most underrated players in the league and deserves a lot more credit for all of his effort. He may be playing with 2 of the 3 best defensemen in the league, but he is buy far the defensive anchor for a fire-powered offense. Pandolfo plays with many defensive specialists both with him at forward and on the blueline, and benefits from the overall defensive system that the Devils play with.

Pick: Samuel Pahlsson


HART MEMORIAL TROPHY (most valuable player to his team):
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks.
NHL Jeff's Take: All great candidates. It's hard to see Tampa's Vincent Lecavalier left off the list, but they take the top three, and these guys definitely deserve it. While Brodeur may have been the best goaltender this season, it can definitely be said that Luongo was the more valuable player to his team. With this statement, I agree. So many of the games that the Canucks won were won by Luongo. While Brodeur also won many of the Devils' games, I would have to say that he did so to a lesser extent. This may be some of my bias coming out, but of these three candidates, Crosby seemed to be most valuable. Yes, an argument can be made that the Pens definitely increased their top-notch talent this year, but Crosby set the pace for every win. His constant effort and hard work rubbed off on his team and he contributed to the better play of every Penguin that touched the ice. The kid played with a broken foot for the last two weeks of the regular season and the first round of the playoffs! Oh yeah, and he was the league-leading scorer....

Pick: Sidney Crosby


JACK ADAMS AWARD (outstanding coach):
Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres; Michel Therrien, Pittsburgh Penguins; Alain Vigneault, Vancouver Canucks.
NHL Jeff's Take: I would like to start out by saying that, while the Canucks played unexpectedly well this season (these teams' coaches are normally the ones up for this award), I truly don't think Alain Vigneault had the biggest part in making this happen. That man was Roberto Luongo. Without this goaltender, Vacouver likely would not have made the playoffs. Now, to the other candidates: Lindy Ruff is the reigning winer of this award, and once again took a team that wasn't expected to be outstanding and made them that way. The Sabres lost veterans Jay McKee, Mike Grier, and JP Dumont in the off-season, who were all integral parts of Buffalo's run to game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. The fact that Ruff was able to keep this team not only as good, but even better than last year's (they won the President's Trophy as the regular season Champs) was astonishing. While much of this can be attributed to the young depth GM Darcy Regier has acquired, but nay seasoned coach can tell you that coaching a bunch of guys without much experience is not the easiest task, which leads us to our next candidate. Michel Therrien's Pittsburgh Penguins were full of yound, raw talent this season. He was able to maintain the attention of these young guys and propel them into the playoffs. Yes, Therrien had the league-leading scorer, but Buffalo has great scorers too. To me, this is a toss-up between Ruff and Therrien, but I am guessing we'll see a new winner this year.

Pick: Michel Therrien


JAMES NORRIS MEMORIAL TROPHY (outstanding defenseman):
Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings; Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks; Chris Pronger, Anaheim Ducks.
NHL Jeff's Take: I definitely agree that these are the 3 best defensemen in the league. Some feel that Tapa's Dan Boyle got snubbed, and he did have a great season. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing him on the list over Pronger only because Pronger missed 16 games due to injury, although he also still had a career-year in points...It seems that almost every time the Ducks need a goal, it starts with a Pronger slapshot from the point that either goes in, is redirected in, or is put in on the rebound. Had Pronger played the whole season, an argument for his winning the Norris would be easier to make. Ducks' captain Scott Niedermayer is the other anchor of the Anaheim blueline, and he also is able to chip in rather extensively on offense. On the powerplay he plays the roll of the rover and often ends up right in front of the net. He led all defensemen with 69 points. Niedermayer was, surprisingly, only a plus-6. Nicklas Lidstrom was a plus-40 and was, in my opinion, the MVP of the Red Wings. His offensive numbers may have been down from last year (80 points last year to 62 points this year), but his defensive game was up and other Wings were contributing more on offensive side. He took on the roll of captain very well and, while personally I don't like him very much (I'm an Avs fan, he's a Wing...), he continued to be one of the top-three defensemen in the league, and because of the lesser depth of defensemen on his team, I am going to say the best.

Pick: Nicklas Lidstrom


LADY BYNG MEMORIAL TROPHY (sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct):
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings; Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning.
NHL Jeff's Take: This award normally goes to the player with the most points combined with the least amount of penalty minutes. This year that candidate is Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis, but then you look at the list and see a legend like Joe Sakic. He had his best season since 2001 while being the most respected player in the NHL. In my opinion (that of an Avs fan...) he deserves any and all accolades he is up for, and that is why I think this will go to Colorado Avalanche captain and future hall-of-famer Joe Sakic.

Pick: Joe Sakic


LESTER B. PEARSON AWARD (most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHLPA): Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks.
NHL Jeff's Take: Because this award is voted for by the players, I'd like to make it clear that despite his young age, Sidney Crosby has become a very respected player among his peers. Vinny lecavalier had a spectacular season in Tampa and won the "Rocket" Richard Trophy for leading the league in goals. He was definitely the Lightning's best player and the second best forward in the league. Luongo played amazingly well this season. Luongo was spectacular in Vancouver, especially considering who he had around him (which may give him an edge for the Hart, although I think Crosby will get that too), and players may take that into consideration, but they shouldn't. This award is supposed to go to the "most outstanding player," and that was Pittsburgh's Sidney Crosby.

Pick: Sidney Crosby


VEZINA TROPHY (outstanding goaltender):
Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary Flames; Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers; Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks.
NHL Jeff's Take: I'd like to start out by setting it straight that, despite the fact that 4 candidates were named due to a tie between Lundqvist and Kiprusoff, this is a two-man race. Either Martin Brodeur or Roberto Luongo will win the Vezina Trophy, I guarantee that. Kiprusoff had a decent year, but not his Vezina-winning season of last, and Lundqvist came on in the second half to blast the Rangers into the playoffs, but neither of these goaltenders played nearly at the level at which Brodeur and Luongo played consistently, all season long. Brodeur broke Bernie Parent's 47 regular season win total and Luongo tied it (although this wouldn't have happened without the benefit of shootout wins). In my opinion, Brodeur deserves the award more. They both had extremely solid numbers, but Brodeur's were slightly better. Brodeur was first in wins, Luongo was second; Brodeur was third in save percentage, Luongo was fourth (by the slimmest of margins); Brodeur was third in goals against average, Luongo was sixth; Brodeur was first in shutouts with 12, Luongo was sixth with 5. Martin Brodeur continues to be the best goalie in the league in the middle of his thirties. This was arguably the best season of his career. If this award was for the goaltender most valuable to his team, it would be Luongo's award, but it is for the goaltender that was most outstanding. Alright, so I've made it clear that Martin Brodeur deserves to win this award, but I didn't say that I think he will. Luongo has been heralded for years as a great goaltender playing for bad teams, and now that he has finally gotten on a competitive team, the media is loving every second of his success. While the GMs are the ones who vote for this award, I think they will take this into account and Roberto Luongo will win. For this prediction, I hope I am wrong and they choose the actual "most outstanding goaltender" of the season, Martin Brodeur.

Pick: Roberto Luongo

NHL Jeff's Round 2 Predictions

Ryan Miller and the Sabres hope to extend
their journey to Lord Stanley's Cup

As usual, the first round was full of surprises and disappointments...now the winners move on and the losers head to the golf course.

Click here for the full Round 2 Schedule.

NHL Jeff's take on the 2nd Round Match-Ups:
Eastern Conference Semifinals

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (6) New York Rangers

Regular Season Series: BUF 4-0

BUF Key Players: R. Miller (G), D. Briere, C. Drury, T. Vanek, B. Campbell, but really, with this team, each player plays an important role.

NYR Key Players: J. Jagr, H. Lundqvist (G), M. Nylander, M. Rozsival, S Avery, B. Shanahan

First of all, don't let the season series fool you because all four of those games were played before the all-star break, which was when the Rangers turned their season around. The Rangers have been hot, and they showed that in the first round by upsetting the Thrashers. While the Sabres won the President's Trophy as the league's top regular season performer, they showed some flaws in their series with the Islanders and will definitely have to step up to take on this Rangers team. Miller-Lundqvist is a great goalie match-up especially considering how much fire power each of them will have to face in this series. Michael Nylander lit it up for New York in round 1 and Jagr played to form. Sean Avery was a huge part of New York's first round success, and was arguably the most valuable player. He was able to stir up the Thrashers to the point at which Ilya Koalchuk fought. If the Rangers are to get by the Sabres, Avery will be a huge part in agitating, the young, skilled, graceful Sabres. Buffalo is capable of getting scoring from each of their lines and they have more defensive depth than they are given credit for. In the end, I'm thinking Buffalo's depth will prevail over the Rangers' hot streak.

Prediction: Sabres in 6.

(2) New Jersey Devils vs. (4) Ottawa Senators

Regular Season Series: NJ 3-1

NJ Key Players: M. Brodeur (G), P. Elias, B. Gionta, S. Gomez, B. Rafalski, Z. Parise

OTT Key Players: R. Emery (G), D. Alfredsson, D. Heatley, J. Spezza, W. Redden, A. Volchenkov

Ottawa showed vs. Pittsburgh that, like the Devils, they too can play a strong defensive system. So, assuming both teams try to utilize this ability, it seems the winner would come from who is able to generate more of an offensive spark. The Sens, despite playing more of a defensive system than usual, still did some great scoring in the first round, and if Dany Heatley (who was rumored to be nursing an ankle injury) returns to form, the Devils will need to watch out even more so. And, don't forget that Ottawa captain Daniel Alfredsson has stepped up his game back to where it used to be... Part of the offensive strategy for the Sens requires getting by NJ star goaltender Martin Brodeur. While Brodeur didn't start the first round at his supreme level, he rebounded and ended the series with strong play. Ray Emery was remarkable for the Senators, and for some reason I don't think he is going to let up. He doesn't have to be the best goalie in the league, he just has to beat the best goalie in the league 4 times in 7 games, and I think it can happen. Their triumph in the first round will likely be a huge boost to the Sens, and not in the over-confident sort of way. Zach Parise and Scott Gomez had great first round numbers for the Devils and will look to continue that. really either of these teams could take this series and possibly win the cup, but ultimately, I think the offensive depth (and overall depth for that matter) of the Ottawa Senators will breakthrough the brick wall that is Martin Brodeur, but it will be close.

Prediction: Sens in 7.


Western Conference Semifinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

Regular Season Series: SJ 3-1

DET Key Players: P. Datsyuk, D. Hasek (G), N. Lidstrom, H. Zetterbeg, J. Franzen

SJ Key Players: J. Thornton, P. Marleau, E. Nabokov (G), C. Rivet, M. Michalek, S. Hannan, J. Cheechoo

In the first round, the Sharks revealed a lot of weaknesses in an extremely talented Nashville team that was supposed to put up a tremendous fight, if not win. Expect San Jose's drive to be equal or greater than that of their first round win. Big guns Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau had great series, and Milan Michalek continued his vast improvement. Sniper Jonathan Cheechoo cooled off from his tear at the end of the regualr season, but that could possibly attributed to his injury in the first game of the series. Veteran defenseman Craig Rivet stepped up his game and appeared on the scoresheet on many nights and Evgeni Nabokov was solid in net. The Sharks' special teams should have a major impact on this series. Their powerplay was not spectacular against the Predators, and as a team with a great powerplay during the regular season, San Jose will need to improve to beat a Detroit team that is very strong 5-on-5. The Wings surprised many, myself included, and stood the test of the strong, gritty Flames. They proved to be tougher than many gave them credit for. Captain Nicklas Lidstrom showed why he truly is one of the best defenseman in the league by leading the team in points while also anchoring their blueline corps. Most importantly, Pavel Datsyuk learned how to score in the playoffs, and Henrik Zetterberg even contributed some as well. Johan Franzen went from being a minor producer in the regular season to a reliable scorer, but we'll have to see if that was just first round luck. Finally, veteran defensemen Chris Chelios, 45, and Mathieu Schneider, 37, showed that skill can definitely be maintained with age, and don't forget another veteran, goaltender Dominik Hasek, 42. Hasek was spectacular in round one, but we'll have to see if his groin will hold up with the long playoff grind. Both teams are well-rounded, but I have to give the edge in depth to San Jose. If they're young defense can withstand the playoff pressure, I see them taking this one.

Prediction: Sharks in 6.

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (3) Vancouver Canucks

Regular Season Series: ANA 3-1

ANA Key Players: S. Niedermayer, C. Pronger, T. Selanne, J.S. Giguere (G), R. Getzlaf, F. Beauchemin

VAN Key Players: R. Luongo (G), D. Sedin, H. Sedin, M. Naslund, M. Ohlund, K. Bieksa, T. Linden

The main question in this series is whether or not Roberto Luongo can steal it for the Canucks, because with the way their offense has been (not) playing, that is what's going to have to happen if they want to win this series. When the Sedin twins get on the scoresheet, the Canucks can win, but they'll need an offensive boost all around to beat a Ducks team that is well rounded with a fire-powered offense and the best defensive tandem in the league. While Niedermayer and Pronger are the key to the Ducks' defense, don't count out Francois Beauchemin. The game he missed in round one was the game Anaheim lost. He has been contributing in many ways for the Ducks, including on the scoresheet. Anaheim didn't generate all that much offense in the first round, but that was due to their changing their system to compete with the defense-first Wild. In this series, look for the Selanne, Kunitz, McDonald line to really step up their production. Ilya Bryzgalov had a great start to the series for Anaheim and Giguere had a great finish and seems to have reclaimed his number one role after missing some time due to family issues. Look for the Ducks to play a similar style to the one they played against Minnesota (a defensive team like the Canucks). They will be sure to capitalize on all of Vancouver's mistakes. I think Luongo has the ability to make this a very close series, but the Ducks well-rounded game will surpass Vancouver's defense-first system.

Prediction: Ducks in 6.

Round 1 Results and how NHL Jeff did with Predictions

Even with Marty Turco's 3 shutouts, the Stars
couldn't get past Luongo and the Canucks.

A quick look back at round 1's winners:

Eastern Conference Results
Buffalo vs. NY Islanders
Prediction: Sabres in 5.
Outcome: Sabres in 5.

New Jersey vs. Tampa Bay
Prediction: Devils in 6.
Outcome: Devils in 6.

Atlanta vs. NY Rangers
Prediction: Thrashers in 6
Outcome: Rangers in 4
The Thrashers' stars just didn't play like stars. Bob Hartley didn't do a great job managing his goaltenders, but the real problem was Marian Hossa. If the Thrashers were going to win this series, he had to be the MVP, and with just 1 point in 4 games, he wasn't even close. Kovalchuk and Kozlov also failed to impress. Atlanta GM Don Waddell is sure going to regret everything he gave up at the deadline only for a first round falter. I should add, the Rangers were hot coming in, and Henrik Lundqvist continued to be amazing. Nylander shone brighter than ever before and Jagr and the rest of the Rangers contributed as well.

Ottawa vs. Pittsburgh
Prediction: Penguins in 7
Outcome: Senators in 5
the Penguins showed their lack of experience in this series. Crosby and Pit's other young stars all continued to play well, but they just didn't have that extra edge and depth to overcome such a strong Ottawa team that was playing a great defensive system to shut down the Pens' explosive offense. Other than game 1, Fleury was great, and the Pens have a bright future ahead of them. Ray Emery was extremely sharp for the Senators, while Captain Daniel Alfredsson returned to his elite form.

Western Conference Results
Detroit vs. Calgary
Prediction: Calgary in 7
Outcome: Detroit in 6
Calgary definitely had their fair share of chances to take some more games in this series, but they just couldn't capitalize and were still terrible on the road. Miikka Kiprusoff, often hung out to dry during the series, was the only consistent performer on a team that never really reached its true potential. First year coach Jim Playfair's future is up for question as it should be. At numerous times during the series (such as the Jamie McLennan incident) he failed to maintain control of his team. Hasek was great for Detroit and Datsyuk and Zetterberg finally produced in the playoffs. We'll see how long it lasts.

Anaheim vs. Minnesota
Prediction: Anaheim in 6
Outcome: Anaheim in 5

Vancouver vs. Dallas
Prediction: Vancouver in 6
Outcome: Vancouver in 7
The Stars can thank Marty Turco for making this a long series. He was beyond spectacular and the 3 games that they won all came in the form of shutouts. Luongo was also amazing and as expected this was a goaltender's duel. The team that was able to bring a little bit of offense was able to pull off the win. Vancouver will have to find a lot more offense and find it fast if they want to put up a fight against Anaheim.

Nashville vs. San Jose
Prediction: San Jose in 7
Outcome: San Jose in 5
Nashville was very inconsistent. Forsberg was not what GM David Poile hoped for when he traded away a large portion of the Preds' future. He began the series with intensity, but was easily frustrated and took too many bad penalties at the wrong times. Injuries to Steve Sullivan and Martin Erat hurt them, but San Jose just plain outworked Nashville, showed more depth, and better offensive ability.

NHL Jeff's Record: 5-3 (2 wins with exact game counts)

'Tis the Season to be Jolly: NHL Playoff Season

It's been a long break, but NHLNow.com is back for the most exciting season of the year: NHL Playoff Season. The battle for Lord Stanley's Cup is on, and with the depth in this year's playoffs, it seems to be any of the 16 playoff contenders' to lose. For each round of the Playoffs, NHL Jeff will analyze every match-up and follow with his prediction of the winner and in how many games.

Rod Brind'Amour's 'Canes won't get a

chance to defend their championship.

NHLNow.com: The one stop for all of the Stanley Cup Playoff info you need!

Click here for the full Round 1 Schedule.

NHL Jeff's take on the 1st Round Match-Ups:
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (8) New York Islanders

Regular Season Series: BUF 3-1

BUF Key Players: R. Miller (G), D. Briere, C. Drury, T. Vanek, B. Campbell, but really, with this team, each player plays an important role.

NYI Key Players: R. DiPietro (G) (should he return form injury), W. Dubielewicz (G) (should DiPietro not return), R. Smyth, J. Blake, M.A. Bergeron

Buffalo is a team that many see as having a great chance to win the Cup, and with their league-leading offense and superb goaltending from Ryan Miller, I am one of the many. The Isles had a great stretch-run and an exciting final victory over the Devils to squeak into the playoffs, but I think their luck ends there. If they want any chance to surpass the mighty Sabres, they will have to hope for concussed star goaltender Rick DiPietro to return, or Wade Dubielewicz will have to be this year's Cam Ward.

Prediction: Sabres in 5.

(2) New Jersey Devils vs. (7) Tampa Bay Lightning

Regular Season Series: TB 3-1

NJ Key Players: M. Brodeur (G), P. Elias, B. Gionta, S. Gomez, B. Rafalski

TB Key Players: J. Holmqvist, V. Lecavalier, M. St. Louis, B. Richards, D. Boyle

Whenever Martin Brodeur (3 Cup Rings) is in a playoff series, it's hard to bet against him. The Lightning are lacking in the goaltending department, with Johan Holmqvist beating out Marc Denis for the starting position. If Holmqvist can show signs of greatness, the Bolts offense, led by "the Big 3" will carry them. They have a steady blueline, anchored by Dan Boyle, but play a much more open system than that of the Devils. Lecavalier and St. Louis both had career years and were each in the top 5 in scoring. If they can keep that up against the likes of Brodeur and Brad Richards turns it on for the playoffs, the Lightning will have a chance.
The bottom line of this series: Will Tampa Bay's scorching hot offense be able to prevail over New Jersey's seamless defensive system and their rock-solid goaltender?

I think not.

Prediction: NJ in 6.

(3) Atlanta Thrashers vs. (6) New York Rangers

Regular Season Series: ATL 3-1

ATL Key Players: M. Hossa, K. Lehtonen (G), I. Kovalchuk, S. Kozlov, N. Havelid, A. Zhitnik

NYR Key Players: J. Jagr, H. Lundqvist (G), B. Shanahan, P. Mara

While the Rangers and King Henrik have been hot lately, I can't bet against the Thrashers' offense. Marian Hossa had an MVP-worthy season. Kari Lehtonen may not have shown great consistency this year, but I'll go out on a limb and say that it's his time to shine. Jagr had an off year for his standards, but he is healthy and ready to go. If the Rangers want to stand a chance they'll have to count on his and Brendan Shanahan's leadership and Lundqvist's goaltending. I haven't seen the same passion in Jagr this season as last, and ATL gave up way too much at the deadline not to make it past the first round.

Prediction: Thrashers in 6.

(4) Ottawa Senators vs. (5) Pittsburgh Penguins

Regular Season Series: PIT 3-1

PIT Key Players: S. Crosby, M. A. Fleury (G), S. Gonchar, R. Whitney, E. Malkin, G. Roberts, M. Recchi, J. Staal

OTT Key Players: D. Heatley, R. Emery (G), D. Alfredsson, J. Spezza, W. Redden, A. Volchenkov

This is a tough call and by far the most exciting first round match-up. I can't see Crosby faltering under the pressure, and while I think Fleury's inability to hold the leads will hurt the Pens in future rounds, I can't see them heading out this early. Ottawa has a lot of fire power, but so do the Pens. If Heatley and Spezza continue where they left off in the regular season, and Alfredsson comes back to life, the Sens can easily match if not better the Penguins' offense. That said, the most important thing in this series may end up being goaltending. If so, I'd say Emery wins, but with all the passion in Pitt's locker room and veterans like Recchi and Roberts to hold things together, I can't see them letting up in the first round. This may be a prediction from the heart as opposed to the mind, but I'm gonna have to roll with it:

Prediction: Pens in 7.


Western Conference Quarterfinals

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Calgary Flames

Regular Season Series: Tie 2-2

DET Key Players: P. Datsyuk, D. Hasek (G), N. Lidstrom, H. Zetterbeg (pending injury status), T. Bertuzzi

CGY Key Players: J. Iginla, M. Kiprusoff (G), A. Tanguay, D. Phaneuf, Robyn Regehr

It's may be hard for some to imagine the Wings faltering again after their last few playoff appearances, but they just don't have a team built for the playoffs. Drawing a team like Calgary for the first round is not good for Detroit. Calgary is a very tough, gritty team that will likely wear out the somewhat soft Red Wings. Bertuzzi is a key because he is a tough guy GM Ken Holland brought in to try to toughen the team up. This is where we'll see how he did. A huge factor in this series will also be goaltending. This year, both of these teams can score. Miikka Kiprusoff didn't have the career season that he did last year, but he is still one of the best goalies in the game and has shown that he is capable of carrying a team through the playoffs. If Dominik Hasek can maintain his health, he could win this series for the Wings. Either way, when I see these two teams on a sheet of paper, despite the Wings amazing record, I just don't think they'll last in a seven game series with this Calgary team.

Prediction: Flames in 7.

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Minnesota Wild

Regular Season Series: Tie 2-2

ANA Key Players: S. Niedermayer, C. Pronger, T. Selanne, J.S. Giguere (G), A. McDonald

MIN Key Players: N. Backstrom (G), M. Gaborik, B. Rolston, K. Johnsson, P. Demitra

Ever since July when Ducks GM Brian Burke traded for Chris Pronger, the Ducks have been looked at as a very strong Stanley Cup contender, and they played that way during the regular season. They have, arguably, the 2 best defensemen in the league and have the ability to have one on the ice at all times. With all of that said, the Ducks still have offensive punch and great goaltending, with J.S. Giguere solidifying himself as the team's number one. If the young guns can take something from the experienced veterans, the Ducks will be in the finals. The Wild are looked at by many as a dark horse if they can get by Anaheim. They will try to ride hot goaltender Niklas Backstrom, who was great down the stretch, and if he falters, Manny Fernandez is more than capable of re-grabbing the reins. Marian Gaborik and Pavol Demitra have great chemistry, and Brian Rolston has become the heart of this team, but I think their time is up.

Prediction: Ducks in 6.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) Dallas Stars

Regular Season Series: Tie 2-2

VAN Key Players: R. Luongo (G), D. Sedin, H. Sedin, M. Naslund, M. Ohlund, K. Bieksa

DAL Key Players: M. Turco (G), S. Zubov, M. Modano, B. Morrow, M. Ribeiro

There probably won't be too many goals in this series. Both of the teams have become extremely defensive-minded this year and are two of the 3 lowest goal-scoring teams in the playoffs. If one of these teams' offenses is able to show some extra spark in this series, that team is likely to win. The Stars will look for increased contruinution from Mike Modano and continued production from Mike Ribeiro and Ladislav Nagy while the Canucks will look for the Sedin twins to maintain their levels of play. Canucks captain Markus Naslund must return to the prolific scorer he once was if this team is to go far in the playoffs. Most importantly though, both teams rely heavily on their elite goaltenders. Marty Turco is a great goaltender, and I would say that this is his year to finally show that he can be the same goalie he is in the regular season during the playoffs--if he wasn't playing Roberto Luongo. Luongo, with his Vezina-worthy season, is the reason the Canucks are where they are. Battle of the goaltenders.

Prediction: Vancouver in 6.

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

Regular Season Series: NSH 3-1

NSH Key Players: P. Kariya, S. Sullivan (pending injury status), K. Timmonen, T. Vokooun (G)/C. Mason (G), J.P. Dumont, D. Hamhuis

SJ Key Players: J. Thornton, P. Marleau, E. Nabokov (G), S. Hannan, J. Cheechoo, M.E. Vlasic, K. McLaren, M. Carle

If Joe Thornton can keep up his production during the playoff grind, that will be huge for the Sharks. Jonathan Cheechoo has started to come to life at just the right time, and the possibility of bringing back the magic between he and Thornton is a remarkable one. Captain Patrick Marleau will be counted on in all aspects of the game. This team has two great goaltenders. It seems that Vesa Toskala's injury led to Evgeni Nabokov claiming the number one spot in goal, and Toskala is more than capable of filling in. SJ also has a well-rounded defense and added some veteran depth with Craig Rivet. Kyle McLaren will be looked to in the physical department to rough up some of Nashville's skilled players. The Predators are a team that led the Western Conference for a large part of the season--and then to top it off, they added Peter Forsberg. If Forsberg remains healthy, he could tear up the playoffs and be the team's MVP. In 2002, he took off the whole season due to injury, then led the playoffs in scoring despite his team only making it to the Conference Finals. Paul Kariya can definitely score as can Steve Sullivan if he returns from injury. While the team's defense corps has no stars, Captain Kimmo Timonen, Dan Hamhuis, and youngin' Shea Weber have played with consistency. The Preds have two number one goaltenders in Tomas Vokoun and Chris Mason. Their numbers are nearly identical. Coach Barry Trotz will likely go with the more experienced in Vokoun, but should he lose even one game (with more than a couple goals against), I would imagine Mason will be given a chance. Overall, Nashville has a great team, and another early playoff exit seems like it will be a step back, but I can't bet against San Jose. They've been hot and have such a well-rounded team.

Prediction: Sharks in 7.