Eastern Conference Playoff Preview

In a season where literally anything was possible, hockey fans were given the unfathomable. It was a season where teams sprung up out of nowhere to make the playoffs and a season where sure-fire playoff teams had struggling points. We saw an unimaginable points streak by the Blackhawks and saw an incredible turnaround by the Washington Capitals. We saw the Red Wings almost miss the playoffs in the first time in 22 years as the Blue Jackets threatened to steal a playoff spot in the West. And, of course, we saw the Islanders and Maple Leafs, two cursed franchises, make the playoffs.

The storylines for this shortened season were endless and in the last couple of months, we have 16 teams who will battle for the ultimate prize.

These first round matchups should give us some good hockey so let's jump in.



EAST

 1. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 8. New York Islanders

1) Jarome Iginla
Much like Ray Bourque in 2001, the Pittsburgh Penguins have, probably, the most-liked player in the NHL, Jarome Iginla. Iginla is a hard working, skilled forward who's played in Calgary forever and has yet to win the Stanley Cup. Now that he's with a Stanley Cup contender, all eyes are on him.

2) The Islanders Are Good?
As Down Goes Brown put it:

The team hasn’t won a playoff round in 20 years. In that time, their fans have had to suffer through 13 seasons without the playoffs, five consecutive last-place finishes, Mike Milbury, Alexei Yashin, Rick DiPietro, the worst arena in the league, and annual relocation rumours. And now, after two decades, John Tavares and a rebuilt roster have finally given them something to feel good about.

If you don’t want something good to happen to New York Islander fans, you are a legitimately a horrible person and your parents did a bad job raising you.

3) Which Marc-Andre Fleury Will We See?

I don't need to remind you what happened to the All-Star goalie last season. But Fleury bounced back nicely this year, posting solid numbers and getting 23 victories.

So which Fleury will we see? The one who gave up 26 goals in 6 games or the one who was 4th in the league in wins.

4) Sidney Crosby's Health

Crosby claimed he was better and ready to play once he was cleared after missing several weeks with a broken jaw suffered from a slap shot by Brooks Orpik. The Penguins have played pretty well without their captain, going 8-4 without him down the stretch to end the season. However, if the Penguins want to solidify their ranking as the top team in the East, they need their captain back. (Plus, he's got a solid connection with Iginla)

Also, Crosby has a history of returning from injuries against the Islanders.

5) Did I Mention the Islanders Are In the Playoffs??

Good. Just making sure I pointed it out.

Prediction:

The Penguins should wrap this thing up pretty quickly. True, I love what the Islanders have been doing and I'm madly in love with John Tavares, but the Penguins have the experience and the talent and I can't possibly see Fleury choking like he did last year. Maybe the Islanders steal a game on home ice.

Penguins in 5

2. Montreal Canadiens vs. 7. Ottawa Senators

1) Ottawa Getting Players Back

There have been few teams in NHL's recent history that have had as many brutal injuries as the Senators have had this season. They lost nearly every known name on their roster yet somehow pushed into the playoffs. Now that they're there with the nearly everybody back, they're looking to get things going.

2) P.K. Subban is a God

P.K. Subban has played like one of the most exciting players in the league. He's gotten better over the last few years and this year he proved again why he should be considered a superstar. He had the most points for a defenseman and his defensive game was very sound. He's an impact player for Montreal and he could get things done for them.

3) Youngsters For Ottawa

Because of all the injuries, different rookies had to step up to keep Ottawa going. Rookies such as Cory Conacher, Mika Zibanejad, Jakob Silfverberg combined for 68 points this season. If the Senators can continue getting contributions like this, they can make the claim for an upset.

4) Craig Anderson CAN Steal a Series

Ottawa goaltender, Craig Anderson, played just half the season for the squad and put up very good numbers. His .941 SV% and 1.69 GAA, in that shortened span, were tops in the league. We've seen him play lights out in the postseason before (in one of my favourite playoff games in the past decade).

If the Senators want to make this upset happen, Anderson has to be a wall.

5) Montreal's Bounceback

I was watching some highlights from last years playoffs when I realized that the editor of the video forgot to include any of the Canadiens' highlights from last year's postseason. Then I realized there weren't any cuz the Habs came in dead last in the East.

It's not easy for a team to come from last in the Conference to first in their Division but the Habs did just that and look to keep the streak going.

Prediction:

True, the Senators are a pesky team that will fight for every inch. However, the Canadiens have a solid core of forwards who can get the job done, and with Subban and Carey Price playing well, I can't see them dropping in the first round. That being said, their blue line isn't too strong at the moment and Ottawa's speed might be able to take advantage. Expect a fast paced series.

Canadiens in 6

3. Washington Capitals vs. 6. New York Rangers

1) Will Rick Nash Step Up?

Last year the Rangers went on a nice run through the playoffs but fell just short of making it to the finals (Suck It.) The Rangers goal scoring was solid-at-best in the postseason so this year they went out and they got a guy who they're hoping could add a little more punch to the lineup. Nash's one trip to the playoffs, however, got him just 1 goal in 4 games for the Blue Jackets back in 2009. The Rangers will need more than that from him if they want a run.

2) The Capitals Clicked

The Capitals started off the 2013 season so poorly, that there were jokes about them in the daily comic strips in the New York Times. They weren't skating, they weren't playing defense, and everything was falling apart. But then they started winning. Like a lot.

Nobody can really explain the Caps turnaround but it happened. Their defense tightened, Alex Ovechkin the offense started scoring, and their goaltending was mighty fine. They all of a sudden became a powerhouse that no team could beat. They went 11-2 in April to finish off the season. That's scary good.

3) Alex Ovechkin Is Who Alex Ovechkin Was Always Meant to Be

Last season, I had a saying that "Ilya Kovalchuk is everything Alex Ovechkin was supposed to be." I wasn't wrong. Kovalchuk was all over the ice, defensively responsible, playing 30 minutes a night, and still possessed the explosiveness in his skates.

Well this year, Ovechkin took what I said and shoved it back down my throat.

Well...not at first. Even recently, he's had tough shifts where it looks like he's on half speed. Like this. Or this.

But nobody can argue his offensive explosion and, once he got started, he never stopped. His 32 goals led the league and it seemed he was scoring every time he touched the puck. It was incredible.

So if Ovechkin can continue his hot hand, he'll show the world the player he's supposed to be. Physical, Responsible, and Explosive. The Capitals NEED that this series against a Rangers squad who doesn't give much.

4) Familiar Foes

Since 2009, the Rangers have faced the Caps 3 times in the playoffs. In 2009, the Capitals won the series in seven games. In 2011 the Caps won in 5 and in 2012 (last season) the Rangers won it in 7 grueling games. These two teams are familiar with each other and this series should be another nasty one, perhaps the most interesting series in the east. Expect it to go the distance.

5) Henrik Lundqvist is an Attractive Human Being

It's not even fair 

Prediction:

Like I said, when these two teams get together for a playoff series, it gets nasty. I expect more of the same this year. The Rangers are a gritty team with a good amount of stars to put up goals. But Washington's depth and their current hot streak, in my opinion, will, over time, overpower the Blue Shirts and win this series.

Capitals in 7

4. Boston Bruins vs. 5. Toronto Maple Leafs

1) The Whole Country is With Boston on This One

Remember that terrible bombing in Boston a few weeks ago? Well let's just say that this is going to be an emotional push for the Bruins this year. Everything they've done since the horrific incident has induced goosebumps and I'm certain they'll continue this into the playoffs. Also, the Bruins are usually good with motivation.

2) Playoffs in Toronto

Similar to the Islanders, being a fan of the Maple Leafs is not a walk in the park (just read a few Down Goes Brown articles and you'll indubitably realise this.) Years of bad drafts, bad trades, and awful players has left the Leafs in the league basement for plenty a season. But this year they reached the postseason for the first time in 9 years. With good goaltending, good goal scoring, and good grit, the Leafs are poised for a meaningful playoff appearance.

3) Boston Players on the Ice

Yes, that's Boston coach Claude Julien going on a rant about the amount of diving that goes on in the sport of hockey from earlier this season. A rather clever Canuck fan took the speech and played it along with videos of Bruins players diving, a common occurrence for the Bruins. Now, I've beaten the topic to death but I just felt it worth pointing out the theme of the Bruins.

4) The Famous Kessel Trade

When the Leafs traded away 2 high draft picks to the Bruins for forward Phil Kessel, I doubt they knew what they were getting into. Now, three years later, Kessel is facing those two draft picks (powerforward Tyler Seguin and rookie phenom Dougie Hamilton) in a playoff series. Sure, nobody could have anticipated the significance of the trade back then but expect this trade to be mentioned on the air approximately every 5 seconds.

5) Tuukka Rask Playoff History

Tim Thomas took this year off to be an insane person so that left Tuukka Rask to finally reclaim his starting job in Boston. Rask enjoyed a swell season, finishing in top 5 in SV% and GAA and almost led the B's to the top of the Division. However, Rask's last playoff appearance ended in complete devastation as the Flyers came back from down 3-0 and won 4 straight against Rask and the Bruins. Will this visit back into the playoffs bring up bad vibes for Rask or will he continue his excellence from the regular season?

Prediction:

The Leafs looked great this season but they may still be a year or two off from being a true playoff contender. The Bruins have the toughness and experience need and the young Leafs' team might be biting off more than they can chew in this one.

Bruins in 5