Hockey fans, rejoice!  It’s time for the playoffs.

The East and the West have been sorted, and now it’s time to see them battle it out for a chance to ultimately play for Lord Stanley’s Cup.  Here’s a quick look at each round one matchup and my predictions for the East.

Wasthington Capitals v Montreal Canadiens
As any hockey fan knows, Washington is the number one team in the NHL this year.  Plenty of experts have deemed this the year of the Capitals.

Thanks to their fantastic offensive line, this team has left all other opponents in the dust.  With Alex Ovechkin leading the way, the Caps’ offensive line consists of no less than seven 20 goal scorers this season.  That includes at least three that have scored 30 or more.  It’s a defender’s nightmare, as goals will be coming in from every single angle.  Both Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom have been on a hot streak further boosting the already stacked offensive line.

There is no doubt that the Habs have a huge mountain to climb in this series.  It certainly doesn’t help that they hit the skids toward the end of the season, winning only three of their final 11 games.  But, before you count them out, keep in mind that they have done all right against the Caps this year.  They split their regular season series, both taking five points.  This included a stunning OT win for Montreal on February 10.  But, they’ll need to take it to the next level if they want to last in this series.  This includes getting more out of Michael Cammalleri, who has been largely ineffective since returning after injury.

Overall though, I’m thinking it’s going to be too much too soon for the Habs.  I expect the Caps to trounce them in four games.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Capitals: -1 ½ +105
Canadiens: +1 ½ -125
Moneyline
Capitals: -275
Canadiens: +235

New Jersey Devils v Philadelphia Flyers
This should prove to be one of the more entertaining matchups in round one as these two teams share an intense Atlantic Division rivalry.

There are more than a few people giving this one to the Devils.  It makes sense seeing that they’re putting forward one of their most dynamic offensive lines in franchise history.  Zach Parise and Travis Zajac emerged as major players toward the end of the season, and with the addition of Ilya Kovalchuk, the team has seen a definite boost.  New Jersey is also sporting the best defensive line in the league led by Paul Martin and anchored by Martin Brodeur in the net.  They held their opponents to a league leading 2.27 goals against while Brodeur posted a 3.33 GGA and .878 save percentage against Philly.

The Flyers are coming into this game on some great momentum after their big OT win against the Rangers in their final matchup of the season.  They overcame some key injuries throughout the season to land in the seventh position, and they’re actually looking like a team that could get past the first round.  Even if it is against the favored Devils.  Goalie Brian Boucher has come through in a pinch for the Flyers.  He’s posting a 2.50 goals-against average and .918 save percentage against the Devils this season.

This is a tough one to call, and I’m pretty sure that these two teams are going to take it down to the wire.  But, my guess is that New Jersey will advance with their consistently strong offense.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Devils: -1 ½ +165
Flyers: +1 ½ -200
Moneyline
Devils: -190
Flyers: +160

Buffalo Sabres v Boston Bruins
This is one of two matchups that I’m particularly looking forward to.  It’s going to be a matchup of two of the better defensive teams in the league, and a showdown between two fantastic goalies.

We all remember what a show goalie Ryan Miller put on during the winter games this year, and plenty of Sabres fans will be looking for him to do the same throughout these playoffs.  He’s the team’s strongest asset, and an off day from him will could be the difference between winning and losing.  The offense isn’t quite as strong.  Nevertheless, Thomas Vaneck and Derek Roy have emerged as offensive leaders.  With 54 goals, 68 assists, and 122 points between them, they will be a tough test for the Bruins top ranked defense.

The Bruins had a rough season, but managed to finish off strong.  They’re still missing a few key players, but should be able to battle this one out.  Like Buffalo, Boston is known for it’s strong defensive line anchored by surprise goalie Tuuka Rask.  He posted a miniscule 1.97 goals-against average and a .931 save percentage, putting him just ahead of Miller.  Boston ranked second in the league for their defense, allowing just 2.33 goals against.  And, with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci leading the way on the offense, the chances of handing Buffalo an early exit are pretty decent.

I know the slate is wiped when the playoffs roll around, but Boston has dominated the Sabres this season.  They know how to play this opponent and I suspect this will carry over into the postseason.  I’m going with Boston in seven games.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Sabres: -1 ½ -220
Bruins: +1 ½ -220
Moneyline
Sabres: -170
Bruins: +150

Pittsburgh Penguins v Ottawa Senators
The Stanley Cup champions are preparing to start their bid to defend last year’s win.  The pressure is certainly on as they hope to prove that they’re for rea.

Luck for them, their star player is on one of the hottest streaks in the NHL.  Sidney Crosby took a gold medal and a share in the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for putting away 51 goals, and he’s showing no signs of letting up.  In Pittsburgh’s final six games, Crosby managed 6 goals and 20 points.  He’s an undeniable asset for the team, but he can’t win the Cup on his own.  The Pens’ success hinges on whether or not Crosby and Evgeni Malkin can work together to front that powerful offense.  This is particularly true when it comes to the power play.  They’ve had problems taking advantage of the extra man on this ice this year, but they’ll need to work it out to keep Ottawa at bay.

Though the Senators are up against the defending champs, they’re not worrying.  Key forward Daniel Alfredsson has been largely quiet as the season wrapped up, but Ottawa will be looking for him to pull out all the stops as this guy knows how to play the Pens.  Mike Fisher, Jason Sprezza, and Milan Michalek will also need to step it up on the offense.  The Sens have given up some pretty big losses to Pittsburgh this season, including a 2-8 blowout in December.  That being said, they’ve also handed Pittsburgh some big losses.

This one might be closer than people think, but expect some high scoring affairs from each team as the series rolls on.  In the end, Crosby and the Pens are looking a little too hot to go out early.  Pittsburgh in six games.

BetUS is offering the following odds:
Puck Line
Penguins: -1 ½ +155
Senators: +1 ½ -175
Moneyline
Penguins: -120
Senators: +170

Don’t forget to BetUS to put down a wager before the game kick off on April 14.  They are offering live betting on all the games as well as more than a few props.  Check it out before the puck drops on the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.