Ottawa Senators at Montreal Canadiens 7:00 PM EST
NY Rangers at Washington Capitals 7:30 PM
Los Angeles Kings at St. Louis Blues 9:30 PM
Detroit Red Wings at Anaheim Ducks 10:00 PM
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For our hockey-loving friends North of the border, passions will run high when the 2nd-seeded Canadiens meet the 7th seeded Senators. Ottawa is a study in persistence and determination. They somehow secured a Playoff spot despite devastating injuries to Defenseman Erik Karlsson and popular Center Jason Spezza. Fortunately for the Sens, Karlsson is back and that could make life a bit more miserable for Montreal.
You see, the Canadiens are built for speed, while the Senators have a distinct size advantage. But all you have to see are the confident Canadiens tic-tac-toeing the puck around and that could lead to ill-advised penalties and frustration setting in for the Senators. In my opinion, this series offers Montreal Goaltender Carey Price a shot at redemption.
Price’s .904 save percentage placed him in a two-way tie for worst in that category with the Kings Jonathan Quick. Craig Anderson on the other hand, had the best save percentage in the League and certainly proved down the stretch that he can win a game or two for you. So, come Playoff time just about every GM in the NHL banks on “experience” over “youth”.
I am going to turn the tables…and that brings us to your prediction: Canadiens in 7 games.
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If familiarity in Sports breeds contempt, then get ready for some fireworks between the #3-seeded Capitals and the #6 seeded Rangers! This is the fourth time these two titans have clashed in the last 5 years. But in my opinion, the Caps are one of the great comeback stories of the season.
After a dismal (2-8-1) start to the seasons, Coach of the Year candidate Adam Oates broke-through to superstar Alex Ovechkin and the highlight reels have been filled to the gills ever since. “Ovi” registered a staggering 22 goals over the last 21 games to capture another “Rocket Richard” goal scoring trophy to propel the Caps to a fifth Southeast Division crown over the last six years.
The Rangers on the other hand were being picked by many SCE’s as a lock to win the Stanley Cup after landing scoring machine Rick Nash. But in typical Rangers fashion, they failed to live up to the hype…stumbled out of the gate…and needed a strong April finish (they went 10-3-1) to reach the post-season. The Rangers have the edge in goal with Henrik Lundqvist –who tied for the League lead in wins with 24.
The Capitals will counter with Braden Holtby –who finished with just one less win than Lundqvist, but must raise thel level of his game to leave his counterpart standing empty-handed in the shadows. But when you get right down to it, you’ve got to go with the “hot hand” and brings us to your prediction: Capitals in 6 games.
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UNTIL THE NEXT TIME WE LACE ‘EM UP AND HIT THE ICE!–Chris Madsen
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