1. New York Rangers vs. 7 Washington Capitals
The Rangers now are vastly different group from the team that was knocked out by the Capitals quickly and quietly last April. This time, the Rangers will have their true captain in the lineup unlike last year when Callahan was sidelined with the broken ankle that he sustained blocking a shot a week before the start of the playoffs. Callahan's injury really took the wind out of the Rangers sails, both in the locker room as well as the fan base. The Rangers, through call-ups and FA acquisitions, now have the pieces to the puzzle to the system Torts wants to employ. On top of all this, you would expect motivation to play a huge factor for the Rangers in the series. Hopefully for the Rangers, motivation doesn't turn into frustration if things don't bounce their way.
The Caps are a different team since last season too. Unfortunately, the Caps fired Bruce Boudreau in the middle of the season, so the Ranger fans won't be able inquire directly to the coach if he can hear the crowd noise during the game. Jokes aside, the Caps changed up their entire approach to hockey and are now attempting to be the team the Rangers already are. The Caps goaltending was expected to be an issue when Neuvirth went down to injury. Unfortunately for Washington's opponents, it has led to the emergence of Braden Holtby, whom at times has looked unbeatable.
Keys for the Rangers:
1. Bodies in front of Holtby, bang home rebounds.
2. Start winning some offensive zone faceoffs, no more Konopka to worry about.
3. Forecheck, Forecheck, Forecheck.
4. Caps coach Dale Hunter has kept his own star forward on the bench during key times during his tenure, now its up to the Rangers to make Ovechkin a non factor.
5. Until the Rangers have a miniscule of OT playoff success, win these games in regulation.
I think the Rangers will be fine, but the team will make fans call their cardiologist more than a few times this series. Rangers in 7.
5. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 6 New Jersey Devils
My prediction is basically predicated on the fact that I have no faith in the Devils PK slowing down the Flyers power play. The Panthers with the man advantage, scored at a 33% clip against the Devils across the seven game series and now go up against a Flyers team that scored 12 power play goals in addition to 3 shorthanded goals in six games against the Penguins. Remember how many shorthanded goals the Devils allowed this season? If you guessed 13 you're correct, a mark that is worst in the league. One thing that remains to be seen is how rusty the Flyers may be who haven't played meaningful hockey for exactly one week while the Devils were in double OT, 72 hours prior. The week off allowed the Flyers to get some of their banged up defensemen back in the form of Nic Grossmann (concussion) & Andrej Meszaros (back surgery). The Devils on the other hand matchup with the Flyers as far as top 6 forwards are concerned, but the Flyers have 3 lines that can score and will wear quickly on the Devils blueliners. What is quite sad about this series is that it wouldn't surprise me if the Devils were able to go the distance with Philly, but at the same time it wouldn't surprise me if the Flyers steamrolled NJ. My prediction is somewhere in the middle. Flyers in 5.
Western Conference Predictions
Blues in 6
Nashville in 7
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