The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the sixth spot. Usually the team that loses the Stanley Cup the year before disappears into obscurity to regroup, but the Pens are denying that tradition. Having posted a 7-1-2 in their last ten, they are one of the hottest teams in the east right now.
With Malkin, Crosby, Staal, and Fleury this team has stepped it up a notch. One month ago, they were out of the playoff race. Now, this team has battled back into the hunt and will be a threat come playoff time.
They may have to start out on the road, but that shouldn't be a problem if they play their game—the Pens want revenge!
The Habs occupy the seventth spot, and are 4-3-3 in their last 10, having won four of their last five, and are now 5-3-3 under Bob Gainey's control.
The Habs have stepped up their special-teams play. With Mathieu Schneider anchoring the power play, Montreal is firing at a 26 percent conversion rate. Before Schneider, it was 16 percent.
With the resurgence of Saku Koivu, Alex Kovalev, and Andre Markov, The Habs are poised to get back on track for a playoff run. The netminding has solidified whether they play Price or Halak. This team could be the sleeper.
The eighth and final playoff spot features the New York Rangers. Under John Tortarella's reign, this team has found new life. Sean Avery has added a spark to their game, and Henrik Lundqvist has been solid.
This team needs veterans like Chris Drury, Scott Gomez, Markus Naslund, and Wade Redden to take leadership roles with their play to get through to the postseason. The Rangers dropped a game to the Hurricanes last night, so they will need to win out to secure their playoff hopes.
So who do I pick to represent the East in the Cup? Here is my breakdown if the playoffs ended today:
Boston vs. NY: Boston wins in six.
Washington vs. Montreal: Washington wins in seven.
New Jersey vs. Pittsburgh: Pens win in six.
Carolina vs. Philly: Carolina wins in seven.
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Boston vs. Pittsburgh: Boston wins in seven.
Carolina vs. Washington: Washington wins in six.
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Boston vs Washington: Washington wins in six.
There it is! The Caps!
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