Wednesday night signals the beginning of the NHL's second season. Sixteen teams have officially qualified to go to war for the oldest trophy in professional sports—the Stanley Cup.
These deserving teams have just completed a rigorous 82-game schedule, and are about to embark on a two-month roller coaster ride in the quest for Lord Stanley's holy grail. Many sports enthusiasts describe the chase for the cup as the most difficult and physically demanding 16-game tournament in all of pro sports.
Yes, it is that time of year when these grown men sweat, bleed, and sometimes cry for the love of the game. Several of these athletes will not shave until their team is eliminated from the tournament, all in the name of superstition and fear of losing!
Without further ado, I will now predict my winners for round one of the Eastern Conference.
Montreal Canadiens (1st Seed) vs. Boston Bruins (8th Seed)
This opening round pits the NHL's fastest skating team—the Montreal Canadiens—against a Boston team that struggled for consistency all year. The Canadiens also feature one of the most potent power plays in the league.
The Canadiens won all eight games that these two teams played this year.
With Habs captain and leader Saku Koivu injured, the leadership role has been passed onto veteran Alexi Kovalev. He had a revitalized season in Montreal, scoring 37 goals and adding 47 assists—good for an 84-point season.
Goaltending will be another battle zone. The Habs are betting on Rookie of the Year candidate Carey Price to bear the playoff load. Boston will count on an older, yet unproven, veteran in Tim Thomas to steer them in the right direction.
The Stanley Cup, in all its storied history, has been won only four times with a rookie goalie carrying the load. However, two out of the four keepers that have won the Cup are former Habs. Do the names Ken Dryden and Patrick Roy ring a bell?
The other modern age rookie to win the Cup was Cam Ward with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005.
The good news for the Bruins is that All-Star Patrice Bergeron has been given medical clearance to appear in these playoffs.
After sustaining a concussion in the preseason, a healthy Bergeron would be an asset to help alongside Marc Savard, who had a career year with Boston, amassing an impressive 78 points.
Mark Predicts: Montreal in six
Pittsburgh Penguins (2nd) vs. Ottawa Senators (7th)
Well! What a turnaround we've witnessed for these two teams this season.
Last year, in the first round of the playoffs, the Senators eliminated the young Penguins easily. This year, in a re-match, we may well witness a different scenario. The upstart Penguins squad flew into the playoffs, while the struggling Senators limped into one of the last two available postseason spots.
Regardless, this series will be exciting. You have the best young talent in the game today competing against one another. Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, and Marc Andre-Fleury versus the likes of Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley.
Throw in veterans like Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson and Wade Redden, as well as Penguin-turned-Senator Marian Hossa along with Gary Roberts, and excitement is guaranteed.
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