Eastern Conference Semis Present Strong Match-Ups

Eastern Conference

#1 Montreal Canadiens vs. #6 Philadelphia Flyers 

This is a series with the potential to produce a great deal of drama. The Flyers, for the most part, are a hard checking team with two solid lines capable of scoring. The Canadiens are more of a free skating team that likes to wheel and deal. The suddenly dormant Montreal power play could hurt the Canadiens as the Flyers have not been shy to taking penalties this year.

Carey Price and Martin Biron will provide an interesting show in goal. Biron has been very impressive thus far as has Price, minus the game five and six slip ups against Boston.

When it comes down to it the Canadiens have too much firepower for the Flyers to handle. Additionally, Montreal will be able to effectively check the likes of Danny Briere and Mike Richards with ease. Carey Price will be able to outduel Biron between the pipes.

Montreal in Six

#2 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 New York Rangers

This may be close behind the Colorado/Minnesota first round series for most exciting to this point. Not only do the Rangers enter the series with a hot Vezina candidate but their offense has finally come together. Additionally, the Broadway Blue Shirts boast pest Sean Avery. If he was able to get Martin Brodeur off his game don't be surprised to see Marc-Andre Fleury get flustered in this series.

The Penguins are arguably the closest knit team in this year's playoffs and were the only team to earn a sweep in round one. While the Senators didn't put up much of a fight, the Penguins are certainly no joke. Their top two lines are filled with scary talent like Sidney Crosby, Marian Hossa and Evegni Malkin plus, quite possibly the best checking line in the NHL at this point with Jordan Staal and Jarkko Ruutu combining with anyone from Georges Laraque to Maxime Talbot. 

This series will likely come down to goal tending and Henrik Lundqvist is the superior net minder than Fleury, although he has come on as of late.

Rangers in 7