NHL Playoff Predictions 2012: Lower Seeds Sure to Pull off Upsets

The NHL's 2011-12 regular season is in the books, and only 16 teams remain alive in the hunt for the Stanley Cup. 

The eight first-round playoff matchups are set, and the schedules have been released. Now all that's left to do is pick a couple of lower seeds poised to pull off upsets this April.

So which under-the-radar squads have the best shot at fighting off the favorite?

Let's take a closer look at two intriguing first-round playoff series where the lower seed will reign supreme.

No. 7 Washington Capitals Over No. 2 Boston Bruins

It wasn't that long ago that hockey analysts like ESPN's Barry Melrose were picking the Washington Capitals to hoist the Stanley Cup at season's end. Despite a hot 7-0 start to the year, the Caps fell off and saw their head coach Bruce Boudreau fired as a result of their struggles.

Fortunately for former Washington player and new head coach Dale Hunter and the No. 7-seeded Capitals though, they have fallen into a matchup with the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins, who they have beaten three out of four times this season. 

Although both teams enter the postseason on a high note, the Caps boast a unique game-changing scorer in Alexander Ovechkin, a 65-point scorer in 2011-12, with 38 goals and 27 assists to his name.

The Bruins rely on a plethora of players to score by committee this season, which can be seen as an advantage or disadvantage depending on how one looks at it. Tyler Seguin's 29 goals lead Boston this season. 

Another X-factor for the Capitals will be their ability to play well on their home ice. The Caps boast the third-best home record in the Eastern Conference this season, having won at the Verizon Center 26 times. 

With Washington energized, having fought until season's end to make the playoffs, the Capitals will prove to alert and motivated in this series for the Bruins. 

No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers Over No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins

Despite heading into their seven-game first-round playoff series against the Pittsburgh Penguins as the lower-seeded underdog, the Philadelphia Flyers have the edge in this rivalry matchup.

Philly has taken four of six from Pittsburgh this season, and had won four of five before falling to the Pens in Saturday's regular season finale.

Also, even though the Penguins boast the NHL's highest scoring offensive attack led by Evgeni Malkin, the Flyers are right behind them at No. 2, each scoring more than three goals per game.

Neither team is dominant defensively though, which should open this series up even more and allow for the Flyers to contend at the Consol Energy Center, where the Penguins won an Eastern Conference-best 29 games in 2011-12.

The key for Philly will be the play of Claude Giroux, the NHL's second-leading assist man (65) behind only Vancouver's Henrik Sedin (67). Pittsburgh's Malkin is third (59) behind both. 

This series promises to entertain that's for sure. The two teams' April Fools Day brawl in the Steel City provided a teaser of what's to come later this month as the two Pennsylvania squads go head to head in hopes of advancing to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

When it's all said and done however it will be Giroux and the Flyers marching on.