NHL Playoffs 2012: Breaking Down Every Matchup

The playoffs are finally here—82 games, countless hours of practice, blood, sweat and tears have brought these 16 teams to the postseason.

In perhaps the most grueling sport, you have the most grueling playoffs series. Seemingly every year the teams become closer and closer in talent, and the ability to come out on top becomes less and less lopsided.

Lets take a look at the matchups for this year.

New York Rangers vs. Ottawa Senators

The New York Rangers seemed to have dodged a bullet with the Capitals squeaking into seventh place. The Cap's have beat the Rangers the last four times they've met in the playoffs.

Although they have avoided the Caps in the first round this year, they are taking on the Ottawa Senators—a bit of a surprise team that has been very consistent this year for the most part and have been in the top eight in the East nearly all season long.

If the Sen's season was a surprise, the Rangers performance has been nothing short of miraculous, they came in eighth seed last year with a first-round exit, and this year have returned first overall in the Eastern Conference.

The Rangers have posted a 1-2-1 record against the Sen's this season—not exactly anything to brag about. Contrary to that though, the Rangers seem to thrive when being labeled the underdogs, and while they may not be the underdog in Vegas, you can still get the sense the Rangers feel as if they have something to prove to everyone and have that drive to win. They have a gritty team and perhaps the best goaltender in the league, looking beyond the stats. 

As said before, the Rangers grittiness will decide this series. If we see them come out and really grind on the Sen's and control their game in the Senators' own zone, look for the Rangers to take the series in five games.

Washington Capitals vs. Boston Bruins

This season was a bit of a shocker for the Capitals fans. They lose their coach, their star Ovechkin has a bit of a very un-Ovechkin like year and the goaltender they traded for was less than they expected without ever striking a real balance or rhythm.

They squeaked in past the Buffalo Sabres in the last four games of the season. Their key defenseman Mike Green was out much of the season, and it reflected how much a part of this team's defense he really is.

On the other hand, you have the Boston Bruins coming off of their Stanley Cup winning year, and at the outset looked rather shaky but moved to the top of the Eastern Conference for much of the season settling into second in the Eastern Conference.

Boston will look to come out and impose their size and strike quick against the Caps and their somewhat questionable defense. Unless the trio of Ovechkin, Backstrom and Semin surprise and come out on fire, look for Boston to take this series in four.  

Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers

This is probably the biggest matchup of different types of play we will see this series.

On one hand you have Philadelphia—a tough, forechecking, physical and grinding team with scoring ability and well rounded defense.

The other you have the finesse and raw talent of Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby backed up by a very solid defense.

This series will largely depend on what team is able to execute their playing style better. If the Flyers are able to punish Pittsburgh for every inch of ice and force them to spend much of their time defending in their own zone, Philly will emerge the victor.

On the flip side, if Pittsburgh can rush, score and move freely against the Flyers they will find their own success, especially with Fluery goaltending behind the Penguins. 

The final piece of the puzzle will be Ilya Bryzgalov. If he shows up and plays to his very best, Philadelphia will grind it out in seven games. If Ilya is less than ideal, Pittsburgh will take the series in six games.

New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers

After cleaning house in Florida, the Panthers renewed their team and have made the postseason for the first time in nearly a decade.

The Devils meanwhile, after floundering last season without any real cause, returned this season to shut down all doubts of the quality they possess.

Parise, Kovalchuck, Larsson, Clarkson and Brodeur have moved this team to the ways of old and renewed promises of old glory.

Florida meanwhile, is treading in uncharted territory with a first-year coach. This gives them the disadvantage of coming out to a completely new experience. Their first-line scorers make up the majority of their scoring.

The Devils will take this one in five based on experience and depth all the way from forwards to goaltending. 

Los Angeles Kings vs. Vancouver Canucks

Johnathan Quick is perhaps the biggest factor in this series. The Kings come into this series as huge underdogs, and his play will dictate so much in terms of momentum.

Quick is perhaps the other best goaltender next to Lundqvist.

Luongo on the other hand has a history of playoff struggles and is quick to fall victim to the Vancouver fans' constant gaze, burning a hole in his crease.

The question moreover is, can Quick match up to the level of play the Canucks bring every night, and if he can, will the Kings score enough to beat Vancouver?

In short, the Canucks will probably take this series in five games. The Kings have struggled to score this season and don't seem to have the scoring numbers to beat Vancouver.

 

St.Louis Blues vs. San Jose Sharks

Another huge surprise this season was the play of the Blues. Last year not making the playoffs, this year they nearly won the Western Conference and won their division.

The Sharks on the other hand, surprised in another way, by barley making the playoffs after multiple playoff runs in the past years.  

St. Louis is a very well-rounded team—they have the goaltending, scoring and defense to compete with anyone in the Western Conference.

San Jose meanwhile hasn't exactly thrilled. Their captain Thornton has not been the star he is usually accustomed to being every season.

Saint Louis will take this in five with sheer size and riding the wave of being excellent this entire season. 

Chicago BlackHawks vs. Phoenix Coyotes

Chicago is looking to return to the Stanley Cup again this year, after a panicking 10 game losing streak half way through the season, the Blackhawks came back and settled down again placing them in sixth overall.

Mike Smith this year has carried the Coyotes at times, to the playoffs for the third straight season. 

These are two very evenly matched teams. Chicago technically has more points this season, but overall it's close. Corey Crawford has struggled a bit at times and been excellent at times.

If Mike Smith can be at his very best every night,  look for the Coyotes to make their first winning series in franchise history in seven games.

Detroit Red Wings vs. Nashville Predators

This will be the biggest clash of the titans in this playoff series matched only by Pittsburgh vs. Philly.

Marty Erat, Shea Webber and Pekka Rinne will face off against Pavel Datsyuk, Nick Lidstrom and Jimmy Howard.

Nashville has put together a very solid team this season. Remaining consistent all year long and finding a great balance between all aspects of the game.

Detroit has done the same yet again this year, except have posted an immaculate home record, breaking the NHL record in the process—with the one pitfall being their road record, which was less than spectacular. 

These are two extremely well matched team, and whoever can be better on the road will win this series.

Bottom line is Nashville in seven games.