NHL Playoffs 2012: Chara vs. Ovechkin and Most Important Matchups in 1st Round

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara versus Washington Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin is one of several important matchups that will decide the outcome of the first round of the 2012 NHL playoffs.

Having players with the ability to shut down the opposing team's best offensive players is a valuable asset for a coach, and it allows him to control the game and play at the pace his team is most comfortable at.

Let's look at three matchups that will have a huge effect on the outcome of the first round.

Alexander Ovechkin vs. Zdeno Chara

Bruins captain Zdeno Chara and Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin had an intense battle in Game 1 Thursday night, but Ovechkin must change his approach to this matchup or his team will have no chance to upset Boston.

Ovechkin looked like he was trying to prove his manhood against the Bruins, and looked like he was trying to hit Chara and Bruins defenseman Dennis Seidenberg instead of scoring goals.

The Bruins took Ovechkin completely out of his game. The Capitals star was more focused on dishing out big hits than scoring goals, which cannot happen when the team is struggling to score against Boston's structured defense.

The Capitals cannot win this series if Ovechkin is going to lead them in hits. He needs to worry less about being a battering ram and more about putting the puck in the back of the net.

If Ovechkin thinks he can beat the Bruins by matching them physically, then he's gravely mistaken.

David Backes vs. Joe Thornton

St. Louis Blues forward David Backes and San Joe Sharks forward Joe Thornton had a great battle in Game 1, and there's no doubt it will continue into Game 2.

Backes is one of the premier defensive forwards in hockey and excels in his own zone. His job is to stop Thornton from using his excellent playmaking skills to set up the Sharks with quality scoring opportunities.

If Backes can shut down Thornton, the Blues will have a good chance to win this series and end their current seven-game playoff losing streak.

Marc-Andre Fleury vs. Ilya Bryzgalov

The Philadelphia Flyers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins first-round series will be decided on goaltending, which means the pressure on Ilya Bryzgalov and Marc-Andre Fleury is immense.

Bryzgalov looked awful for the Flyers during the first period of Game 1, allowing three goals to put his team in an early hole. However, he was remarkable the rest of the way, shutting out the Penguins through the next two periods and overtime.

If Fleury cannot give the Penguins a chance to win, then the Flyers will make this a short series. Pittsburgh won't eliminate the Flyers if the games are going to be high scoring.