Breaking Down the Cup: NHL 2010-11 Season Preview
Over the past 16 days, I’ve been writing previews for all 30 NHL teams. And while some have agreed, and some have not, they’re out there for the world to see. Now, after all the rankings and analysis, it is time to get down to the real meat and potatoes of the issue and make some huge playoff decisions. Who will rise to the occasion and claim victory and who will falter on their quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup? You are about to find out.
First, a look at the final standings for the Eastern and Western Conferences.
Eastern Conference
- New Jersey Devils
- Washington Capitals
- Boston Bruins
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Philadelphia Flyers
- New York Rangers
- Buffalo Sabres
- Ottawa Senators
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Montreal Canadiens
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Atlanta Thrashers
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- New York Islanders
- Florida Panthers
Western Conference
- Vancouver Canucks
- Detroit Red Wings
- San Jose Sharks
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Los Angeles Kings
- Phoenix Coyotes
- Anaheim Ducks
- St. Louis Blues
- Calgary Flames
- Colorado Avalanche
- Nashville Predators
- Dallas Stars
- Minnesota Wild
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Edmonton Oilers
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
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The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, could provide some excellent first round matches, including two great rivalries and two provocative contests. Here’s a look at the predictions:
1 New Jersey Devils vs. 8 Ottawa Senators
The Devils haven’t made it out of the first round in three years. Each year, they’ve shown the weaknesses they have and are attempting to remedy that. A first round series with the Senators could be just what the doctor ordered. Ottawa is tough enough and fast enough to keep up with the big dogs in the East, as they showed last year when they kept pace with Pittsburgh. But New Jersey is too talented to fail again.
Prediction: Devils in 6.
2 Washington Capitals vs. 7 Buffalo Sabres
This could be great. A team so offensively charged in Washington meets Ryan Miller and the just as speedy Buffalo Sabres. If Miller can hold up and get hot, the Capitals will be seeing déjà vu all over again and would meet their demise. Not a knock on Miller or the Sabres, but this match-up actually favors the Caps with a year more of playoff experience backing them.
Prediction: Caps in 7.
3 Boston Bruins vs. 6 New York Rangers
Over the past four seasons, nearly every Rangers/Bruins game in the regular season has been close. Some have been 5-4, others have been 1-0 in a shootout. Watching two evenly matched squads like these could prove to be the most entertaining series of the first round. Up and down they are so closely matched that an upset isn’t too far off.
Prediction: Rangers in 7.
4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5 Philadelphia Flyers
This one could be brutal, and amazing at the same time. The Flyers and Penguins hate each other and both believe they’re going to the finals again this year. Philadelphia actually has the scoring edge, but defense and goaltending might saw slightly to Pittsburgh. Who stars in the series? Malkin? Crosby? Richards? Carter? Fleury? Leighton?
Prediction: Penguins in 7.
Western Conference Quarterfinals
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Out West, the contests are extremely even up and down the board. Only one division rivalry shows up, yet each series is unique enough to merit interest.
1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 8 St. Louis Blues
In a rematch from two years previous, the Canucks would ride Roberto Luongo to the playoffs against Jaroslav Halak and the baby Blues. Luongo and Halak make for quite the interesting duel, but to believe that St. Louis’ offense can match goals with Ryan Kesler and the Sedin Twins is a bit far out.
Prediction: Canucks in 5.
2 Detroit Red Wings vs. 7 Anaheim Ducks
They’ve had epic bouts as of late, and both the Ducks and Red Wings are established as serious playoff threats. If they have to play each other, however, it could be a case of endurance and exhaustion that wins. Are the Ducks youngsters ready to lead the team back to the Finals, or is Detroit just too legit to quit?
Prediction: Red Wings in 7.
3 San Jose Sharks vs. 6 Phoenix Coyotes
For the slow starting Sharks, this contest would be ideal in the opening round. The Coyotes are making improvements and adjustments to become a contender but still aren’t in the same league as San Jose, who, with Antti Niemi, and a different kind of threat than they have been.
Prediction: Sharks in 6.
4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. 5 Los Angeles Kings
Last year, it was a rough road for the Coyotes when they were forced to play Detroit in the first round. The same could be said for the Kings, who will play better than last year but could hit a brick wall in the defending Stanley Cup Champions. Chicago is still vastly better than most of the West and if Marty Turco turns on the juice, the Hawks take the series.
Prediction: Blackhawks in 6.
Eastern Conference Semifinals
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With one round down, the East gets more interesting with huge rivalry contests on both sides. If the NHL wants interest and ratings at a high, they’ll get it.
1 New Jersey Devils vs. 6 New York Rangers
Statistically speaking, it is one of the ugliest, back-and-forth rivalries in NHL history. While the notion that these two meet again in the postseason isn’t far off, assuming it’ll be as one sided as their last two encounters is. Sean Avery can pester Martin Brodeur and Ilya Kovalchuk. Zach Parise and Patrik Elias can frustrate Henrik Lundqvist. Both teams know each other so well that it may come down to a simple final goal to determine a winner.
Prediction: Devils in 7.
2 Washington Capitals vs. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins
And despite the intrigue of a Devils/Rangers series, this one would be one of the most watched ever. Crosby vs. Ovechkin would commence once more. In a series based upon young, franchise stars, the goaltenders become increasingly more important. We saw it the last time they met: Marc-Andre Fleury kept pace while Semyon Varlamov/Jose Theodore buckled. Assuming Michael Neuvirth plays better than the departed Theodore, it could go either way.
Prediction: Penguins in 7.
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Western Conference Semifinals
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The second round out West looks an awful lot like the first round, especially since it contains the same four teams and the same contests as the year before. Will the outcome be the same?
1 Vancouver Canucks vs. 4 Chicago Blackhawks
Consider it role reversal. The Canucks are the dominant team of the west and the Blackhawks are the underdog here, yet the talent still matches up across the board. While Luongo and the boys could have an interesting go of things, picking Chicago, and Marty Turco’s history against the Canucks, is the smart bet.
Prediction: Blackhawks in 7.
2 Detroit Red Wings vs. 3 San Jose Sharks
The Sharks and Red Wings are again, all too familiar with one another. And while Detroit is stacked from top to bottom, San Jose knows how to break down the walls and make the plays that matter most. If Antti Niemi holds true, San Jose will return to the finals.
Prediction: Sharks in 7.
Eastern Conference Finals
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1 New Jersey Devils vs. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins
The Atlantic Division has a stranglehold on the Eastern Conference Finals with a huge contest to rule them all. The Penguins may bring the thunder of Malkin and the Lightning of Crosby, but they are without as much depth scoring wise as the Devils are.
It is a close race on D as well, but Pittsburgh takes it with more two-way stars making an impact. Expect big numbers on the Power Play for both squads with respect to their chemistry.
Goaltending? Brodeur and Fleury both have what it takes, but in recent memory, we're not sure if Brodeur has enough left in the tank to keep it up.
Prediction: Penguins in 7.
Western Conference Finals
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3 San Jose Sharks vs. 4 Chicago Blackhawks
One word: Rematch. The rosters are, at their core, similar to last year, and while Chicago's subtractions could be seen as a weakness, they aren't anywhere close since the playoffs yield the best in everyone. San Jose is trying to shake the sweep from last year and will be doing it with a new approach.
Do you take the age and grit of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, and Patrick Marleau, or the youth and speed of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews? To say that it could be a high-scoring, full-throttle series would be putting it mildly.
So many young players are looking to make a difference in this series that it is remarkable to think how good it could be. Defensive vets like Brian Campbell and Dan Boyle could be thrust into the spotlight while Duncan Keith and Jason Demers do damage.
Then, there's the goalie story. Antti Niemi facing the team that replaced him with Marty Turco. Niemi's revenge? Quite possibly.
Prediction: Sharks in 7.
Stanley Cup Finals: Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. San Jose Sharks
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Evenly matched on offense. Tough and able to score on defense. Each presenting cup-winning goalies.
The Sharks make their first appearance ever in the Stanley Cup Finals against a team that has been there three out of the last four years.
Who takes the series? Call it a hunch, but in a season that is now or never for San Jose, the time is now.
Prediction: Sharks in 7.
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