2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Finals Preview

The NHL Conference Finals: It's now Stanley Cup Final or bust, and questions are about to become answers: Can the Sharks finally advance to the big show? Is Vancouver and Boston one step closer to ending their cup droughts? And can Tampa Bay continue their Cinderella run?

Each team will find those answers, but only one in each conference will find out whether they'll go on to the ultimate round in hockey, and the other will have to wait another year for their chance at destiny.  

Easter Conference

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Lightning shock!

That may be the best phrase to describe the Lightning's four-game sweep of the heavily favored Washington Capitals. Goalie Dwayne Roloson was stellar in between the pipes, and grinder Sean Bergenheim has become a household name for the Lightning, leading the team in goals with seven, and scoring four of them in the series. The Lightning have had the best penalty kill (94.4 percent) and power play (26.7 percent) out of all teams remaining in the postseason.

But let's not forget about the Bruins: They swept the Flyers in four games finding redemption after last year's crushing free-fall, and they're in the Conference Final for the first time since 1992. Goalie Tim Thomas is only behind Roloson in goals against average (2.03), and save percentage (.937). David Krejci was quiet in the series versus Montreal, but caught fire in the Killer B's rout over the Flyers, tallying nine points.

But one of the question marks going into the conference final is the Bruins' power play: They were scoreless on the PP throughout their series against Montreal, but fared a little bit better against Philadelphia, scoring two. But they have an overall power-play percentage of 5.4, and it will be tough to score on the power play against T-Bay's dominate penalty kill.

Both teams seem evenly matched here as both have dominate goaltenders. We'll need seven to decide this one.

Lightning in seven.

Western Conference

Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks

For the first time since they went to the Finals in 1994, the Canucks are back in the NHL's final four. The Sharks are in the Conference Final for the second consecutive year.

Both teams nearly blew 3-0 series leads to be eliminated in their journey here, but it's time to put the past behind them, and focus on advancing to the Stanley Cup Final.

In terms of goaltenders, Roberto Luongo (2.25 GAA) of Vancouver has played better than last year's cup champion, Antti Niemi (3.01 GAA) of San Jose. The Canucks power play (22.2%) has been more dominate than the Sharks (13.7%). In scoring, Ryan Kesler of the Canucks leads the league in points (15), but he's the only Canuck in the Top 10 in playoff points. Ryan Clowe (13 points) and Logan Couture (12 points), leaders in points for San Jose, are ranked fifth and sixth in overall points.

Like the Bruins vs. Lightning series this one is a toss-up on paper, but all I can do is give the Sharks an advantage, because of their experience this deep in the postseason, despite a string of heartbreaking losses.

Sharks in six.