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ROUND 1: EAST - WSH VS MON / NJD VS PHI / BUF VS BOS / PIT VS OTT
WEST - SJS VS COL / CHI VS NSH / VAN VS LAK / PHX VS DET

vs
#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
Montreal wins 4-3

GAME RESULTS

GAME 7 Montreal 2 Washington 1

MON: Bergeron, Moore
WAS: Laich

GAME 6 Montreal 4 Washington 1 (at MON)

MON: Cammalleri, (2) Lapierre, Plekanec
WSH: Fehr

GAME 5 Montreal 2 Washington 1 (at WSH)

MON: Cammalleri, Moen
WAS: Ovechkin

GAME 4 Washington 6 at Montreal 3

WSH: Ovechkin (2), Knuble (2), Chimera, Backstrom
MON: Cammalleri, Gionta, Moore

GAME 3 Washington 5 at Montreal 1

WSH: Gordon, Fehr, Laich, Ovechkin, Bradley
MON: Plekanac

GAME 2 Washington 6 Montreal 5 (OT) at Wash., DC

WSH: Backstrom (OT & 3-goal Hat Trick), Carlson, Fehr, Ovechkin
MON: A. Kostitsyn (3-goal Hat Trick), Gionta, Plekanac

GAME 1 Montreal 3 at Washington 2 (OT)

MON: Cammalleri, Gomez, Plekanac (OT)
WSH: Backstrom, Corvo

SERIES UPDATE BY CHARLES SMITH
4/21/10 -- This looked like a dogfight after Montreal stole the first game in OT, and then lead 2-0 in game two after scoring on their first 2 shots on goal. Predictably, Jose Theodore was pulled after those two goals, but Montreal still raced out to a 4-1 lead late in the second period as Andrei Kostitsyn put up 3 goals. Hold the celebration. Washington outscored them 5-1 down the stretch and Niklas Backstrom tallied in sudden death OT to win the game and complete his own hat trick. Washington then went on the road and squashed the Habs 5-1 in front of a horrified crowd of Montreal Faithful. Since holding that 4-1 lead in game two, the Canadiens have been outscored 10-2 and Washington goalie Semyon Varlamov seems to have recaptured his 2009 playoff form. Keep in mind too, that after these first three games, Alexander Semin has nary a point, and Ovechkin has only scored twice. Montreal is going to need to dig deep to get back into this series. Jaroslav Halak gave up 3 goals on 13 shots in before being replaced by Carey Price in Game 3. Look for the Canadiens' goaltending carousel to start spinning yet again.

 

Preview/Prediction by by Dennis Bernstein

Washington Will Win Because:

They were the best team over the 82-game regular season. They have the best player in the game in Alex Ovechkin (left), who gets my vote for the Hart Trophy.  Ovechkin put up a career-best in assists (59) which proves that he’s getting better at sharing the load while scoring 50 goals for the fourth time in five seasons.

It’s amazing that a 100-point season can go unnoticed but with all the attention on the Great 8, 22-year-old Nick Backstrom was a horse this season. GM George McPhee made smart acquisitions at the deadline (Eric Belnager, Joe Corvo and Scott Walker), so this is the year the Caps go for it all. Anything less than a Stanley Cup victory would be huge disappointment.  They’re a year older and have the disappointment of last year’s second round elimination against the eventual champion Penguins as a major motivator.

Montreal Will Win Because:

…of what happens between the pipes. The only advantage the Habs have coming into the series is the hot play of Jaroslav Halak (right). The Slovakian netminder was the main man in the Montreal rush to the eight spot and his five shutouts and .924 save percentage makes it likely that the Canadiens will trade the heir apparent, Carey Price over the summer. On the flip side, although Jose Theodore has been almost flawless over the past two months, if he would to lose Game 1 at home like he did last year, the concern in the District will be dialed up immediately. The Habs will have to get a huge series from Andrei Markov as well as their second-ranked power play unit to achieve what would be one of the biggest upsets in recent playoff history.

Prediction:

The Caps are too deep, too tough and too good for a first-round exit. They have seven 20-plus goal scorers and a probable Norris finalist in Mike Green. They want the Penguins again in the second round to set things straight from last year’s intense seven game battle. Even if the Canadiens can figure out a way to shut down Ovechkin, there’s Backstrom, Semin, Green, Knuble and the rest of the band to deal with. Barring a total collapse by Theodore in the net, it’s an easy series for Washington. Let’s say 4-1 Caps as a tip of the cap to the big throng in Bell Centre getting one for the underdogs.

 

PREDICTION: WASHINGTON IN 5

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