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GAME RECAPS
SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
OTT WINS 4-1
Thursday, May
10 Ottawa 5 at Buffalo 2
Saturday, May 12 Ottawa 4 at Buffalo 3 (2OT)
Monday, May 14 Buffalo 0 at Ottawa 1
Wednesday, May 16 Buffalo 3 at Ottawa 2
Saturday, May 19 Ottawa 3 at Buffalo 2 (1OT)
PREDICTION
When Chris Drury tied game five and
rescued the Sabres from facing elimination at the hands of the NY
Rangers, the club breathed a sigh of relief, and the team showed its
character in scraping out a six-game series victory against the hot
Rangers. The Senators, meanwhile, dispensed with a tough Devils club in
five tight games, exposing New Jersey's offensive limitations in the
process.
The Senators were 5-2-1 vs Buffalo this season; The Sabres, 3-5 vs.
Ottawa.
Chris Neil leveled Chris Drury (7 postseason goals) during the regular
season on a questionable hit, the brawl that resulted was one of the
most popular highlight reels of the season. There is no love lost
between these clubs; they have playoff history (last year, the Sabres
eliminated the Sens in five). Now, the arch-rivals meet in what promises
to be a legendary conference final. The home ice advantage may end up
making or breaking this series.
On offense, a razor-tight affair is in the offering as the Sabres will
roll four lines, with Max Afinogenov, Thomas Vanek (5 goals), Ales
Kotalik (2), Jason Pominville (4 goals), Dainus Zubrus (8 assists), and
Daniel Briere (9 assists) join Drury in the NHL's most formidable
offense. But not so fast, Sabre fans, the Sens are scary: The top line
of Daniel Alfredsson, Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley have combined for 16
goals and 37 points this offseason. But wait, there's more. Antoine
Vermette and Mike Comrie (2 goals each) and Chris Kelly (3) have
supplied some depth charges. Who shoots will dictate who scores. Sounds
obvious, but with both clubs evenly matched offensively, shots on goal
totals may dictate winner. Easy to envision the winning club being the
one with 10 more shots than the other.
On defense, the Senators have responded well to the loss of Zdeno Chara,
and have managed to put together a very tough D. Wade Redden, Joe Corvo,
Anton Volchenkov and Andrej Meszaros have all chipped in one goal, with
San Jose castoff Tom Preissing chipping in two. The Sabres counter with
an even more mobile unit, but will need all-star Brian Campbell (3
goals) to shoot more (he was hesitant in the Rangers' series, and that
won't work vs. the Sens). Teppo Numminen's passing is excellent. Toni
Lydman and Henrik Tallinder will likely be called on to shut down
Heatley's line. Dmitri Kalinin has potted two goals this postseason.
In goal, the Sabres' Ryan Miller has been brilliant (he saved the club
vs. the Rangers), and Ray Emery of Ottawa has posted two shutouts.
Power Play: Edge to the Sens, who have scored ten goals on 44
opportunities. The Sabres have struggled, with nine on 59 opps.
Prediction: Too close to call, going with the
home advantage: Sabres in 7.
Actual: Senators in 5.
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GAME RECAPS
SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
ANA WINS 4-2
Friday, May 11 Anaheim
1 at
Detroit 2
Sunday, May 13 Anaheim 4 at Detroit 3 (1OT)
Tuesday, May 15 Detroit 5 at Anaheim 0
Thursday, May 17 Detroit 3 at Anaheim 5
Sunday, May 20 Anaheim 2 at Detroit 1 (1OT)
Tuesday, May 22 Detroit 3 at Anaheim 4
PREDICTION
On offense, the Wings offer more speed,
and players who can score on each line. The Ducks offer a tremendous
uptempo forecheck, and a lot of size. Detroit Coach Mike Babcock returns
to the scene of his greatest achievement: Guiding the 2002-03 Ducks to
the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to New Jersey.
The season series between the clubs was even at 2-2-0.
Something scary is brewing in Anaheim as center Todd Marchant is
expected back in the lineup. This is of significance because Marchant
was a key ingredient to the Ducks tremendous start to the season. While
he finished with eight goals for 23 points in 56 games played, Marchant
brings speed and smarts to the second or fourth lines, depending on
where coach Randy Carlyle wants to play him. Trade deadline acquisition
Brad May and a rookie, Ryan Shannon (or Shawn Thornton) will likely join
Marchant on the fourth line. The second line of Dustin Penner, Ryan
Getzlaf and Corey Perry has combined for seven goals and 17 points. The
first line of Teemu Selanne, Chris Kunitz and Andy McDonald has also put
up 17 points. Sammy Pahlsson has been the club's best player this
postseason. Pahlsson, a Selke Trophy candidate, centers the NHL's best
checking line.
Meanwhile, in Detroit, Pavel Datsyuk has silenced the critics with five
goals, including two game winners, this postseason. Detroit's offense
will pose a more formidable challenge than Minnesota or Vancouver did,
to the Ducks. Tomas Holmstrom, the gutsy Swede who puts his backside
into the goalie's face better than any in the league, has potted two
goals, both on the power play. Swedes abound: Henrik Zetterberg has
managed four on the postseason, and Mikael Samuelsson, three, including
two that eliminated the Sharks in round two. Further down the lineup,
Valteri Filppula, Dan Cleary and the dependable Kris Draper are checking
and scoring threats: two goals apiece. Toward the top of the lineup,
Johan Franzen and Robert Lang have potted two. Meanwhile, Kirk Maltby
and Kyle Calder bring grit. Very good four lines with offensive punch.
On defense, the top three defensemen (all Norris candidates) will be
featured in the series: Nick Lidstrom for Detroit, Scott Neidermayer and
Chris Pronger. It should be quite a treat. Lidstrom and Pronger both
have three goals, Niedermayer one very big game winner which eliminated
the Canucks. All three average between 29+ and 31+ minutes per game. The
key may be in Anaheim's defensive depth. Francois Beauchemin (3 goals)
and tough Sean O'Donnell are excellent third and fourth d-men. Ric
Jackman may return, but Joe DiPenta and Kent Huskins have been workable
in the fifth and sixth spots. The defensive story upstaging all of this
is Detroit's Chris Chelios, the 45 year-old workhorse and former Norris
winner, looking as good as he did 20 years ago. Especially important
since Mathieu Schneider is injured.
In goal, Jean-Sebastian Giguere has played just seven games due to
personal reasons, but leads all goalies with a 1.28 GAA (9 goals
allowed). Dominik Hasek of the Wings doesn't see tons of pucks, but what
he sees, he stops: 1.51 GAA in 12 games played.
Power Play: Fairly even. Anaheim 9 goals on 55 opportunities; Detroit 10
of 63.
Prediction: Ducks restored to being a four-line
club. Ducks in 6.
Actual: Ducks in 6.
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SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
BUF WINS 4-2
1 Wed, April 25, Rangers 2 @ Sabres
5
2 Fri, April 27, Rangers
2 @ Sabres 3
3 Sun, April 29, Sabres 1 @ Rangers 2 (2OT)
4 Tues, May 1, Sabres 1 @ Rangers 2
5 Fri, May 4, Rangers 1 @ Sabres 2 (OT)
6 Sun, May 6, Sabres 5 @ Rangers 4
GAME
RECAPS
PREVIEW/PREDICTION:
The Rangers’ Sean Avery can yap all he
wants, and as is his wont, he’ll give himself a few too many trips to
the penalty box. The Buffalo Sabres know that they didn’t dominate
during the first round against the Islanders. Coach Lindy Ruff will make
sure that they deliver this time. The Rangers can’t match Buffalo’s
depth, and the Sabre defense will also prove to be a “surprise” source
for goal scoring. Henrik Lundqvist looks good right now, maybe better
than Ryan Miller at the moment, but not by much. Buffalo rolls four
lines better than any in the NHL, and over the course of this long
series, that will prove to be the difference. Thomas Vanek, Maxim
Afinogenov, Daniel Briere, Dainus Zubrus and others are just as good as
anything New York can put on the ice, in terms of forwards. The Rangers
have enjoyed a good run of late, but these are not the Atlanta Thrashers
they’re facing. In fairness to the Rangers, the season series between
these clubs means nothing; Kevin Weekes was in the net for NY, and they
haven't played since December. They'll scare the Sabres, but the
Nickel City Swords are too much for the Rangers.
LOOKOUT FOR: Chris Drury. Mouth shut, chin strap buckled, cool as a
cucumber, built for a long series.
HOCKEYTALK PICK:
Sabres in 6 Actual: Sabres
in 6 |
SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
DET WINS 4-2
1 Thurs, April 26, Sharks 2 @ Red
Wings 0
2 Sat, April 28, Sharks 2 @ Red Wings 3
3 Mon, April 30, Red Wings 1 @ Sharks 2
4 Wed, May 2, Red Wings 3 @ Sharks 2 (OT)
5 Sat, May 5, Sharks 1 @ Red Wings 4
6 Mon, May 7, Red Wings 2 @ Sharks 0
GAME
RECAPS
PREVIEW/PREDICTION:
The San Jose Sharks will pose a more
formidable challenge to the Detroit Red Wings than did the Calgary
Flames, and what’s more, the Sharks can win on the road, unlike Calgary.
The Sharks are paying a heavy price for failing to finish higher than
fifth; they had to beat a Nashville club, and now a Detroit club that
has home-ice advantage. With Mike Grier leading a checking line that can
score, the Sharks should be able to counter Detroit’s depth. The Wings
have better veteran leadership on defense in Nick Lidstrom and Mathieu
Schneider, but the Sharks can claim Scott Hannan, Chris Ehrhoff and a
mobile defense. Joe Thornton and Jon Cheechoo are as formidable a pair
as any on the Wings, including Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
Patrick Marleau had seven points in four regular season matches vs. the
Wings, and he’ll anchor a second line that should give the Wings real
trouble. Ron Wilson won’t be denied, will find a way to top the
formidable Mike Babcock and the “Battle of California” as it is being
billed, Ducks vs. Sharks, will take place as hoped by many around the
league. Sharks roll four lines as well as Detroit, and this razor-thin matchup (Evgeni Nabokov is just as good as Dom Hasek) is a prelude to a
Californian conference final.
LOOKOUT FOR: Patrick Marleau, whose extra power play time and dominant
presence on the second line will put the Sharks over the top.
HOCKEYTALK PICK:
Sharks in 6.
Actual: Wings in 6.
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SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
OTT WINS 4-1
1 Thurs, April 26, Sens 5 @
Devils 4
2 Sat, April 28, Sens 2 @ Devils 3
(2OT)
3 Mon, April 30, Devils
0 @ Sens 2
4 Wed, May 2, Devils 2 @ Senators 3
5 Sat, May 5, Senators 3 @ Devils 2
GAME
RECAPS
PREVIEW/PREDICTION:
The Ottawa Senators won't have a lot of
trouble in this round. The Devils are a one-dimensional show
that's gotten tired and old and will be exiting the scene swiftly.
Marty Brodeur will steal a game, like Roberto Luongo will for the
Canucks, but even with Scott Gomez finding the net, with Zach Parise
scoring big goals, the Devils are outmatched against the Sens.
Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and other luminaries are
too much for the Devils, who were fortunate to face a Tampa team that
can field only two lines. Wade Redden and Chris Phillips can move
the puck out of the zone well. As for the Devils, they can't get
into a shootout with anyone, and will have to, in this round. Jamie
Langenbrunner and John Madden, lunch bucket-types, could provide the
Devils the extra edge they need to stay close. The Devils can win
this series, but will have to grind the Sens down over six or seven
games. The Sens are the lesser squad in net, with Ray Emery a
neophyte compared to Brodeur, but Ottawa is too much for the Devils.
LOOKOUT FOR: Antoine Vermette.
Hot in round one, not-so-secret weapon in round two.
HOCKEYTALK PICK:
Senators in 5 Actual:
Senators in 5
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SCHEDULE/RESULTS:
ANA WINS 4-1
1 Wed, April 25, Canucks 1 @ Ducks
5
2 Fri, April 27, Canucks
2 @ Ducks 1 (2OT)
3 Sun, April 29, Ducks 3 @ Canucks 2
4 Tues, May 1, Ducks 3 @ Canucks 2 (OT)
5 Thurs, May 3, Canucks 1 @ Ducks
2 (2OT)
GAME
RECAPS
PREVIEW/PREDICTION:
J-S Giguere, the Ducks' number one
goaltender, sat out most of the first round on the heels of a health
problem concerning his newborn son. Ilya Bryzgalov was excellent in
relief, and Giguere started Game 5 after relieving Bryzgalov in Game 4.
Giguere doesn’t receive as much hype as Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo
or other elite goalies, but he’s due to stake his claim to elite status
once more in this round. Much will be made about Luongo's rescue of the
Canucks in a hard-fought round one. Of Luongo's masterful regular
season. But the fine print indicates that the Canucks do not have as
many offensive weapons as the Ducks and the gig is up for the Canucks in
round two. The Canucks inability to solve Marty Turco for long stretches
in round one won’t bode well against the Ducks, whose checking line
contributed heavily, and whose first line was mostly held in check by
the Wild. The Ducks have been fortunate to avoid the Wings and Sharks so
far, and will make short work of the Canucks.
LOOKOUT FOR: J-S Giguere, while the
media lemmings fawn over Luongo, Jiggy steals the show.
HOCKEYTALK
PICK: Ducks in 5 Actual:
Ducks in 5 |
vs 
vs
vs.
