EAST
1st Pittsburgh Penguins 0 37-16-3 77 29 34 196-156+40
2nd Washington Capitals 0 36-15-5 77 29 33 191-163+38
3rd Boston Bruins 0 33-16-7 73 25 29 168-136+32
4th New York Islanders 0 32-17-7 71 24 28 156-128+28
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5th New York Rangers 0 27-23-6 60 24 26 177-157+20
6th Philadelphia Flyers 0 25-23-8 58 17 22 163-201-38
7th New Jersey Devils 0 19-30-7 45 15 19 145-194-49
8th Buffalo Sabres 0 15-34-7 37 11 11 138-199-61
2nd Boston vs Washington 3rd
This is the fourth meeting in the playoffs between the two teams and Washington leads the playoff series wins 2-1. Regular season record for each team vs the other, Boston 4-2-2, Washington 4-4-0. I would like to see whichever young Washington goalie starts will fare against the Bruins forwards because after the Hall addition Boston has a one two line punch and their bottom six can also score to given that and Vanecek and Samsonov have no previous playoff experience I suggest that this is something to watch.
Boston has Advantage Offensively
Washington has Advantage Defensively
Boston has Advantage on goaltending
My Projected lineups for Game 1
Boston
B.Marchand-P.Bergeron-D.Pastrnak
T.Hall-D.Krejci-C.Smith
J.DeBrusk-C.Coyle-C.Lazar
N.Ritchie-S.Kuraly-C.Wagner
M.Grzelyck-C.McAvoy
M.Reilly-B.Carlo
J.Zboril-K.Miller
T.Rask
J.Swayman
Spares
T.Fredric-K.Kuhlman-C.Clifton-J.Halak
Washington
A.Ovechkin-N.Backstrom-T.Wilson
A.Mantha-T.Oshie-D.Sprong
C.Sheary-L.Eller-G.Hathaway
C.Hagelin-N.Dowd-M.Raffl
B.Dillion-J.Carlson
D.Orlov-J.Schultz
Z.Chara-N.Jensen
V.Vanecek
C.Anderson
Spares
D.Carr-G.Pilon-T.Reimsdyk-P.Copley
My prediction Washington in 7
Reason: well I think that Boston is better in certain places but Washington is a more complete team. Washington’s offense could and should contend with with Boston’s even if Boston’s is a little bit better at the moment. The biggest difference would be in net with Boston starting experienced goalie Rask and Washington starting rookie goalie Vanecek as the Caps will have to be better defensively to protect their young goalie but I think Washington edges out Boston on a complete team effort.
1st Pittsburgh vs New York I 4th
This is the sixth meeting in the playoffs between the two teams New York I leads the series won 4-1 including a sweep of the Penguins two years ago in the first round. Regular season record for each team vs the other, Pittsburgh 6-2-0, New York I 2-4-2. The most interesting matchup I would like to see in this series would be the Penguins offense and the Islanders defense. The Islanders have always constructed their team and usually play to low scoring games in the regular season their were a lot of low scoring games against the Bruins and Capitals but Pittsburgh always found a way to score. And after adding Jeff Carter at the deadline I think Pittsburgh will be better.
Pittsburgh has Advantage offensively
New York I has Advantage Defensively
New York I has Advantage on goaltending
My Projected lineups for Game 1
New York I
A.Beauvillier-M.Barzal-J.Eberle
B.Nelson-J.Pageau-J.Bailey
K.Palmeri-T.Zajac-O.Wahlstrom
M.Martin-C.Cizikas.C.Clutterbuck
A.Pelech-R.Pulock
N.Leddy-N.Dobson
B.Coburn-S.Mayfield
S.Varlamov
I.Sorokin
Spares
M.Dal Colle-L.Komarov-A.Greene-C.Schneider
Pittsburgh
J.Guentzel-S.Crosby-K.Kapanen
J.Zucker-E.Malkin-B.Rust
J.McCann-T.Blueger-J.Carter
M.Jankowski-E.Rodrigues-Z.Resse
B.Dumoulin-K.Letang
M.Pettersson-J.Marino
M.Friedman-C.Ceci
T.Jarry
C.Desmith
Spares
S.Lafferty-C.Sceviour-C.Ruhwedel-M.Lagace
My prediction Pittsburgh in 6
Reason: simple Pittsburgh’s offense is clicking and New York I’s is not. Pittsburgh went out at the trade deadline and got Jeff Carter who has been a great value pickup and now that plus Malkin being back has put Pittsburgh’s offense maybe the best in the East. The Islanders also added at the Deadline acquiring Kyle Palmeri and Travis Zajac from the Devils but that move did not pan out and I would say Pittsburgh has the better offense and that should help them win the series. The Islanders are a good defensive team and have a great goalie in Semyon Varlamov and they should be able to hold off Pittsburgh’s offensive attacking a couple games but the Pens offense will be to much for the Islanders plus the Islanders can’t score so I give this series to Pittsburgh.
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