Eastern Conference Playoffs Roundtable

[Habsfan84]

It's that time of the year again. Yes, the Stanley Cup Playoffs have rolled back into town, and we've got all hands on deck to tell you what to expect over the next two months as the NHL determines its champion for 2008. Today, we'll look at both conferences in separate roundtable discussions. Earlier today, we looked at the West. We kicked off our series previews last night -- click here for all the rest -- and we'll have the balance complete before the puck drops on the first playoff game at 7:00 p.m. U.S. EDT. Enjoy.

Eric McErlain: Safe to say, things are a little more wide open in the East than the West. If I were grading it as Contenders, Pretenders and Darkhorses, I'd grade them out like this:

Contenders: Montreal, Pittsburgh
Pretenders: Philly, Boston, Ottawa
Darkhorses: Washington, New Jersey, New York

Outside of Detroit, Montreal is simply the best balanced team in hockey. I just don't see many glaring weaknesses there. Pittsburgh, as we all know, is incredibly loaded up front, though they have questions to answer in goal with Fleury. I don't think anybody gives Philly, Boston or Ottawa a real chance to get out of the Conference, though I think Philly's physical lineup probably has the best chance to steal a round.

As for Washington, they're the hottest team in hockey right now, and as much as I want to believe that they can keep it up a la Edmonton 2006, I can't help but wonder. New Jersey and New York both have the goaltending, but New Jersey has a tendency to disappear on the offensive side of the puck, while the Rangers still strike me as wildly inconsistent -- though their veteran-heavy lineup makes me wonder what they can do now that the real money is at stake.

John "J.P." Press: The Caps aren't Edmonton '06, they're Washington '08. Since Thanksgiving (U.S. Thanksgiving, that is), the Caps have played at a 109-point pace. That's 61 games in which Bruce Boudreau's team racked up more points than a fifth of the League's teams did in 82 games. They're no fluke.

But they're also not 100% healthy. If Shaone Morrisonn and Jeff Schultz can't go to start the series, they'll be playing without 3 of their top 5 blueliners (Brian Pothier being the other absentee). Say what you want about the quality of the D-corps in D.C., but you take away three of any team's top five rearguards, and they'd be in trouble.

Bottom line - if the Caps can get healthy and stay disciplined, there's no reason they can't go deep in the playoffs. I'd say they're a contender who isn't going to sneak up on anyone.

Kevin Schultz: I'd agree with JP, the Caps are looking really good and I love the addition of Huet in goal. Here's a storyline -- Caps/Habs conference final. How big would the trading deadline look at that point? Talk about a media field day. But getting back to the ice, I think the Caps have what it takes, but a large load will be on AO and how far he can take them. Not to discredit what the rest of the team has done, but he has double the points of anyone else on the team except Nick Backstrom.

As the rest of the race goes, I think it's pretty wide open. Obviously the Pens and Habs have got to be the top two in anyone's book, but they're beatable. And we all know that goaltenders can come up huge in the playoffs. If Marty or King Henrik play lights out, those teams are going to be tough to beat (but the Devils will actually have to, you know, SCORE). I'm a firm believer in that you need to have a solid net minder to make a deep run, which is where I can see the Pens getting hurt pretty bad. In Montreal, you also have a rookie who is now entering uncharted waters. How long until Carey Price cracks, if at all?

And I've said it before and I'll say it again, I simply don't believe in Philly, Ottawa and Boston. All three teams have been playing bad or mediocre hockey throughout the stretch run and I don't see that all of a sudden changing in the playoffs. The Flyers are the only ones I can see making it out of the first round, simply because they may beat the tar out of Washington. It's hard to believe though, Washington is absolutely on fire right now.

James Mirtle: I've really got my eye on that Devils-Rangers series, as I think whichever team comes out of there could do some real damage. Both have played terrific defensively and have great goaltending, and both could topple a Montreal or Pittsburgh.

What's incredible in the Eastern Conference this year is that, from top to bottom, the total difference in points was 10. Montreal had 104 to finish first, and as a reward gets a team, Boston, that posted 94 points.

Talk about coin flips.

There's really very little separating all of the teams that made the postseason in the East this year, and I think injuries are going to play as much a part in who comes out on top as anything. Winning a first-round series quickly will be a big advantage.

John "J.P." Press: I think the Devils are a fraud. They simply don't have enough scoring and their D isn't quick enough to stop the Habs, Pens or Caps. Sure, they've got the great equalizer in net, but I just don't buy them getting past the second round, if they even survive the first.

James Mirtle: They've been winning all year with smoke and mirrors and Sutter behind the bench, so I wouldn't bet against them going on a run.

Although I am picking the Rangers in that one, by a nose. They've got a lot of weapons who could really do some damage, and have been one of the league's stingiest teams.

Bruce Ciskie: I'm with JP on the Devils. They have plenty of local and college hockey connections, and I've seen them plenty as a result. They're simply not overwhelmingly talented. The difference between the Devils of old and this team is that this team doesn't have enough depth on defense to keep up when they have to deal with the waves that teams like the Rangers, Montreal, and Pittsburgh can send at them.

I mean, as inconsistent as the Rangers were this year, they got 15 points out of eight games with Jersey. They won't sweep in the opening round, but I think they'll win rather convincingly.

Greg Wyshynski: Boy, can't imagine what they'd (Devils) be if they needed to take 12 of a possible 12 points from Atlanta, Florida and Tampa Bay just to make the cut over the last three weeks...

That said, I've been saying since the trade deadline that the Devils were one veteran goal scorer away from being a serious challenger. This team needed its Mogilny or Neal Broten guy, and never got it. I think they're good enough to beat the Rangers in Round One, but Marty's allowed only one clunker.

Montreal, when healthy, is the best team in the East without a second thought. Even if Price isn't ready, they play such good team defense in front of him that it won't impact them as much as, say, Fleury's performance affected the Penguins last season.

That said, the Boston/Montreal match-up has a strange undercurrent of "what if." As in, what if Price isn't ready for prime time, but Thomas is in this series? What if with Koivu's injury and Boston getting healthy, it produces a significant advantage for the Bruins up the middle? What if those gritty forwards and Julien's system slow the Habs to a crawl, and a few bounces go Boston's way? All this series needs to be turned on its ear is a Boston win in Game 1 and [get] Bergeron back in Game 2.

The Penguins will roll Ottawa. I think this might be the easiest pick of the litter.

Which brings us to Washington. How much longer, mentally, can a team play a playoff game every night like they have since -- oh, I don't know -- January? What I like about the Capitals in the postseason is home ice, Ovechkin motivated by a greater spotlight and Huet, who's been better than just competent during this run. What I don't like about them is the opponent; the Flyers' forwards are good and gritty (well, save for Briere on the latter point). The Washington defensemen have been playing over their heads in their own end for the last two months, and I'm wondering if this kind of speed in the offensive zone isn't going to give them fits.

I'm inclined to pick the Capitals, especially as someone who isn't a Biron believer, but something tells me Flyers in seven.

John "J.P." Press: I don't know - when a team (Washington) plays at a high level four-plus months, it's more than adrenaline or "needing to win." It's a good team playing good hockey.

I say the Devils are a fraud because they finished the season 4-5-1, and all four wins came in OT or the shootout.

I say the Devils are a fraud because they had the worst goals per game and PP of any Eastern Conference playoff team (their PP was 10.7% in the last 20 games and they scored just 1.7 goals per game over that span).

I say the Devils are a fraud because Martin Brodeur had a save percentage under .900 in his last nine starts.

And I say the Devils are a fraud because the Rangers were 7-0-1 against them this year.

But hey, that's why they play the games, right?

Greg Wyshynski: If Montreal doesn't stumble, they'd be my pick out of the East, with the winner of the Rangers/Devils series the dark horse. But it isn't lost on me that Sidney and Ovechkin would meet in the Finals if they meet anywhere, which would be epic.

Bruce Ciskie: Montreal is the most talented team, but is Price going to hold up in goal? Does Pittsburgh have enough defense to slow teams down when they're not scoring?

Frankly, I think Washington has a real shot, but only if they don't lose any more players (could probably stand to get a couple guys back, too).

Unless Boston brings back Boyes and Thornton, they're not winning a series. Philadelphia needs the right officials so they can get away with pounding on the Capitals.

James Mirtle: I think that's a terrific point. The Flyers are going to throw the kitchen sink at them and it'll be up to the officials to decide what lands them in the box.

I wouldn't want that job.

John "J.P." Press: Let's just hope Steve Downie doesn't pull a Bobby Clarke on his superstar Russian opponent.

James Mirtle: I wouldn't be surprised in the least.

Kevin Schultz: What are the odds on one of the Flyers pulling

a Dale Hunter on AO?

James Mirtle: Heck, you almost wonder if that's the reason Riley Cote and friends are on the roster.

I hope the answer's zero.

John "J.P." Press: Caps/Flyers... playoffs... pulling a Dale Hunter... do you mean

this?

Bruce Ciskie: With how many people are discounting Ottawa, I wouldn't look away. They have plenty of motivation, even if the talent is lagging.

Earl Sleek: That's right, and don't forget the Swiss voodoo magic of Marty Gerber. The guy who's won but one playoff game in his career has been to three of the last four cup finals, and backed up two Conn Smythe winners. He's a rabbit's foot with pads.