2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff Picks and Predictions – Eastern Conference Odds and Predictions: After a lockout-shortened NHL regular season, the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin. While a hot goaltender is often considered the most important thing to have come playoff time, the Eastern Conference could challenge that notion. After all, the conference was home to six of the seven-best offenses in the NHL this year, including the No. 1 scoring attack. Five of those six teams made the playoffs, and as a result, any team that wants to emerge from the East is likely going to have to do so by lighting the lamp on a regular basis. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the first-round matchups for the Eastern Conference in the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
No. 1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 8 New York Islanders
While No. 8 seeds have had a decent amount of success in the NHL and an enormous amount of success when compared to other major sports, the Islanders don’t have the personnel to pull off the upset. Yes, John Tavares is a stud when it comes to scoring goals, but the Pittsburgh has a roster full of players that can generate points. Even if Sidney Crosby sits out the series, Evgeni Malkin, Chris Kunitz, James Neal, Kris Letang, Jerome Iginla and others are still going to take the ice for an offense that led the NHL in scoring. Meanwhile, it’s not like New York has a goalie that is likely to get hot and carry the Islanders. In fact, Pittsburgh goaltending has been average at times this year and has actually allowed fewer goals. The Penguins took four of the five regular seasons meetings with the Islanders, and the high-powered Pittsburgh offense should fuel a similar result in this series.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins Win in 5 Games
No. 2 Montreal Canadiens vs. No. 7 Ottawa Senators
If Montreal isn’t dreading this matchup, it should be. Ottawa has been plagued by injuries to its best players all season, but the Senators managed to squeak into the playoffs on the strength of the second-stingiest defense in the NHL. Now, goalie Craig Anderson is healthy, and all he did during the regular season was record the league’s best goals against average and save percentage. Star defenseman Erik Karlsson is also back from injury, and he will provide a major boost for the Senators on both ends of the ice. Granted, Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban does head an excellent power play unit for the Canadiens, but goalie Carey Price seemed gassed down the stretch of the regular season. With Ottawa getting healthy at the right time and Price slumping at the wrong time for Montreal, the Senators’ stout defense can carry them to an upset.
Prediction: Ottawa Senators Win in 6 Games
No. 3 Washington Capitals vs. No. 6 New York Rangers
These two franchises seem to meet every year in the postseason, and this matchup has all the makings of a classic. After all, both teams enter the playoffs on a roll with the Rangers going 10-3-1 in April and the Capitals posting a 15-2-2 record down the stretch. Washington’s hot streak can be directly linked to the resurgence of Alexander Ovechkin, who lead the NHL with 32 goals and helped the Capital’s power play become a force to be reckoned with. Meanwhile, New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist had another strong season, and he is always capable of single-handedly winning a game or two with his play between the pipes. Lengthy series are the norm between these two teams, and this year should be no exception. Rangers’ wing Rick Nash is a potential X-factor, but Ovechkin is just in a special zone right now, and he will make the one or two spectacular plays that lift the Capitals to the next round.
Prediction: Washington Capitals Win in 7 Games
No. 4 Boston Bruins vs. No. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs
Based on the seeding, this is supposed to be the most evenly matched series in the first round. However, Boston actually had the third-best record in the Eastern Conference but failed to win their division so the Bruins are a bit better than their seeding suggests. More importantly, Boston has one of the more balanced offensive attacks in the NHL, and goalie Tuukka Rask has been starring for a defense that allowed the third-fewest goals and owned the fourth-best penalty kill. Toronto on the other hand has been streaky on the offensive end and even streakier between the pipes. The Maple Leafs’ top option in net is James Reimer, and while he has had a handful of incredible games this year, he isn’t the type of goaltender that can carry his team for an entire series. Look for Reimer to have at least one gem in net, but the Bruins took the regular season series 3-1-0 for a reason. Boston’s defense will control the series.
Prediction: Boston Bruins Win in 5 Games
Odds to win Eastern Conference
2021 Boston Bruins +400
2022 Montreal Canadiens +500
2023 New York Islanders +2000
2024 New York Rangers +1100
2025 Ottawa Senators +1350
2026 Pittsburgh Penguins +145
2027 Toronto Maple Leafs +1200
2028 Washington Capitals +800
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