2014 NHL Eastern Conference Playoff First-Round Series Odds and Predictions: The 2013-14 NHL regular season is over, and the quest for the Stanley Cup is about to begin. In the East, defending conference champion Boston owns the top seed, but perennial powers like Pittsburgh, Detroit and New York are lurking along with upstarts like Tampa Bay and Columbus. Add it all up, and the road back to the finals won’t be an easy for the Bruins or any other team for that matter. With the NHL playoffs set to begin Wednesday, here is a look at each of the first-round matchups in the Eastern Conference.
Boston Bruins vs. Detroit Red Wings
Although the Bruins won the President’s Trophy, this is somewhat of a tough matchup. After all, the Red Wings are the only team in the NHL to own three regular wins against Boston this season. That being said, injuries have absolutely crushed Detroit while Boston is one of the deepest teams in the league. Case in point, the Red Wings’ leading scorer has 49 points, and the Bruins have six players with more points, including David Krejci. Boston should also have the edge in net with Tuukka Rask, who led the NHL with a .930 save percentage this season. Detroit’s scrappy group of overachievers will put up a fight, but Boston’s balance and depth will win out in the end.
Prediction: Boston Bruins Win in 6 Games
Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning controlled the Canadiens during the regular season, compiling a 3-0-1 record. However, both sides will look a little different when they meet in the postseason with Montreal having acquired Thomas Vanek in a trade late in the year while Tampa Bay star Steven Stamkos has returned from injury. Despite the offensive upgrades for both sides, a majority of the matchups in this series were defensive battles between Montreal goalie Carey Price and Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop. Unfortunately for the Lightning, Bishop is dealing with an injury and has already been ruled out for Game 1. Backup Anders Lindback is a shell of the netminder Bishop is, and with it looking like his injury is going to linger, the scales tip heavily in the favor of Price and the Canadiens.
Prediction: Montreal Canadiens Win in 6 Games
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
Led by the NHL’s top scorer Sidney Crosby, the Penguins roll into the playoffs with the fifth-best offense in hockey. The Penguins are also roll into the postseason with a healthy roster and a 5-0 record against a Columbus team that will be making just its second trip to the playoffs in franchise history. Give the Blue Jackets credit. They have a young core of talented offensive players to go along with defending Vezina Trophy winner Sergei Bobrovsky. With Bobrovsky *-playing his best down the stretch, he is capable of pulling out a game for Columbus. However, Pittsburgh’s high-powered offense will overwhelm the Blue Jackets for a comfortable series win.
Prediction: Pittsburgh Penguins Win in 5 Games
New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers
These teams split a pair of meetings during the regular season, and given the inconsistencies that both sides have dealt with all year, a close series seems inevitable. Philadelphia is led on offense by Clause Giroux, who scored 85 points during the regular season. Meanwhile, Steve Mason has provided surprisingly solid play between the pipes. New York on the other hand has stars like Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis, but their offense has never quite lived up to expectations. In net, Henrik Lundqvist was unexpectedly shaky early on, but he has been rock solid down the stretch. Look for the former Vezina Trophy winner and New York’s fourth-ranked defense to slow down Giroux enough to win a long series.
Prediction: New York Rangers Win in 7 Games
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