There’s a fine line between what makes a great series and what makes a forgettable series in the NHL Playoffs. Not every seven game series is going to be exciting and incredible to watch just like how every sweep or five game series won’t always be a huge stinker to witness. What will this year’s playoffs hold for us as far as excitement and stinkers? I’ve got two of each to give you a heads up on. Our playoff picks from earlier today in the West and East will help prepare you for this.
Best Series to watch
Chicago vs. Nashville is one series in the Western Conference to keep a close eye on because these two already have some divisional dislike going on. Nashville doesn’t allow anyone to just boss them around and they’re a team that does not get cheated out of any game. Their effort is consistent night in and night out. Chicago, of course, is highly talented and has a lot of offense to spread around and their defense plays as tough as any other in the league. What adds a little gasoline to this match up is having a couple of playoff inexperienced goaltenders to the mix. Antti Niemi and Pekka Rinne are the future of Finland goaltending and they’re getting their first dose of high pressure action now in the first round of the playoffs. No sweat, right guys? How each of these guys handles the stress of the NHL Playoffs will determine how this series goes (the health of Patrick Hornqvist is also a big deal to Nashville) but I envision this series as a cutthroat, blue-collar-oriented one with all the extreme physicality the playoffs are capable of providing.
Washington vs. Montreal is a series in the East that, while it may not be long on games, will be long on potential entertainment value. Yes, you’ve got the scoring trio of Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin and Nicklas Backstrom in Washington going out and running their offensive circus. Mix in an acrobatic goalie who was able to steal some thunder in the Olympics in Jaroslav Halak and a team in Montreal that can provide some scoring punch with Brian Gionta, Scott Gomez, Sergei Kostitsyn and Benoit Pouliot going against a potential weak link in Jose Theodore and you’ve got yourself some potential firewagon hockey. The catch here is that the Canadiens aren’t big fans of offense this year (217 goals, t-25th in the NHL) but managed to split their season series at 2-2 with the Caps. All things are possible with Jose Theodore, something Montreal fans know all too well.
Worst series to watch
New Jersey vs. Philadelphia sticks out to me as uninspiring for a few reasons and none of them have to do with the old Internet meme of “The Devils are boring.” Shocking, I know. While I think that Philadelphia will play with enough pride to stick around in this series, the Devils are going to be the methodical killer here and slowly drain the life out of Philadelphia. A back-breaking goal here , resisting giving into Dan Carcillo’s attempts to goad the Devils out of their discipline there, Brian Boucher realizing who he is and ultimately giving into the Devils. A reason to hope for excitement here: Jeff Carter blows up offensively for the Flyers now that he’s returned to the line up. Also, Ilya Kovalchuk flexes his talents all over the ice with some highlight reel stuff. I’m not going to hold my breath here, especially since I see this series going six games in uninspiring fashion.
San Jose vs. Colorado also shapes up to be a bad series for a couple of reasons. First of all, I don’t see how a seemingly tired Colorado team is going to be able to hang tough with a Sharks team that has to be ready for the playoffs after all these years. Secondly, if things do go south for the Sharks... Is watching a team unravel in the playoffs again worth seeing happen? I know for Colorado fans and Sharks haters it would be, but at some point it becomes hockey’s version of a snuff film set on repeat. When is enough, enough?
Is there drama in an eight seed taking out a #1? Sure there is, because it’s wholly unfathomable that it happens and when it does it’s shocking. I guess what I’m saying is is that while the Sharks were the originator of the stunning upset in 1994 (beating Detroit), they’ve become the punchline to the joke and if they were to fail again it’d be like watching a top comedian rip himself off to stay famous.