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Five thoughts: Trouble ahead for East favorites? Kings have guts; Miller and Pavelski are huge

Buffalo Sabres v Philadelphia Flyers - Game One

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Sergei Bobrovsky #35 of the Philadelphia Flyers prepares for the start of the game against the Buffalo Sabres in Game One of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Sabres defeated the Flyers 1-0. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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After a goalie-dominated second night of the NHL playoffs, our five thoughts on last night’s action have us wondering a bit too hard for two teams that are supposed to win.

1. It’s tough to say we didn’t see this coming, but there has to be real concern for the Flyers in the Eastern Conference. They played a tough game with Buffalo before ultimately being shutout by Ryan Miller 1-0 in Game 1. The concerns aren’t with Sergei Bobrovsky as he was outstanding in defeat but rather with the Flyers power play. Taking advantage of being up a man for two minutes is huge for any team looking to win in the playoffs. Goals come at a premium in the postseason and failing to take advantage of the power play creates doubt and makes guys squeeze the sticks a little harder.

That was the case last night for Philadelphia after they went 0-5 with the man advantage including a short time five-on-three. While many (including us) were wondering how the Flyers defense and goaltending would stand up without Chris Pronger playing, it was the offense that let them down in Game 1. That’s a trend they absolutely cannot afford to see develop.

2. Same can be said of the Boston Bruins. After playing Montreal so many times during the regular season they knew what they’d be up against with the Habs. Instead, they ran into an even more staunch Montreal defense and a stoic Carey Price who didn’t let anything by in a 2-0 loss.

The B’s streakiness with their offense has been a bit of an issue again this year and against Montreal, not every game is going to be a supercharged 7-0 win or a rock’em-sock’em 8-6 fist fight. The playoffs mean things are tighter and every goal is huge. If Boston’s offense continues to be frustrated by P.K. Subban and Hal Gill, their stay in the playoffs is going to be a short one. Guys like Nathan Horton and Milan Lucic have to be less focused on Subban’s antics and just work on getting free around the net.

3. Despite it being a 3-2 overtime loss for Los Angeles, give them a lot of credit for playing the way they did. When overtime started and for most of the period, the Kings carried the play and got the better of the chances to end the game. Their offense without Anze Kopitar did well enough to create opportunities all throughout the game and they weren’t thrown off by Dany Heatley’s goal less than 30 seconds into the game. The Kings have to be sharp all series long if they’re going to pull an upset but with how they played last night, they showed the Sharks they have no fear.

Most encouraging part of the night for L.A.: How well Justin Williams played in his first game back from a dislocated shoulder. A goal and an assist for Williams will do every night.

4. If the Ryan Miller we saw against Philadelphia in Game 1 is the guy that’s going to be there each game for the Sabres, the rest of the Eastern Conference had better take note. Miller was brilliant in his 35 save shutout of the Flyers and did excellent to fight the swarming net presence of the Flyers forwards. Miller has had a rough go of it in the playoffs last year against Boston, but last night was a game that he won for the Sabres himself. The kind of lift that should provide Buffalo is immense but they’d do well to give him a bit more offensive support. Getting the lone goal from a hockey irritant like Patrick Kaleta can’t be counted on nightly.

5. If Joe Pavelski’s performance in last year’s playoffs didn’t help you shake that nagging opinion of the Sharks as “chokers” then he’s determined to prove to you again that that’s not the case. During the first two rounds of the playoffs, Pavelski was a man possessed netting nine goals and six assists including three game-winning goals, one of which came in overtime.

If he gets that goal scoring touch alive once again throughout the playoffs, The Big Pavelski will be an even bigger cult hero than he already is in San Jose. The dude abides in a big way.