NHL Conference Finals Preview And Picks

Eastern Conference Finals: Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

That didn’t take long.

Not even two weeks ago, NHL news headlines were all about whether the Bruins would overcome the trauma of their epic collapse against the Flyers in 2010 and if the upstart Lightning had a chance against the powerhouse Capitals after barely squeaking Penguins?

After a pair of 4-0 series sweeps, we have our answer.

The Bs forced the Flyers to take a long look at their goaltending situation and the Lightning might have just ended the Bruce Boudreau Era in Washington.

Now the two are set to face off in an Eastern Conference Finals few would have predicted.

Both teams feature veteran goaltenders on top of their games. Tim Thomas has carried his Vezina-caliber play into the postseason for the Bruins while 41-year-old Dwayne Roloson has rediscovered the form of his Stanley Cup run with the Oilers in 2006. The netminders have the best and second-best save percentages and goals-against averages in the playoffs.

Roloson will have to keep his rebounds in check against the Bruins’ bruising front line of David Krejci, Nathan Horton, and Milan Lucic. (Lucic finally broke out of his postseason long slump with two scores in Game 4 to close out the Flyers.)

Thomas will have to contend with the Lightning’s three star forwards – young phenom Steve Stamkos, veteran scorer Vincent Lecavalier and Hart candidate Martin St. Louis. The Bolts are quick on the counterattack and can really jam the crease with big bodies like Lecavalier.

Boston has a clear advantage on the back line. Zdeno Chara is one of the most imposing figures in the NHL, and Andrew Ference and Johnny Boychuk have had very strong post-seasons. Tampa Bay doesn’t have standout stars on defence, and relies on stopping opponents from breaking into their zone with a 1-3-1 zone. If they’re unable to keep Boston on the other side of the blue line, Roloson will have to be even better to give the Bolts a chance.

Both teams are relatively healthy, but the Bruins were struck once again by the concussion bug when playmaking centre Patrice Bergeron skated unsteadily off the ice in the third period of Game 4. Bergeron, three years removed from a severe concussion at the hands of then-Flyers defenceman Randy Jones – now with the Lightning – has been diagnosed with a mild concussion, and given how concussions have dominated NHL hockey news this season, he could be held out of the entire series as a precaution. Veteran forward Chris Kelly will take his place on the second line between veteran Mark Recchi and speedy Brad Marchand.

Prediction: The Bruins are the deeper, better-rounded team, but having won seven straight playoff games, there’s no hotter team in hockey than the Lightning. This one should go seven, with the Bruins taking Game 7 at home thanks to a raucous crowd and Tim Thomas.

Western Conference Finals: Vancouver Canucks vs. ??????

Hard to give a detailed preview of a match-up that has yet to be decided –  the puck drops on Game 7 between the Red Wings and Sharks in San Jose tonight – but based on the similarities between the Canucks’ two possible opponents, let’s try.

Regardless of which team makes it through, Vancouver is going to have a clear edge in net. Antti Niemi and Jimmy Howard have each had their moments, but Roberto Luongo is one of the best netminders in hockey and is coming off a strong series against the Predators.

The Canucks have been led by Conn Smythe front-runner Ryan Kesler, whose fierce two-way play has compensated for the relative ineffectiveness of twin Art Ross winners Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were stifled in Round 2 by Nashville’s dynamic defensive pairing of Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.

The twins should have an easier time in the conference finals, however, as neither the Red Wings – despite the presence of perennial Norris candidate Nick Lidstrom – or Sharks have a pairing on the level of the Preds’ duo.

Prediction: The Sharks and Red Wings are both deep, skilled teams and should pose a greater test for the Canucks defence than Nashville did, but Vancouver should be up to the task. The Canucks, after winning their first President’s Trophy by finishing atop the NHL standings, should win an exciting series in six games and make their way to the Stanley Cup Finals.