The East playoff teams were determined before the year began.  All they need to iron out were the seedings.  Bruins were the runaway top seed in the entire East and the Canadiens were never really able to keep up this year, as they did in previous years.  The incredibly weak Atlantic will have a tanker as a playoff team giving the #2Atlantic team an easier first round matchup than the #1A team.  I guess it didn't pay to be the top team.  This is the flaw with this playoff format.  Either way Boston is the clear favorite to make the Conference Finals.

As for the Metro, all the seedings were determined on the final day, except Columbus.  Jesse's Blue Jackets were stuck in the WC2 spot and will have a date with Greg and his Bruins.  Are the rest of the Metro teams really that close in talent?  I know Tony's Flyers are drooling at the opportunity to knock out Larry and his Caps.  Quiet Rich will have a very tough matchup against the heavily favored Isles, even though he is the higher seed.  Let's check out the details of the matchups!

(#1A) Boston Bruins vs (WC2) Columbus Blue Jackets

GF: 3.34 (7th) vs 3.12 (14th)

GA: 2.34 (4th) vs 2.78 (15th)

PP: 27.43% (1st) vs 24.4% (4th)

PK: 83.5% (10th) vs 84.35% (8th)

Columbus was always going to get a playoff spot due to all the tankers in the conference, but this spot was not the one they wanted.  The Bruins have a very good team, that is well rounded.  Bergeron and Panarin both were just shy of 100pts and Saros has a stout .922sv%.  The only way the BJ's have a chance is by getting the Bruins on the PK a lot and scoring there.  I can't see anyway that the Bruins lose this series.  Let's see if Lance Uppercut-Cockhammer is able to lose this series somehow.

Bold Prediction: Bruins in 4

(#1M) Washington Capitals vs (WC1) Philadelphia Flyers

GF: 3.12 (14th) vs 3.1 (15th)

GA: 2.65 (13th) vs 2.41 (6th)

PP: 17.89% (18th) vs 24.68% (3rd)

PK: 80.08 (23rd) vs 82.94% (13th)

I know Anthony has been all over Larry the entire year and now they finally get to settle the score.  This writer had predicted the Caps to be at or near the top of the division, but somehow they got there with just some average stats.  Let's see if that is going to be their downfall playing against the top teams in the league.  Anthony's Flyers are a decent team and have been able to keep the puck of the of the net.  The newly acquired Drieger ended the season leading the league with .935sv%.  The Caps do have a great goalie as well, Campbell ended the season with a .923sv%.  This is going to be a great matchup between 2 of the top goalies.  Both teams had a hard time putting the puck into the net, so this is either team's series.  It's very deceiving to see that the Caps are 13th in GA, as the backup situation was horrendous.  It was a great move for the Caps to get that $19mil+ backup, who was only used for 7 games.  It's not like the team needed more scoring.  Sorry to say this again, but I told you that was a terrible move.  I could see the Flyers pulling away with the special teams.  It's going to be an epic battle between a couple loud chat guys.

Bold Prediction: Flyers in 7

(#2A) Montreal Canadiens vs (#3) Toronto Maple Leafs

GF: 3.13 (12th) vs 2.67 (22nd)

GA: 2.63 (12th) vs 2.84 (17th)

PP: 22.86% (7th) vs 17.57% (19th)

PK: 81.3% (17th) vs 81.85% (20th)

I would say that this is going to be the most lobsided series, but the Canadiens aren't that great themselves.  The normally good Habs are mediocre at best.  They are middle of the pack in GF and GA, but luckily they are playing against a team that is the worst out of all the playoff teams.  I would say that the Habs sweep the Leafs easiy, but I wouldn't be surprised if Toronto takes a game or 2.  It's a shame that one of these two teams will make it to round 2, while other top teams will be bounced.  If this was IRL, I am sure that people would be asking for a change to the format to prevent terrible teams making it deeper into the playoffs.  Maybe Steve can emulate last years NHL playoffs and make it to the Finals, due to the terrible matchups.  If they do, they are second best, right Tobes?

Bold Prediction: Habs in 4

(#2M) Carolina Hurricanes vs (#3M) New York Islanders

GF: 3.2 (11th) vs 3.22 (9th)

GA: 2.61 (11th) vs 2.29 (1st)

PP: 20.36% (11th) vs 23.01% (6th)

PK: 80.28% (21st) vs (82.98% (12th)

WTF...how did the Islanders end up 3rd in the division with those stats?  The deeper I look into this, the more confusing it gets, as the Islanders have the best GF/GA in the division by far.  Either way, it doesn't matter where they are in the standings and should dominate the Canes.  Barkov ends the season with 103 pts, putting him 3rd in the league and Vasi put up a .921sv%.  This team should be able to sweep the Canes, as they were able to dominate in the season series 7-3 in goal differentials.  This should be another year where Rich bows out early.  I will say that Canes do have some sneaky good sv% numbers from their starters.  We will find out if the goal differentials are for real.

Bold Predictions: Isles in 5