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Begin tonight with Game 1 between Montreal and Ottawa, Washington and New York Islander, Nashville and Chicago, Vancouver and Calgary in the NHL playoffs that will crown the deductible that conquister & agrave; the Stanley Cup going on in & rsquo; d & rsquo register; gold at the Los Angeles Kings who were not able to qualify for the post-season.
Wednesday 15 April 2015 10 minutes reading time
Champions out and seven teams of sixteen, who last year at this time had already & agrave; closed their season: on paper at least 10 teams can nourish legitimate ambitions of victory by the New York Rangers who won the President & rsquo; s Trophy to the Chicago Blackhawks that could put on the bulletin board on the third trophy in six years. Which had not happened since 2004, will be five teams Canadians (last year QUALIFIED & ograve; only Montreal) with at least two places in the second round for a title under the leaf d & rsquo; maple does not go since 1993 when they won the Montreal Canadiens.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Metropolitan Division
(1) New York Rangers - (4) Pittsburgh Penguins
During the season, the Rangers have won three of four meetings between the two teams and the state of the form hangs heavily toward New York in the last 10 games of the regular season you & egrave; sets 7 times, coming to set a record for the franchise wins (53) and points (113), while the Penguins have lost five in 60 minutes and 2 & Outdoors; overtime. One historical fact seems rebalance the games: from 2008, the Rangers won seven series only once did not have to resort to the seventh game.
(2) Washington Capitals - (3) New York Islanders
The Islanders are no longer & ugrave; those of January-February, from 27 February have pi & ugrave; put together two consecutive victories, but the series & egrave; very balanced between two teams that, in addition to having ended with the same points in the regular season have split the mail and in three occasions I go all & rsquo; overtime. To tip the scales on the side of the capital could be the excessive power in the occasions of superiority & agrave; Numerical against a defense that has not in penalty killing his forte.
Atlantic Division
(1) Montreal Canadiens - (4) Ottawa Senators
Ottawa has won three of the four direct matches of the regular season, and for a couple of months & egrave; was the best of the team & rsquo; entire League (03/03/21) thanks to parades of & rsquo; rookie Andrew Hammond (.941) and all & rsquo; exceptional season's rookie Mark Stone. At least in Game 1, Montreal will have & agrave; renounce his best offensive weapon Max Paccioretty stopped by a concussion, a severe loss to one of the attacks pi & ugrave; sterile League which suits & ograve; counterbalanced by the great Carey Price in goal.
(2) Tampa Bay Lightning - (3) Detroit Red Wings
Three weeks ago Detroit & egrave; 4-0 sets in & rsquo; only win of the season against the Lightning that can boast the best attack in the NHL. 108 points and 50 wins: Tampa Bay has never done so & Igrave; well in his story though away quest & rsquo; year won only 18 games out of 41 and his Detroit has the power play where & egrave; second only to the Capitals in the entire NHL
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Central Division
(1) St. Louis Blues - (4) Minnesota Wild
Saturday the Blues have won the & rsquo; last game of the regular season just against Minnesota but with many second lines in the field on both sides: the budget & egrave; 2-2. In the playoffs the two franchises have never encountered. The scoresheet of & rsquo; last part of the regular season & egrave; identical: 6 wins, 3 losses in 60 minutes and defeat all & rsquo; overtime. & Nbsp; Minnesota has switched gears, with one of the best ways of & rsquo; whole League, after the & rsquo; arrival in goal by Devan Dubnyk & ograve but can not; just be a coincidence that the Blues were able to establish themselves in a division with four teams over 100 points with a decisive Vladimir Tarasenko and his 37 goals.
(2) Nashville Predators - (3) Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago has won three of the four direct clashes, l & rsquo; last meeting was in December, but has yet to do without the best Patrick Kane returning after breaking his collarbone and a strip of four defeats with which closed the regular season. In Nashville home, for their six defeats in closing, a lot will depend & agrave; the performance of goalie Pekka Rinne after that & rsquo; All Stars Game and the return from & rsquo; & egrave no injury; was all & rsquo; height of better times. The two teams met in 2010 in the first round, the Blackhawks have won six races to go and get your hands on the Stanley Cup.
Pacific Division
(1) Anaheim Ducks - (4) Winnipeg Jets
Three crosses on three won by Ducks but two just over 60 minutes; no precedent in the playoffs between the two franchises Since & egrave; the Jets are the first experience. Winnipeg in & rsquo; last week won three games out of four thanks to companies to shoot outs goalie Ondrej Pavelec: 99 points for the first time in history for the Jets entering playoffs with morale at most. The Ducks all season showed an impressive roadmap in matches decided by a single network of waste: 33 wins, one lost in 60 minutes, 7 lost all & rsquo; overtime; while it can & ograve; be a sign of great heart, from & rsquo; another 41 games closed with minimal light gap l & rsquo; alarm of a team that is unable to close the match and this could be very dangerous in the playoffs.
(2) Vancouver Canucks - (3) Calgary Flames
Calgary over the past two direct clashes drew deal with the Canucks; last games in photocopy for the two Canadian teams with 6 wins, 3 losses in regular times and all & rsquo; overtime. The Flames back in the post-season after five years despite having to give up the MVP Mark Giordano. Historically in the last three meetings in the playoffs (l & rsquo; last in 2004), the series between Vancouver and Calgary & egrave; only ended all & rsquo; overtime of Game 7, and in all three occasions who won & egrave; arrived to the final for the Stanley Cup.
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