With the conclusion of the regular season, your prognosticator can no longer afford you such detailed one game insights as the Game of the Week. However, since the playoffs are here, your prognosticator will once again this year forecast each and every series for our valued readers of LCS: Guide to Hockey.

Last week your prognosticator predicted a Blackhawk victory over the Coyotes by a 4-3 count in the concluding Game of the Week for the regular season. Phoenix took Chicago 2-1, and Chicago dropped out of the playoff race. With the loss, your prognosticator finished the regular season with a mark of 7-10-4, not bad after an 0-6 start.

Eastern Conference

(8) Ottawa Senators at (1) New Jersey Devils

Regular season results: 10/17/97 - SENATORS 4, Devils 2; 2/2/98 - Devils 1, SENATORS 0; 2/4/98 - DEVILS 2, Senators 0; 4/3/98 - Senators 3, DEVILS 2. Edge: Push (2-2-0)

The goaltending match up is Damian Rhodes versus Martin Brodeur. In front of Brodeur is one of the best defenses in the league, playing Jacques Lemaire's system. Rhodes has a much younger, inexperienced core to work with. Edge: New Jersey

New Jersey's major problem is they don't have a go-to scorer, which comes up to bite the on occasion. If Rhodes gets hot, this series could last pretty long.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: New Jersey 4, Ottawa 2

(7) Buffalo Sabres at (2) Philadelphia Flyers

Regular season results: 11/26/97 - Flyers 3, SABRES 1; 12/1/97 - Sabres 1, FLYERS 1; 1/20/98 - FLYERS 3, Sabres 0; 4/13/98 - SABRES 2, Flyers 1. Edge: Flyers (2-1-1)

These two teams met in the second round of last year's playoffs, where Philadelphia came away victorious. Buffalo's win in the first round was their first advance past the first round since 1993, and only second since 1983. Edge: Philadelphia

Goaltending is key in this series, as it was last year. This time around, Dominik Hasek isn't suspended for three games, or not playing due to a supposed injury. The Flyers acquired Sean Burke to fix their goaltending problem exposed last year. Interesting, seeing how Burke hasn't been in the playoffs since 1990 with New Jersey. Edge: Buffalo

As shown last season by Edmonton vs. Dallas, a hot goalie can end the season of a great team. Dominik Hasek has proven he can do this (see Olympics-- USA, Canada, Russia). Hasek has carried the Sabres in the past, and will need to do it again.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: Buffalo 4, Philadelphia 3

(6) Montreal Canadiens at (3) Pittsburgh Penguins

Regular seasons results: 10/8/97 - Canadiens 3, PENGUINS 0; 10/15/97 - Penguins 1, CANADIENS 1; 11/29/97 - PENGUINS 6, Canadiens 3; 12/1/97 - Penguins 1, CANADIENS 0; 12/27/97 - Canadiens 1, PENGUINS 0; 2/25/98 - Penguins 6, CANADIENS 2. Edge: Penguins (3-2-1)

For this series, Montreal will throw veteran Andy Moog into the fray, against comeback- veteran Tom Barrasso. Both have multiple Stanley Cup rings, but Moog has the more recent playoff experience, while Tom Barrasso has been idle the past few postseasons. Edge: Montreal

Montreal is a fast and potent offensive team, while Pittsburgh has the most potent line out there right now. Pittsburgh has turned into more of a defensive team under Kevin Constantine since the retirement of Mario Lemieux. It won't be enough to stymie the Habs.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: Montreal 4, Pittsburgh 2

(5) Boston Bruins at (4) Washington Capitals

Regular season results: 11/6/97 - BRUINS 2, Capitals 0; 11/29/97 - Capitals 1, BRUINS 1; 1/25/98 - CAPITALS 4, Bruins 1; 3/3/98 - Bruins 3, CAPITALS 0. Edge: Bruins (2-1-1)

The goaltending match up here pits Boston's Byron Dafoe against Washington's Olaf Kolzig. Both were once Capitals at the same time. Both are solid, but don't carry a team on their shoulders. Edge: Push

Boston and Washington's blockbuster trade in March, 1997 comes into focus this series. Washington got the veterans in this deal, in Adam Oates, Bill Ranford, and Rick Tocchet. Boston got prospects Jason Allison, Anson Carter, and Vezina winner Jim Carey. Ranford backs up Kolzig, and Jim Carey is in the minors for Boston. Rick Tocchet left the Caps for Phoenix via free agency. The stats for the other three: Caps - Oates, 18-58-76; Bruins - Allison, 33-50-83, Carter, 16-27-43. Edge: Bruins

No one team is a clear favorite in this series. The Capitals have more veterans who have been to the playoffs before. Boston is a young team with little playoff experience, led by two masters, coach Pat Burns and captain Ray Bourque. The younger, more-motivated squad will win out.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: Boston 4, Washington 3

Western Conference

(8) San Jose Sharks at (1) Dallas Stars

Regular season results: 12/12/97 - Sharks 1, STARS 0; 1/12/98 - Stars 3, SHARKS 1; 3/18/98 - Stars 3, SHARKS 1; 3/28/98 - Sharks 4, STARS 1. Edge: Push (2-2- 0)

Last year's Conn Smythe winner, Mike Vernon goes in net for the Sharks, while league GAA leader Ed Belfour will go for the Stars. Belfour has a much, much better defense to help him stay out of trouble. Edge: Dallas

San Jose has upset the No.1 seed from the No.8 seed before, as they felled Detroit in 1994. However, Dallas has the top record in the league, and taking care of the Sharks should be no problem under Ken Hitchcock's system. The only thing they have to worry about is Sharks defenseman, Bryan Marchment, a Star-killer this season.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: Dallas 4, San Jose 0

(7) Edmonton Oilers at (2) Colorado Avalanche

Regular season results: 10/5/97 - Avalanche 3, OILERS 0; 10/15/97 - Avalanche 6, OILERS 2; 12/2/97 - AVALANCHE 4, Oilers 2; 12/27/97 - Avalanche 5, OILERS 1; 1/26/98 - AVALANCHE 2, Oilers 1; 3/2/98 - Oilers 5, AVALANCHE 4. Edge: Colorado (5-1-0) Colorado defeated Edmonton in last year's second round. Edge: Colorado

Edmonton defeated the No.2 seed from the No.7 seed last season, proving a hot goalie (Cujo) can carry a team. Edge: Edmonton

In goal, Edmonton has Curtis Joseph, versus Patrick Roy. Cujo took Team Canada to the finals of the World Cup, where they lost to the USA. Patrick Roy played for Team Canada in the 1998 Olympics, primarily because Team Canada's coach was his coach, Marc Crawford. Roy lost to the Czech Republic, and then failed to win even a bronze medal by also losing to Finland. Edge: Edmonton

Edmonton has the youth, talent, and goaltending to scare the living daylights out of Colorado. That they will, but Colorado will still win the series.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: Colorado 4, Edmonton 2

(6) Phoenix Coyotes at (3) Detroit Red Wings

Regular season results: 12/14/97 - Red Wings 3, COYOTES 3; 1/6/98 - RED WINGS 2, Coyotes 0; 1/28/98 - Coyotes 4, RED WINGS 4; 3/2/98 - Red Wings 3, COYOTES 1; 4/9/98 - RED WINGS 5, Coyotes 1; 4/14/98 - COYOTES 2, Red Wings 1. Edge: Detroit (3-1-2)

Phoenix will have Nikolai Khabibulin in goal, versus Detroit's Chris Osgood. These two were in net the only time these franchises met in the playoffs, in 1996 when Phoenix was still Winnipeg. Edge: Detroit

The Red Wings have had the Coyotes' number this season. Things won't change as Detroit seeks to repeat.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: Detroit 4, Phoenix 2

(5) Los Angeles Kings at (4) St. Louis Blues

Regular season results: 10/9/97 - BLUES 3, Kings 2; 11/27/97 - Kings 2, BLUES 2; 2/28/98 - Blues 5, KINGS 2; 4/16/98 - Blues 7, KINGS 3. Edge: St. Louis (3-0-1)

Larry Robinson will play Stephane Fiset in goal for the Kings, while Grant Fuhr will go for Joel Quenneville's Blues. Edge: St. Louis

Did anybody notice St. Louis was the highest scoring team in the NHL this season? They are getting points from all over the place, while Los Angeles relies heavily on Jozef Stumpel's line. Edge: St. Louis

Rumor has it several talented players want out of St. Louis after this season. Even if this is the case, look for Joel Quenneville to get a lot of emotion out of the rest of his young, hungry players. This St. Louis team is dangerous.

Series Prediction - Prognosticator says: St. Louis 4, Los Angeles 1

04-26-98

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