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Okay, here's how it works. Every year when the playoffs arrive, I write a preview and make all sorts of wacky predictions. Then it's your job, as the valued reader, to only remember the ones I get right and forget the ones I get wrong. See how that works? Remember right, forget wrong. Seem fair? Cool.

The way I see it, this year's crop of first-round matchups has its share of possible upsets. I think you have four series that could go the way of the underdog with a few breaks. They are Ottawa vs New Jersey, Buffalo vs Philadelphia, San Jose vs Dallas, and Phoenix vs Detroit. Those would be some serious upsets, too. None of this five over four garbage. Do I think all of the aforementioned powerhouses will check out early? Well, you'll just have to keep on readin', bucko.

Huh, how about that? See, that's what we in the reporting world call a tease. A tease is a catchy little hook that gets the reader interested and keeps them around to read the entire article. Of course, a tease usually leads to a really nice piece of material, whereas the rest of this column is pretty much a piece of crap. So I guess it wasn't so much a tease as a taunt. Or maybe an empty promise? Either one, really.

Before you read the predictions that follow, remember... this is only an exhibition. This is not a competition. So please, as always, no wagering.

Eastern Conference

OTTAWA SENATORS (8) VS NEW JERSEY DEVILS (1)

Schedule:

1  Wed, April 22 - Ottawa at New Jersey
2  Fri, April 24 - Ottawa at New Jersey
3  Sun, April 26 - New Jersey at Ottawa   
4  Tue, April 28 - New Jersey at Ottawa              
5* Thu, April 30 - Ottawa at New Jersey
6* Sat, May 2 -  New Jersey at Ottawa  
7* Mon, May 4 -  Ottawa at New Jersey   

Season Series: Split series 2-2-0.

This will be, without doubt, the most boring playoff series in years. Dr. Kevorkian is already looking into purchasing the rights for future use. Hey, I'm just saying it's going to be dull, that's all.

The two clubs combined for 14 goals in their four meetings this season, with New Jersey earning both their decisions via shutout. Neither side is loaded with weapons, but the Ottawa arsenal is particularly barren. The Senators scored only 193 goals this season, that's the lowest total among playoff-bound teams. In fact, the only two teams to score fewer goals were Chicago (192) and Tampa Bay (151).

Alexei Yashin by Meredith Martini

While Ottawa has had trouble scoring, its roster boasts the two best forwards in the series: Daniel Alfredsson and Alexei Yashin. Alfredsson is one of the top all-around players in the entire NHL. Unfortunately, he suffered through an injury-plagued season that saw him appear in just 55 games and collect 17 goals and 45 points. He's just now starting to find his stride. That could mean trouble for the Devils. Alfredsson is a big-game player that potted five goals in seven playoff games last season against the Sabres.

Yashin only netted one playoff goal last year, but he led the team in scoring this season with 33 goals and 72 points. He's one of the absolute best in the league when it comes to handling the puck. If the Devils don't limit his space, Yashin will make 'em pay. This could be Yashin's time to finally step up and show that he belongs among the league's elite. Either that or he'll float for the whole series and disappear from the scoresheet entirely... it's a tough call. Yashin's intensity will go a long way to determining the outcome of the series.

While the Devils don't have two offensive stars to match Yashin and Alfredsson, they do have 11 different players that notched at least 10 goals. That's balance. Bobby Holik led the squad with 29 goals and 65 points. Randy McKay, yes, that Randy McKay, was second on the club with 24 goals. Rookie Patrik Elias was third with 18. These aren't exactly names that are going to carry a team to the Cup. And the days of Doug Gilmour being able to hoist the offensive workload by himself are solid gone. If the Devils are going to advance deep into the postseason, they're going to have to continue getting the scoring by committee.

But it's not just the lack of scoring talent that's going to make this series boring. The problem is that both teams are counter- punchers. They like to trap and wait for the opposition to make a mistake before venturing up ice. Both teams are extremely disciplined in their systems and yield little in the way of scoring chances.

And on the rare occasion when a scoring chance does show itself, both teams are solid in net. Obviously, the edge has to be given to the Devils and Martin Brodeur. But Damian Rhodes and Ron Tugnutt give the Sens a reliable duo. Rhodes played all four games this season against the Devils and elevated his game down the stretch to the point that he should be the number one man for Ottawa.

When you combine the trapping systems, the strong goaltending, and the lack of scorers, don't be surprised to see a few 1-0 decisions along the way.

Scott Stevens by Meredith Martini

Key Matchup: The Devils are probably going to match up Scott Stevens against Yashin, but New Jersey coach Jacques Lemaire really doesn't have to go out of his way to ensure the head-to-head meeting since he also has the luxury of having Scott Niedermayer, Lyle Odelein, and Ken Daneyko on his blue line. The Russian center can also expect to see a steady diet of Bobby Carpenter as his opposing center. Yashin needs to find a way to fight through Stevens and crew if Ottawa's going to win. Good luck.

Player to Watch: Alfredsson has the potential to be a game-breaker for Ottawa. He scores big goals at big times. If he gets on a roll the Sens could make things interesting.

Deciding Factor: Believe it or not, the difference could come down to the Devils' patience. It's usually New Jersey that tries to frustrate the opposition, but Ottawa is even more infuriatingly annoying in their approach to offense. The Senators don't try to win games, they just try to survive them. New Jersey is the far superior team, but if they get frustrated with Ottawa's lack of initiative they could open the door for an upset.

Prediction: This series is a prime candidate for a major upset. Both teams play such similar styles that most games will probably be decided by one goal, with more than one overtime contest being a strong possibility. It could really go either way. This could be over in four or it could go seven, but every game will be tight. Alfredsson will probably deliver at least one victory to Ottawa's side with a timely goal, but New Jersey should wear the Senators down with its size and toughness. So take New Jersey in five.

MONTREAL CANADIENS (7) VS PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (2)

Schedule:

1   Thu, April 23 - Montreal at Pittsburgh  
2   Sat, April 25 - Montreal at Pittsburgh 
3   Mon, April 27 - Pittsburgh at Montreal    
4   Wed, April 19 - Pittsburgh at Montreal     
5*  Fri, May 1 - Montreal at Pittsburgh   
6*  Sun, May 3 - Pittsburgh at Montreal     
7*  Tue, May 5 - Montreal at Pittsburgh 

Season Series: Pittsburgh won 3-2-1.

Pittsburgh and Montreal have never met in the playoffs. And for the Penguins' sake, they're glad this meeting is happening now and not two years ago when the Canadiens still called the Montreal Forum home. The Penguins were just brutal in their history at the Forum. The Birds won something like three times in 25 years. I'd look up the exact number, but I'm a lazy punk. Anyway, they've had far better luck at the Molson Center, going 2-0-1 this season alone at the Keg.

Not only have they lost the services of the old Forum ghosts, the Habs are entering the series a little beat up. Saku Koivu will likely miss Game One with a hand injury, Patrice Brisebois could miss the first two games with an ankle sprain, and Scott Thornton might be gone for the entire series thanks to shoulder surgery.

Andy Moog by Meredith Martini

The Canadiens are an excellent skating team, but that doesn't mean they like to play wide open. Montreal is at its best when it plays a patient, defensive game. With weapons like Koivu, Mark Recchi, Shayne Corson, Vincent Damphousse, and Brian Savage up front, the offense is going to take care of itself. The Canadiens need to concentrate on defense first to be successful. The two wins they had over the Penguins this season came in Pittsburgh by scores of 3-0 and 1-0. Those are the kinds of scores the Habs are going to want to see. Andy Moog was in net for both of those shutouts and will get the call to start the series. If he falters, Jocelyn Thibault will be waiting in the wings.

The Penguins enter the playoffs as the third-best defensive team in the NHL, allowing a franchise low 188 goals during the regular season. Pittsburgh hasn't seen defense like that since the days of the Steel Curtain. But this group can still ring up the goals on occasion. Their top line of Jaromir Jagr, Ron Francis, and Stu Barnes could be the best scoring unit in the league. The Birds also have a quality checking unit featuring Rob Brown, Ian Moran, and Alex Hicks, not to mention six steady blueliners, headlined by the hard-hitting Darius Kasparaitis. And when all else fails, the Pens can rely on the superb goaltending of the revitalized Tom Barrasso. The two-time Cup winner looks as strong as ever between the pipes. He could take the Pens deep.

Key Matchup: The Canadiens like to match Vladimir Malakhov against Jagr. Malakhov has great size and is mobile enough to keep up with the Czech Wonder Kid. While he usually does a respectable job of keeping Jagr under wraps for a game here or there, doing so over a seven-game series could be too much to ask. Look for Jagr to freak him at least once during the series for a highlight-reel goal.

Darius Kasparaitis by Meredith Martini

Player to Watch: The Canadiens are made to order for Kasparaitis. While the Habs have speed and skill, they don't have much size up front. Unlike last season when he had to try and battle the likes of Eric Lindros and John LeClair, Darius will be on a level playing field with the Montreal forwards in terms of size. That usually means somebody's gonna get messed up. Get the smelling salts ready.

Deciding Factor: This series will hinge on Pittsburgh's second line of Robert Lang, Martin Straka, and Alexei Morozov. If this trio can produce goals and take some heat off the Jagr line, it could be curtains for the Habs. When the Pens get production from two lines, they're tough to beat.

And don't forget about the Zarley Zalapski factor. Any team with Zarley Zalapski is destined for a quick playoff exit. It's in the stars.

Prediction: Pittsburgh will take it in six. Barrasso is at the top of his game and Jagr is too much for Montreal's defense to handle over a long series.

BUFFALO SABRES (6) VS PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (3)

Schedule:

1  Wed, April 22 - Buffalo at Philadelphia        
2  Fri, April 24 - Buffalo at Philadelphia          
3  Mon, April 27 - Philadelphia at Buffalo      
4  Wed, April 29 - Philadelphia at Buffalo     
5* Fri, May 1 - Buffalo at Philadelphia           
6* Sun, May 3 - Philadelphia at Buffalo     
7* Tue, May 5 - Buffalo at Philadelphia

Season Series: Flyers won 2-1-1.

The Flyers and Sabres are quickly becoming playoff rivals. This will be their third meeting in the past four years, with the Flyers taking the previous two in five games each.

Their most recent meeting was just last season, but Dominik Hasek watched form the press box with a knee injury while the Flyers barged their way past Steve Shields. Philly will have no such luck this time. Hasek is healthy and ready to flop his way into the second round.

Dominik Hasek by Meredith Martini

While Buffalo's strength is between the pipes, goaltending remains the main weakness for the Flyers. Sean Burke went 7-3-0 down the stretch with Philly and will be their number one guy. Burke is better than Hextall, but he hasn't played a playoff game since 1990. If this series comes down to a battle of netminders, the Flyers don't stand a chance.

Injuries could play a role in the outcome. While the Flyers are at full strength, Buffalo could be without Mike Peca because of a knee injury. Peca is questionable for Game One and will be day- to-day for the series. Outside of Hasek, Peca is Buffalo's next most valuable player. They're a totally different team with the gritty checking center patrolling the middle. And despite the huge disparity in size, Peca usually does a nice job of containing Eric Lindros.

Even with Peca in the lineup, the Sabre offense is anemic. Buffalo scored just 211 goals this season, ranking 17th in league offense. They have 10 guys that scored 10 or more goals, but only two that cracked 20 goals (Audette, 24; Satan, 22). Miroslav Satan was the club's leading scorer with just 46 points. Aw, that's silly.

Philly has no such scoring problems. The Flyers were the highest scoring team in the Eastern Conference with 242 goals. John LeClair led the way with 51 goals and 87 points.

Eric Lindros by Meredith Martini

Key Matchup: Buffalo's blue line is going to have trouble matching up with Eric Lindros and John LeClair. Alexei Zhitnik and Richard Smehlik are the Sabres' number one pair and will have the responsibility of trying to shut down the mammoth forwards. Zhitnik is having a great season, but going up against Lindros and LeClair for seven is going to be a struggle. And it's doubtful he'll be able to get much help from the likes of Darryl Shannon, Mike Wilson, Bob Boughner, or Jason Woolley. Hasek or no Hasek, unless Zhitnik and Smehlik can at least slow down the big Flyer guns, the Sabres don't stand a chance.

Players to Watch: Geoff Sanderson could be a guy to keep an eye on. If the Sabres are going to win, they have to get some clutch goal-scoring out of someone. Sanderson would seem like an obvious choice. He hasn't exactly set the world on fire in a Sabres uniform, but now would be a good time for him to remember his former 40-goal ways.

And obviously Sean Burke is going to be at the center of attention for the Flyers. If he falters, panic will sweep the countryside.

Deciding Factors: The most important factor will be Philly's goaltending. If Burke and Hextall don't give the Sabres any soft ones, it's going to be hard for the Flyers to lose.

Next is the health of Peca. If he misses a significant portion of the series, the Sabres are mud.

And finally, the Sabres were 0-for-20 on the power play this season against the Flyers. If they don't find a way to convert on the man-advantage, they can't win.

Prediction: Every year there's at least one major upset. This could be it. The Flyers are primed to get knocked off. The goaltending is still shaky, Lindros is a little rusty after returning from the concussion, and the team pretty much stumbled to the finish line. Philly has had problems putting together 60 minutes of hockey. They'll dominate in spurts and then disappear. That effort doesn't cut it against the Sabres and Hasek. Besides, do you get the feeling that this is just Hasek's year? He's never won a playoff series. That can't last forever. Take the Sabres in seven.

BOSTON BRUINS (5) VS WASHINGTON CAPITALS (4)

Schedule:

1  Wed, April 22 - Boston at Washington          
2  Fri, April 24 - Boston at Washington          
3  Sun, April 26 - Washington at Boston      
4  Tue, April 28 - Washington at Boston      
5* Fri, May 1 - Boston at Washington     
6* Sun, May 3 - Washington at Boston       
7* Tue, May 5 - Boston at Washington   

Season Series: Boston won 2-1-1.

This series will be like a class reunion. And it's not just because people will be showing up with more weight, less hair, and professional dates. Jason Allison, Anson Carter, Dimitri Khristich, and Byron Dafoe all used to call Washington home, while Adam Oates, Joe Juneau, and Bill Ranford used to wear the spoked-B. Somebody better spike the punch.

Boston surprised everyone this year, improving on last season's pitiful record by 30 points. While coach Pat Burns brought a winning attitude to town, it wouldn't have meant squat without the development of Allison. The 22-year-old center that the Caps gave up on became a legitimate number one center for the Bruins this season, leading the team with 33 goals and 83 points. Allison anchors Boston's top line alongside wingers Dimitri Khristich and Sergei Samsonov. This trio likes to work the puck low and cycle deep, while Samsonov also has the speed to stretch the defense. They'll do some damage.

The Washington offense will be paced by the All-World talent of Peter Bondra. He never gets any hype, but Bondra tied for the league lead in goals this season with 52. The guy's just amazing. If you want to have some fun, just watch Bondra skate. It's like a martini for the eyes. I have no idea what that means...

ALF

While each team has a marquee player, offense was hard to come by in the regular season series. In their four games, the two teams combined for just 12 goals. Yeah, that's excitement.

With scoring at a premium, things could come down to goaltending. Olaf Kolzig will get the call for the Caps, fresh off a career year that saw him win 33 games. Kolzig and Dafoe came up together through the Washington system and are best buddies. So this could be a serious competition for bragging rights. But if Kolzig slumps, the Caps can always turn to Ranford. If Dafoe goes in the tank, Rob Tallas is on deck. Advantage Caps.

Key Matchup: The Bruins have to find a way to neutralize Bondra. They'll likely match Ray Bourque and Hal Gill against the Slovakian speedster. Sadly, neither one has the wheels to stay even close.

Players to Watch: Bondra is the man. If you remove your eye from this guy for a minute you're taking the chance of missing something special. He'll be good for five or six goals this series.

Deciding Factor: Boston needs to get production out of its second line of Ted Donato, Steve Heinze, and Anson Carter. I suspect the Caps are going to be able to keep the Allison trio fairly quiet with the likes of Mark Tinordi and Joe Reekie around. So it will be imperative for the Bears to get offense from other sources. Heinze is capable. He scored a career-high 26 goals this year.

Prediction: Boston had a nice season, but the Caps are the better team. Washington is finally starting to get healthy and play to its potential. And Boston really has no answer for Bondra. But who does? The Caps in six.

Western Conference

SAN JOSE SHARKS (8) VS DALLAS STARS (1)

Schedule:

1  Wed, April 22 - San Jose at Dallas      
2  Fri, April 24 - San Jose at Dallas      
3  Sun, April 26 - Dallas at San Jose    
4  Tue, April 28 - Dallas at San Jose   
5* Thu, April 30 - San Jose at Dallas 
6* Sat, May 2 - Dallas at San Jose
7* Mon, May 4 - San Jose at Dallas 

Season Series: Split 2-2-0.

The Dallas Stars claimed the President's Trophy this season with a record of 49-22-11. But all the wins and all the really big cheese platters in the world won't erase the memories of the Stars' first-round loss to the Oilers last year.

The Stars will be mission men this time out. And calling the shots will be Mike Modano. Known to friends and fans alike as Mikey Mo, Modano is fresh off the injured reserve list and looking to cement his stature as one of the game's premier superstars. If Modano wants to be considered in the same breath with the likes of Eric Lindros, Jaromir Jagr, Peter Forsberg, and Joe Sakic, he needs a big playoff year.

Aiding Modano in the cause will be Joey Nieuwendyk. Now here's a guy that had a great year, lemme tell ya. With Modano out, Nieuwendyk led the club in scoring with 39 goals and 69 points in 73 games. His 39 red lights were the most this season by a Canadian-born player. How 'bout them apples?

Modano and Nieuwendyk are the main weapons, but Dallas boasts swell depth up front. Pat Verbeek, Jere Lehtinen, Jamie Langenbrunner, and Greg Adams can all chip in with goals, while guys like Mike Keane, Brian Skrudland, Dave Reid, and Guy Carbonneau add character. The defense is equally well-balanced, with Derian Hatcher and Serge Zubov headlining the group. Hatcher, along with Chris Pronger and Adam Foote, is one of the premier defensive defensemen in the game, while Zubov was among the league's highest scoring defensemen with 10 goals and 57 points. And there is no longer a hole in net now that Eddie Belfour is manning the pipes. Belfour led the league with a 1.88 goals-against average. Dallas just has no weakness.

San Jose definitely has a tough road to hoe. But the Sharks might be up to the task. Not only did they just purchase a new shiny hoe equipped with a foam pad on the handle for comfort, the Fish also closed the season going 6-2-4 over their final 12 games. And they've played the Stars tough this season, splitting the series two games apiece with the road team winning every time out. And keep in mind that the Sharks have never lost a first- round series, owning wins over Detroit and Calgary, while Dallas hasn't advanced past the first round since 1994. So what does all this mean? Not a whole lot...

Jeff Friesen by Meredith Martini

The Sharks are powered by wily veterans such as John MacLean, Bernie Nicholls, Tony Granato, and Murray Craven. The offense is primarily driven by Jeff Friesen. The swift winger led the club with 31 goals and 63 points. That's really about it, tho'. No other player even had as many as 20 goals or 45 points.

Key Matchup: The highlight will be seeing Mike Vernon and Ed Belfour go at it in net. Vernon has two Stanley Cup rings. Belfour has a real wizard mood ring. And Underdog has a ring, too. The secret compartment of which he fills with an Underdog super energy pill. But I digress. The point is that Belfour hasn't had much in the way of playoff success, making it to the finals just once, while Vernon has been to the top of the mountain twice.

Players to Watch: The Sharks have three guys that could make a difference. Owen Nolan had a miserable season, recording just 14 goals and 41 points in 75 games, but he's still a star talent. He's capable of erupting at any moment. And he's a streak scorer. Once he gets one, they tend to come in bunches.

The second pivotal player is Al Iafrate. The Sharks are just a completely different team with Iafrate in the lineup. The Planet can make an impact, provided he stays healthy. That's always a concern.

The third key player is defensemen Bryan Marchment. Earlier this year while a member of the Edmonton Oilers, Marchment injured Mike Modano and Greg Adams with knee-to-knee checks. The two separate incidents created a blood feud between the Oilers and Stars. The situation played a part in Edmonton trading him back east to Tampa Bay. Well, now Marchment is back in the west and will have the pleasure of facing Dallas in the postseason. This could get ugly.

Deciding Factor: The Sharks have to get some goals from Nolan. He should be their go-to guy. He's a 50-goal scorer just waiting to happen. If Nolan doesn't come through, the rest of the Sharks probably won't be able to produce enough goals to threaten the upset.

Prediction: The Sharks are a solid veteran team with a proven winner in net. But that still won't be enough to knock off Dallas. The Stars are just too deep and strong at all positions. It could be a long series, tho'. Look for the Stars in six, maybe seven if Nolan wakes up. There's even an outside chance of an upset if Marchment is able to get Dallas off its game entirely with a few questionable hits.

EDMONTON OILERS (7) VS COLORADO AVALANCHE (2)

Schedule:

1   Wed, April 22 - Edmonton at Colorado       
2   Fri, April 24 - Edmonton at Colorado  
3   Sun, April 26 - Colorado at Edmonton        
4   Tue, April 28 - Colorado at Edmonton      
5*  Thu, April 30 - Edmonton at Colorado        
6*  Sat, May 2 - Colorado at Edmonton       
7*  Mon, May 4 - Edmonton at Colorado 

Season Series: Colorado won 5-1-0.

This will be the most entertaining series of the first round. Both teams love to skate and trade scoring chances. The Avalanche like to think of themselves as a defensive club, but they're still a run-and-gun Old West team at heart. And the Oilers seem to bring that game out of them. Expect to see plenty of goals scored in this one.

It may be a treat to hockey fans, but the Oilers would have just rather skipped meeting the Avalanche in the first round. Colorado beat them five out of six times this season, by a combined score of 24-11, and rubbed 'em out in five games during the second round last year. Curtis Joseph was in net for all five losses this season, earning a 4.25 goals-against average and a .855 save percentage. Bob Essensa was in net for the lone Oiler win, a 5-4 decision in Colorado near the end of March.

The Oil got some good news when the NHL suspended Joe Sakic one game for kneeing Kris Draper in the Avalanche season finale. Yeah, somebody better straighten Sakic out because that guy is a loose cannon. Oh boy.

Doug Weight by Meredith Martini

Anyway, Sakic will be on the shelf for Game One, but he'll be back in plenty of time to torture Joseph with his supersonic wrist shot for at least four goals. With Sakic out, that just means the Peter Forsberg line will have to carry a bit more of the load to start. Forsberg finished second in league scoring with 91 points and really began to light it up the last few times out with linemates Claude Lemieux and Valeri Kamensky. If these guys get rollin', this series will be over in a hurry.

Edmonton's ace up front is good ol' Dougie Weight. The slick center led the team in scoring with 26 goals and 70 points. The only other Oiler to hit 20 goals was Ryan Smyth, and he had an even 20. Dean McAmmond was second on the club in points with 50. So while the Oilers have plenty of speed, they don't have a lot of finishers. They're going to have trouble beating Patrick Roy on a regular basis.

Key Matchup: The Oilers have to quiet the Forsberg line if they hope to make this thing competitive. The only problem is that Edmonton's top pair is Boris Mironov and Roman Hamrlik. They're plenty skilled, but I don't think they'll have Forsberg, Lemieux, and Kamensky staying up late diagraming plays. Unless, like, you know, "Shaft" is on TV or somethin'... then they could cook up some smores, break out the Nestle Quick, and make a night of it...

Peter Forsberg by Meredith Martini

Player to Watch: Well, Sakic will probably come out flying once he returns from his suspension. So that'll be cool. And Forsberg was extremely hot down the stretch. He'll likely put up some three-point nights.

As for the Oil, they could use a big effort out of Billy Guerin. They need someone to finish with consistency, and Guerin has the potential. It's just too bad he rarely delivers on the promise. And if Curtis Joseph gets hot he could steal a game or two.

Deciding Factor: This whole series hinges on Edmonton's ability to handle Forsberg's line. The Oilers also have to find a way to silence the Avalanche power play. In the six games against the Oil this season, the Colorado man-advantage connected nine out of 31 times (29%).

Prediction: There are a lot of people out there that are forgetting about the Avalanche. They may look sleepy at times, but that's just because they don't care. They know they're better than the opposition, they just don't feel the need to prove it on a nightly basis during the regular season. But this is the playoffs. Edmonton's style should bring out the best in the Avalanche. Colorado in five.

PHOENIX COYOTES (6) VS DETROIT RED WINGS (3)

Schedule:

1  Wed, April 22 - Phoenix at Detroit 
2  Fri, April 24 - Phoenix at Detroit      
3  Sun, April 26 - Detroit at Phoenix       
4  Tue, April 28 - Detroit at Phoenix       
5* Thu, April 30 - Phoenix at Detroit      
6* Sat, May 2 - Detroit at Phoenix  
7* Mon, May 4 - Phoenix at Detroit

Season Series: Detroit won 3-1-2.

Detroit enters the postseason bruised, battered, and in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Steve Yzerman and Igor Larionov ended the campaign nursing groin injuries but should be good to go in Game One. The same can't be said for Brendan Shanahan, Doug Brown, Brent Gilchrist, and Kris Draper. Shanny is questionable for the start of the series with a bad back, Brown is likely out until next season with a shoulder injury, Gilchrist could miss the entire first round with a groin pull, and Draper is day-to-day with a sprained knee. Not exactly how you want to enter the playoffs.

The Wings were healthy all season until the end, which is the complete opposite story for the Coyotes. Phoenix lost a ton of man-games to injury this year... I'm not sure of the exact number, but it's like more than 12 and less than 714. Somewhere in there. Anyway, the Coyotes are actually getting somewhat healthy, although sniper Keith Tkachuk is still playing through a rib injury and Jeremy Roenick continues to be bothered by a slight hernia. Craig Janney is on the mend from a knee injury and may not be ready at the start, but then again, it's not 1990 so who really cares?

The Coyotes are on a bit of a tear. The Dessert Dogs seemed like a dark horse to make the playoffs because of a brutal schedule down the homestretch, but they pulled it off by winning four straight before dropping the final game of the season. The guy who really led the charge was Rick Tocchet. He got in trouble again with the league recently for a stick infraction, but Tocchet has been a dynamo for Phoenix. A slow dynamo, but a dynamo nonetheless. His intensity carried the club to where it is today.

The Phoenix franchise has had little success in the playoffs. They've failed to make it out of the first round since 1986-87. Since that time there have been seven first-round exits, including one in each of the past two seasons. Detroit did the honors in 1995-96, dispatching the then-Winnipeg Jets in six games despite some spectacular goaltending from Nikolai Khabibulin.

Nikolai Khabibulin by Meredith Martini

Key Matchup: Defensive assignments are a tough call for Jim Schoenfeld and the Coyotes. Do you match up Teppo Numminen against Yzerman or Sergei Fedorov? Scotty Bowman won't have such decisions, since Tkachuk is pretty much the entire Coyote offense. Expect to see Nicklas Lidstrom on the ice whenever Tkachuk is out there.

Players to Watch: The goaltenders could make for interesting viewing. Khabibulin has the ability to go nuts on occasion and steal games without giving the opposition much choice in the matter. Of course, he can also give up five goals on 15 shots and look bush league in doing it. Khabby's nutty like that. If he can string together three or four impressive outings, a Coyote upset isn't out of the question.

At the other end of the ice, Chris Osgood will finally have the entire weight of the team on his shoulders. He's never really proven himself to be a playoff netminder. His career postseason save percentage is a rather ordinary .897. If he cracks, the Wings are beat.

Deciding Factor: Phoenix has to get some scoring from someone other than Tkachuk. C'mon, would it kill Roenick to score a few goals? Maybe somebody should try hypnotizing him into believing it's 1992. While they're at it they might as well set the Way Back Machine to 1990 for Janney, too...

Prediction: Phoenix could pull off the upset if the Detroit injuries linger longer than expected and Khabibulin plays out of his skull. But in all likelihood, the Wings will just outlast the Coyotes with their depth and experience. Detroit in six.

LOS ANGELES KINGS (5) VS ST. LOUIS BLUES (4)

Schedule:

1  Thu, April 23 - Los Angeles at St. Louis     
2  Sat, April 25 - Los Angeles at St. Louis     
3  Mon, April 27 - St. Louis at Los Angeles  
4  Wed, April 29 - St. Louis at Los Angeles
5* Fri, May 1 - Los Angeles at St. Louis  
6* Sun, May 3 - St. Louis at Los Angeles   
7* Tue, May 5 - Los Angeles at St. Louis  

Season Series: St. Louis won 3-0-1.

Okay, so what if Grant Fuhr looked loopy as hell the last few games of the season? The Blues still have Brett Hull up front and Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis, and Steve Duchesne along the blue line. That should be more than enough to handle the upstart Kings.

St. Louis dominated the season series with the Royalty, going 3- 0-1 in the four games. The secret to the Blues' success was the power play, both theirs and the Kings'. St. Louis converted seven of their 21 power-play chances (33%), while the Kings connected once on 16 tries (6.3%).

Hey, get a load of this... Brett Hull didn't lead the Blues in goal-scoring this season. Hull only bagged 27 goals, four fewer than team leader Geoff Courtnall. The Golden One even went goal- less for 11 straight games at the end of the season before snapping the drought with an empty-netter against Anaheim in the season's final contest. To be fair about it, Hull only appeared in 66 games and did lead the team in points with 72. So it wasn't a total wash.

Pierre Turgeon was second on the club in scoring with 22 goals and 68 points in 60 games, followed by Courtnall's 31 goals and 62 points. Good ol' Pavol Demitra also showed he could produce some decent numbers when given the chance by potting 22 goals and 52 points.

John Shaft

It's hard to believe, considering the off year by Hull, but the Blues were actually the highest-scoring team in the league, racking up 256 goals. It's even harder to believe that 256 goals led the league, but that's a whole different story. That goal total wasn't just the work of the forwards. The Blues' real strength is in their three dominant defenders. Pronger doesn't score a whole lot, although he did have nine goals and 36 points, but he'll play the whole game if needed and led the NHL in +/- with a remarkable +47. MacInnis just continues to put up the numbers despite his advancing years, recording 19 goals and 49 points. And Duchesne quietly goes about his business in the shadows of his two prominent teammates, finishing fourth on the team in scoring with 14 goals and 56 points.

The Kings have a superstar defenseman of their own in Rob Blake. The likely Norris Trophy winner, Blake led all defensemen in goals with 23 and was fourth on the team with 50 points. His play was the main reason why the Kings are back in the postseason for the first time in five years.

The Los Angeles offense is carried by the crafty Jozef Stumpel. The big Czech center has so many skills they're falling out of his pockets. Stumpel led the Kings in scoring with 21 goals and 79 points in 77 games. But the club's top two goal-scorers were Glen Murray (29) and Yanic Perreault (28). This reminds me of that old hockey axiom passed down through the generations that goes something like, "When your top two goal-scorers are Glen Murray and Yanic Perreault, you won't go anywhere in the playoffs."

The Kings will be solid in net with Stephane Fiset. He's the real deal. But he'd be a lot cooler if he'd wear his old igloo mask from his days with Quebec.

Key Matchup: Jozef Stumpel vs. Chris Pronger. If the Kings want to win, Stumpel has to produce. And he's going to have to do it against Pronger. It might happen. It could happen. It's not gonna happen...

Player to Watch: Brett Hull is due to go buckwild. Don't be surprised to see him blast home four or five over the course of the series.

For the Kings, watch out for Luc Robitaille. He's fresh from the injured reserve and could make an impact. He has a knack of getting the folks in L.A. to rally around him. And they don't call him Lucky Luc for nothin'...

Deciding Factor: The Kings must solve the St. Louis power play and they have to get scoring out of unproven guys like Stumpel, Murray, and Perreault. It's not going to be easy. But neither is Boggle, and look how much fun that is...

Prediction: St. Louis in five.

So, let's review. If all goes as planned, here's how things will turn out...

New Jersey in five.
Pittsburgh in six.
Buffalo in seven.
Washington in six.
Dallas in six.
Colorado in five.
Detroit in six.
St. Louis in five.

And if the above doesn't happen, then forget you ever read this. Now beat it. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

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