This is one of those series that the Caps should have been able to win nine times out of 10 in their sleep. Unfortunately for Washington, everyone but Alex Ovechkin was asleep. A terrible performance by Tomas Vokoun (18 goals against in four games), coupled by strong play from Rick DiPietro and Washington’s offensive disappearance doomed the Caps from the get-go.

 

The series started with a tight 3-2 win for the Isles, who scored three of the first four goals to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The Caps rebounded well in Game Two, taking a commanding 4-1 lead early in the third period. Brian Rolston had something to say about that, assisting on a goal and adding two more of his own, including one in the closing seconds of regulation, to force into overtime where Josh Bailey potted the winner. After DiPietro gave up four goals in Game Two, he would give up just two the rest of the way, shutting out the Caps in Game Three and holding them to two goals in the deciding Game Four.
 

Despite losing star sniper Thomas Vanek to a concussion, the Sabres proved to be too much for the Pittsburgh Penguins, as Ryan Miller shut down the Pens, allowing more than one goal just twice in the series. Buffalo’s snipers were out in full force, with Derek Roy scoring five goals (including three game-winners) and Jason Pominville three, while the Sabres’ stifling defense held Sidney Crosby to just three assists in the five game series.

 

Roy ended Game One in dramatic fashion, capping his hat trick in front of the Pittsburgh faithful with an overtime game-winner to give Buffalo the series lead. Game Two saw another overtime win for the Sabres, as Pominville potted the winner in OT to give Buffalo a 2-0 edge heading back home. Game Three saw another overtime game, this one going in the favor of the Pens, with Jordan Staal notching the winning goal. The next game belonged to Miller, who stopped 35 shots in his shutout. Game Five saw the Pens and Sabres head into the third period at a 1-1 deadlock before the Sabres unleashed a five-goal period to send the Pens packing.
  

This is becoming an all too familiar first round match up for both of these teams, but the NHL is better for having these two rivals consistently pound each other into oblivion in the first round. After last year’s marvelous run to the Cup, Boston came into the playoffs with an inkling to do it again – until they ran into Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens.

 

Game One showed exactly what everyone thought it would – a goaltending duel. Price and Thomas went blow-for-blow through the first two periods until Andrei Kostitsyn potted the lone goal of the game midway through the third period to give the Habs the series advantage. Game Two saw the Habs take a 2-0 series lead on the strength of a four-point game from P.K. Subban, a 38-save performance by Price and an abysmal goaltending performance by Tim Thomas (17 saves). Boston headed up to Montreal – déjà vu – quickly jumping out to a two-goal lead in the first period, but the Habs rallied to score three straight and take a 3-0 stranglehold on the series. Not about to go quietly, Boston won Game Four in double overtime on the strength of a Brad Marchand tally and a strong outing from Tuukka Rask, who came on in relief of a struggling Thomas. But the Habs' defense and goaltending proved to be too much for Boston as they closed them out in Game Five with a 2-1 victory.
  

Both the Lightning and Rangers headed into the playoffs with vaunted offensive firepower. Only one could win. Surprisingly, it wasn’t Tampa’s star power, but the role players that provided the bulk of their offense and, ultimately, led the Bolts to a series victory with no goals from Steven Stamkos and just one from Martin St. Louis.

 

Tampa Bay took the early lead in the series with a commanding performance by their veteran goaltender, Dwayne Roloson, who stopped 42 shots in a 3-2 Game One victory. Games Two and Three each saw a solid offensive performance by Brandon Dubinsky, who led the Rangers to wins in each of the two games with two goals in New York’s 4-2 Game Two win and a goal and an assist in their 2-1 win in Game Three. Game Four saw the Bolts escape with a hard fought 3-2 win, while Game Five saw them win by the same score. The Rangers evened the series at three games apiece with a 6-2 victory on the back of a four assist game by Dan Girardi and two-goal performance by Marian Gaborik. The Rangers couldn’t ride the momentum, however, as Tampa Bay came home to the hometown crowd and skated to a 3-1 victory to seal the series.
  

With the Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild getting together in the first round, another memorable moment was added to a budding rivalry. Minnesota’s revamped offense and solid defense gave Vancouver all they could handle, but the defending Western Conference champions were just too much.

Games One and Two saw the Wild steal home-ice advantage behind the spectacular goaltending of Niklas Backstrom in a 1-0 Game One win and a 2-1 overtime victory in Game Two. Game Three saw the Canucks get one back with a 5-2 victory before Daniel Sedin led the Canucks to a 4-3 win with an OT goal in Game Four. Minnesota took back the advantage in Vancouver with a 2-1 victory on the strength of a two-goal night by Dany Heatley and another strong outing by Backstrom. The home-ice disadvantage continued, as Vancouver overcame an early Minnesota lead to stay alive with a 2-1 Game Six victory. Despite its success in Vancouver, Minnesota couldn’t close out the series, as the Canucks clinched the series in front of their home crowd with a tremendous 5-2 win.
  

The Blue Jackets’ return to the postseason had them facing a daunting challenge in the new-look San Jose Sharks. The Jackets came out of the gates firing. Ultimately, the Sharks' offense and the Jackets' inconsistency in net doomed Columbus to an early exit.

 

Columbus stormed out of the gates in Game One, racking up a big lead early and skating away with a 4-1 victory, the series lead, and a lot of hope. The Sharks changed that in Game Two, winning 3-2 to tie the series. In Columbus, the Sharks took Game Three 5-2 on a Joe Thornton hat trick and Game Four by the same score on a four-point night from Jumbo Joe. Game Five was closer; Steve Mason stood tall in net but the Sharks prevailed with a 2-0 victory, sending the Jackets back to Columbus disappointed.
  

A rivalry was renewed out west, where the Red Wings and the Ducks did battle for seven grueling games that turned into a war of attrition for one team’s defensive corps. The Ducks lost Toni Lydman and Francois Beauchemin to injuries in the first two games of the series, then lost Kurtis Foster in Game Six. Mike Commodore was also injured in Game Two for the Wings, but hurting defensive units couldn’t stop these two teams from pushing each other to the limits.

 

Anaheim quickly jumped out to a 1-0 series lead after a 52-save performance by Jonas Hiller gave them a 2-1, double overtime victory in Game One. Jimmy Howard returned the favor in Game Two, however, shutting out the Ducks for a 1-0 overtime victory. Game Three saw the goalies' gamesmanship continue as Hiller notched a shutout in a 2-0 win. The Ducks’ momentum at home continued with a commanding 4-1 victory and, with Detroit unable to find its offense, Anaheim’s upset bid looked secure. The Wings came out flying in Game Five, rebounding from an early goal against to score seven straight and send the series back to Anaheim with a 7-1 drubbing. Detroit’s offense kept rolling in Game Six, downing the Ducks 4-2 and again back in the Motor City, closing out the series in Game Seven with another 4-2 win.
  

This series was the story of two opposites – one team looking to recapture its Stanley Cup glory, the other looking to finally find playoff success. The experience and grit that the Blackhawks added this offseason ultimately paid dividends, as they sent their counterparts from Los Angeles packing – but not without a spirited fight.

 

L.A. came out firing with a 4-3 overtime victory in Game One on the strength of a Trevor Lewis winner. Chicago rebounded with a 4-2 victory in Game Two behind a three-point night from Andrew Brunette. In front of a surprised Staples Center crowd, Chicago took the series lead, with a shocking hat trick and five-point night out of Dan Carcillo, leading the ‘Hawks to a 7-1 rout. Game Four saw the Kings rebound with a 4-2 victory, but the Hawks proved to be too much for L.A., downing them in overtime of Games Five and Six. Captain Serious, Jonathan Toews, got the winning tally in both.
  

With every eighth seed that goes deep into the playoffs, the "Team of Destiny" thoughts creep in. The Isles seemed to fit the label – first they sweep the first-seeded Captials, then they downed the Lightning? Sounds like they had the Southeast’s number.

 

Two-point games from both Brian Rolston and Michael Grabner got the Isles rolling in their 3-2 victory in Game One, but Martin St. Louis finally showed up to the playoffs for a three-point game in Game Two to help Tampa even the series. Rick DiPietro stole the show in Game Three, making 43 saves, while Michael Haley got the unlikely game-winner in double overtime. Game Four was the Kyle Okposo Show, as his three-point night led the Isles to a 5-3 victory. Game Five saw DiPietro back on display, as the franchise goalie held the Bolts to just one goal to close out the series.
  

The Sabres might have gotten Vanek back from injury for this series, but the addition of their top sniper didn’t matter much against the mastery of Carey Price and the Montreal Canadiens. Yet again, two Northeast Division rivals faced off and, yet again, Montreal came out on top with relative ease.

 

Game One was exactly what you would think a game featuring these two teams would be – a goaltending duel. In the end, Price was one up on Ryan Miller to lead Montreal to a 1-0 victory. Montreal’s offense showed up in Game Two and, behind a two-goal performance from Travis Moen, the Habs won 5-2. Price was again the centerpiece of the Habs’ 2-1 Game Three victory with a 41-save performance and Brian Gionta helped seal the series with his two-goal performance in Montreal’s Game Four win.
  

It’s a post-season for rivalries. This time, the Canucks had a much easier time dispatching the ‘Hawks than in 2011, as Chicago just never got its legs against the Vancouver juggernaut.

 

The series started off quickly offensively as Ryan Kesler “Kes-lurked” his way to a hat trick in 6-3 Canucks win in Game One. Game Two saw a split shutout between Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider as Luongo got knocked out halfway through and Vancouver rolled to a 3-0 win. Luongo returned for Game Three and completed his shutout this time, a 5-0 win. The ‘Hawks would rebound in Game Four, with Marian Hossa potting the overtime winner to extend the series, but Vancouver was done giving Chicago hope. It showed with a 5-2 victory in Game Five to close the series.
  

Speaking of déjà vu, the Sharks and the Wings faced off in a repeat of the series that saw the Red Wings eliminated the past two seasons. The outcome of this one was no different. The Wings fought valiantly but the Sharks were able to survive the absence of Brent Burns to send Detroit back to HockeyTown.

 

Game One got off to a raucous start as James Sheppard closed out the game in two overtimes with his game winner. San Jose started putting its foot down in Game Two with a five-goal third period to down the Wings 6-2. Joe Pavelski helped give the Sharks a commanding series lead with a two-goal performance in Game Three, but the Wings took Game Four on the strength of a Drew Miller overtime goal. Game Five also went to the Red Wings with Pavel Datsyuk’s three-point performance leading a 3-1 victory. There would be no Game Seven; San Jose scored five straight in the first two periods of its 5-2, series-clinching win.
 

The two teams remaining that have played the least amount of games face off for the Eastern Conference Finals. The Islanders' miraculous run met its fate, as they ran into the monolith that has been the Montreal Canadiens. Carey Price and the Habs held the Isles to just five goals.

 

Despite the Habs winning Game one 1-0, Rick DiPietro stole the show with his 53-save performance. Game Two saw four different Habs score goals, taking a two-game lead with a 4-1 win. The series shifted to New York, but the momentum didn’t. Price stymied the Isles with a 33-save 2-1 victory. Helped by a three-point performance by Andrei Kostitsyn in Game Four, Montreal had a 5-3 win and a series sweep.
 

While their counterparts in the east were done in a New York minute, the left coast teams made it last with a series for the ages. No team won more consecutive games, no team had the clear-cut advantage and the real winners were everyone who got to watch (from one man's living room).

 

Game One saw Vancouver take a 3-1 victory, but San Jose rebounded in Game Two with a 4-0 win thanks to three-point games from Martin Havlat, Thornton and Dan Boyle, as well as a 39-save shutout from Antti Niemi. The Canucks got the edge back in Game Three with a 4-3 win thanks to a three-point performance by Alex Burrows. Again, San Jose struck right back with a 40-save, 5-3 win by Niemi in Game Four. Kesler’s two-goal game and Luongo’s 25-save shutout gave Vancouver a 5-0 win heading home. The Canucks couldn’t close out the series in Vancouver, however, thanks to a two-goal game from Michal Handzus and a 5-2 win. Game Seven was the nail-biter everyone expected. Vancouver took a quick 3-0 lead, only for Logan Couture to bring San Jose within one with back-to-back goals in the third period. Keith Ballard sealed the deal, giving the Canucks a 4-2 win and sending them to their second straight Stanley Cup final.
 

Send in the Mounties! The Stanley Cup was finally coming back to Canada. While the Canucks had a rough road along the playoff path with two seven-game series, the Habs had breezed through, not losing a single game in regulation and losing only one in overtime.

 

Game One was an overtime thriller. Scott Gomez scored in overtime to give the Habs a 4-3 win and the series lead. Game Two went to Vancouver with Luongo becoming the first goalie to outduel Price in the postseason – a 1-0, 28-save shutout victory. The Habs' stranglehold on the postseason seemed to be sleeping, as Daniel Sedin scored both Vancouver goals to give the Canucks a 2-1 overtime win in Game Three. Not content to go silently into the Montreal night, the Habs' offense woke up in Game Four behind Tomas Plekanec's two power-play goals; their 5-2 win tied the series. Game Five was another overtime thriller, with Yannick Weber potting the game-winner. Heading back to Montreal for the clincher, the Habs got two-goal performances from Weber, Brian Gionta and Mike Cammalleri to close out the Canucks and win their first Stanley Cup since 1993.
 

Conn Smythe Winner: Carey Price (16-1-2, 1.46 GAA, .952 Sv Pct, 3 SO)

Montreal wins 4-2

Photo courtesy EA Sports

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