This time of year Hockey could change its name to Goalie. Playoff success is generally predicated on a teams goalie play through out the playoffs. Goalie play with a healthy dose of shut down defense is the key to almost every Stanley Cup winner. Pretty much every team in the playoffs this year has a goalie that is capable of leading their team to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Lets look at each series and take an educated guess on which teams can emerge into round two.

1. Montreal Canadiens vs 8. Boston Bruins- Montreal one of the world premier hockey cities is juiced for the first round this year as the Habs have a number one seed. Montreal should sweep this series as they did the season series 8-0. Boston may get one win in this series but with as many injuries as they have had this season and right now, it just isn’t their time.

Montreal Sweep 4-0

2. Pittsburgh Penguins vs 7. Ottawa Senators - Ottawa started as one of the leagues best. But the last three months have been unkind in Ottawa. Pittsburgh has so much offense and Sidney Crosby may just be healthy. Ottawa ousted the Penguins in just five games last spring. That plays big in a team motivation to seek revenge.

Penguins in 5 4-1

3. Washington Capitals vs 6. Philadelphia Flyers- Both teams finished the season strong and both have top notch goalies. The Capitals boast an attack lead by scoring sensation Alexander Ovechkin and back him up with solid goaltending from trade deadline pick up Christabol Huet. Philly on the other hand finished the season 7-1-1 and have Martin Biron who will be a factor in net for the flyers. However I feel the Capitals have too much momentum going into the playoffs and will win a very tough series.

Washington 4-3

4. New Jersey Devils 5. New York Rangers. New York dominated to season series winning the first seven of eight. Both have strong goalies but the Rangers have the match ups that are going to stifle a Devils team that has made too many lateral moves with their roster over the last two years. It takes more than Martin Broduer to win a series, or does it?

New York 4-2

1. Detroit Red Wings vs 8. Nashville Predators- The Wings get lucky having a first round series without west coast travel. The Wings being in the Eastern time zone often have series travel issues this time of year. Nashville is yet to win a playoff series and they are due. However they aren’t going to get this one. The series may get stretched to six games due to the massive injury list the Wings have but they have the best goalie tandem in the league. They will start Dominik Hasek and have back up Chris Osgood who actually lead the league in GAA percentage and started the All-Star game this season.

Detroit 4-2

2. San Jose Sharks and 7. Calgary Flames- This series may be a little tight than most have anticipated.The Sharks have been one of the leagues hottest teams but Calgary is one of the hardest working teams. Here is where the multiple over time games will come in . Both teams goalies are among the leagues best. The goalie match up of Nabokov and Kiprusoff shoudl carry this series at least 6 gams.

San Jose 4-2

3.Minnesota Wild vs 6. Colorado Avalanche- Minnesota is facing a very different Colorado team with the addition of many former players they acquired late in the season. Colorado needs to show that they are the Avalanche of old and not and Old Avalanche team. Minnesota may have enough to get to round two but I don’t see it happening. The only way the Wild move on is if the defense they have dominated with can hold up with a revamped Colorado team.

Colorado 4-2

4. Anaheim Ducks vs 5. Dallas Stars. Dallas just lost leader and defensemen Zubov and deadline acquisition Brad Richards finished very mediocre. Anaheim is the defending Stanley Cup Champs and they are for a reason. They boast four top tier defenseman and know what it takes to win a cup. They also have a very solid goalie in Jean-Sebastian Giguere.

Anaheim in five 4-1

This is it for round one. What do you think will happen? I think I made my case but series aren’t played on paper/blogs. If you are a NHL fan this is the best time of year. Every goal is huge.