This has been the year of the multiple overtime. More games have gone to extra frames this year than any other first round in history, showing exactly how well-matched the playoff teams are. Three series have needed seven games to determine a winner, and there was only one sweep, which came from an unlikely source.
The Western Conference playoffs have spun an interesting story thus far. The home teams, top seeds, and perennial powers were all vulnerable.
The Edmonton Oilers, seeded eighth in the west, took on the top-seeded, highly favored Dallas Stars. Edmonton shocked the Stars and the Dallas crowd in game one by taking the opener of the series 2-1. Dallas fired back, peppering the Oilers with goals in a 6-1 game two blowout. The series traveled to Edmonton, where the home Oilers stunned the hockey world with another one goal victory. Dallas goaltender Marty Turco took control of the series, handcuffing the Edmonton offense in a 3-1 victory in game four. The series shifted back to Dallas, where the Stars scored five goals en route to a 5-2 win. Edmonton bowed out of the playoffs with a 3-2 loss in front of the home crowd.
The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim stunned the hockey world by sweeping away the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. Anaheim captain Paul Kariya beat the Wings in the third overtime of game one. The crushing defense of Anaheim again controlled the pace of game two, led by Jean-Sebastian Giguere. The Ducks held off the powerful Detroit offense, and used a third period comeback to beat the Wings 3-2. The series shifted to California, and Detroit struggled to find a way to wake up the offense. Giguere continued to dominate and held the Wings to one goal in a 2-1 game three victory. The sweep was completed in game four. Anaheim’s Steve Rucchin tallied the game-winner in the extra period. The Ducks will take on the Dallas Stars in the Western Conference semifinals.
The Colorado Avalanche series versus the Minnesota Wild went seven games and the seventh game went to sudden death overtime. With Minnesota coming back from a 3-1 deficit, the Wild pushed the Avalanche to the limits and Andrew Brunette put a huge deke on Patrick Roy to score the game-winner in the first overtime.
The fourth-seeded Vancouver Canucks found themselves in a 3-1 hole in the series against the St. Louis Blues. The Blues caught a stroke of bad luck and a flu virus, which hampered their skaters. The Canucks’ top line woke up in the second half of the series, leading Vancouver to three straight wins and a 4-3 series victory.
The Eastern Conference playoffs have played out just as excitingly as the west. The higher seeds have enjoyed far more success, with each of the conference champions prevailing in the first round.
The Ottawa Senators looked to quickly dismiss the eight-seeded New York Islanders. The Islanders shocked the top-seeded Senators in game one, shutting down the powerful Ottawa offense in a 3-0 victory. New York goalie Garth Snow handcuffed the Senators, but Ottawa’s offense would not continue to sputter. In game two, the Senators reversed their fortune and won 3-0 on the stellar goaltending of Patrick Lalime. The third game went to double overtime, with the favored Senators winning 3-2. Ottawa won the second game on the island, besting the Islanders 3-1. Senators fans watched as their team clinch a spot in the second round by defeating New York 4-1, and capping the series at 4-1.
The New Jersey Devils had little trouble beating the seventh-seeded Boston, dismissing the hapless Bruins in five games. The Bruins had trouble starting their offense and New Jersey goalie Martin Brodeur stifled the Bruins’ top line all series. The Devils’ defensive trap led to a 2-1 win in game one, and their powerful offense led them to a 4-2 victory in game two. As the series shifted to Boston, the momentum stayed in New Jersey’s corner. Brodeur earned a playoff shutout in game three, with the Devils besting the Bruins 3-0. With the series all but in hand, New Jersey surrendered five goals in a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Boston. The Devils traveled home, and put away the series with an impressive 3-0 victory. The second shutout of the series was the 15th in Brodeur’s career.
The three versus six game was the battle of the Southeast Division, with the Tampa Bay Lightning taking on the Washington Capitals. Only one point separated these two teams in the regular season and they played an extremely tight series in the playoffs. Washington took control of the series, riding the hot play of goaltender Olaf Kolzig. Kolzig and the Capitals shutout the Lightning 3-0 in game one and used their offensive power to take game two 6-3. The series traveled to Washington, and the Capitals began to falter. Tampa Bay edged out Washington 4-3 in overtime in game three. The Lightning continued their sterling play in game four, and beat out the Capitals 3-1. The Lightning won game five 2-1, with former Vermont Catamount Martin St. Louis tallying the game-winners in games four and five. It took six periods to conclude the final game and the series, but the Lightning pulled out a 2-1 win in triple overtime. St. Louis scored on a wrap around shot and goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin made 60 saves to slam the door on the Capitals.
The Lightning will take on the Devils in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The attention will be on goaltending; Khabibulin will look to carry his Lightning over Brodeur and the Devils.
The Philadelphia Flyers battled the Toronto Maple Leafs in the four-five game. They played down to a seventh game, and the Flyers’ talented offense took over. Philadelphia scored six goals with help from two by Mark Recchi to advance to the second round. The Flyers will go on to play the Senators.
If the second round plays out to be as interesting as the first round, no team is safe.
The Dallas Stars should beat the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, but they need to watch out for Giguere. Turco should carry the Stars into the conference finals, but the Dallas offense needs to play better than they did against Edmonton.
The Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild will play the most evenly matched series in the second round. The tight defense of the Wild will play with the Vancouver top line. In this epic clash, Minnesota will triumph in six games.
The Ottawa Senators will look to their scoring talent to prevail over the Flyers’ grinding style. The Senators’ talent will shine through in six games, with the beat-up Flyers struggling to find the offensive spark.
The New Jersey Devils will come out of their relatively easy series win over Boston to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning have won four straight games, and are riding the hot streaks of Khabibulin and St. Louis. Tampa will skate with the Devils but will fall in seven games.
