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2007-08 HFNHL Second Round Playoff Preview
THE EAST
1. Buffalo Sabres vs. 7. Toronto Maple Leafs
Tale of the Tape: The Season
Buffalo Sabres
Record: 48-21-13-0
Goals For: 262 (T-5th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 195 (2nd in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.5/86.8% (13th/T-7th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Patrick Marleau - 86 points
Toronto Maple Leafs
Record: 40-36-6-3
Goals For: 242 (T-12th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 225 (T 14th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 19.2/86.5% (1st/10th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Martin Straka - 83 points
Tale of the Tape: The Playoffs
Buffalo Sabres
Goals For: 3.83/gp (T-3th in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 3.17/gp (10th in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 18.7/96.2% (7th/2nd in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Jaromir Jagr - 11 points
Toronto Maple Leafs
Goals For: 4.00/gp (2nd in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 1.75/gp (T 1st in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 30.7/90.9% (3rd/5th in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Alex Ponikarovsky - 8 points
Season Series: Sabres 5-3
Leafs 1, Sabres 9
Leafs 4, Sabres 5
Leafs 3, Sabres 4
Sabres 3, Leafs 6
Sabres 5, Leafs 4
Leafs 1, Sabres 3
Sabres 1, Leafs 2
Sabres 2, Leafs 8
Keys to Success:
In the first round, the Leafs special teams continued to be dominant and ran over a Flyers team which had trouble with it's special teams unit all year. They got scoring from all their lines and they played great defense. The Sabres had a bit of a tougher time with the Panthers in a close series, but their offense was rolling the entire series, as was their penalty kill. The Sabres are going to need to neutralize the Leaf powerplay and play stronger defense than they did against the Panthers. The Leafs will just have to continue what they have been doing.
The Prediction:
Buffalo Sabres in 7
It's going to be a very hard fought series, but the Sabres should be able to keep the Leaf powerplay in check and force them to score at even strength. Simply according to forward match ups, the Sabres are more dynamic and should put a lot of pressure on the Leaf defense. A toss up, but I'm going with Sabres in 7.
4. New Jersey Devils vs. 6. Ottawa Senators
Tale of the Tape:
New Jersey Devils
Record: 43-30-9-2
Goals For: 257 (7th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 227 (16th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.2/86.3% (14th/T 11th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Chris Drury - 73 points
Ottawa Senators
Record: 37-31-14-3
Goals For: 214 (23rd in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 198 (4th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 11.9/87.6% (29th/4th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Daniel Briere - 68 points
Tale of the Tape: The Playoffs
New Jersey Devils
Goals For: 4.25/gp (1st in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 2.00/gp (4th in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 23.5/87.5% (5th/7th in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Thomas Vanek - 7 points
Ottawa Senators
Goals For: 3.80/gp (5th in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 2.60/gp (7th in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 33.3/88.2% (1st/6th in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Mike Comrie - 7 points
Season Series: Devils 1-0-1
Devils 3, Senators 3
Senators 2, Devils 3
Keys to Success:
Two teams coming off first round sweeps, they've had ample time to prepare for battle. The Senators had one of the worst powerplays in the HFNHL during the regular season, yet during the first round they had the best powerplay, go figure. The Devils have the most high powered offense remaining in the playoffs and they will have beat out the best goalie in Roberto Luongo. The Senators are going to have to play tight defense infront of Luongo and they are going to have to continue getting balanced scoring. The Devils will have to refrain from taking penalties and let the Senators powerplay continue to gain steam
The Prediction:
New Jersey Devils in 5
The Devils were better than the 4th seed they accumulated. If it wasn't for one disasterous losing streak, they might have been the top seed in the East. Luongo is a great goalie, but the Devils are just so much better of a team. I also think the Senators powerplay overachieved in the first round. So I'm taking Devils in 5.
THE WEST
2. Dallas Stars vs. 8. Colorado Avalanche
Tale of the Tape:
Dallas Stars
Record: 46-28-8-0
Goals For: 238 (T-15th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 206 (5th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 18.0/88.3% (3rd/2nd in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Derek Roy - 72 points
Colorado Avalanche
Record: 39-36-7-3
Goals For: 228 (20th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 222 (T 9th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 15.9/84.1% (10th/19th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Sidney Crosby - 79 points
Tale of the Tape: The Playoffs
Dallas Stars
Goals For: 2.50/gp (11th in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 1.83/gp (3rd in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 8.3/94.1% (13th/3rd in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Bill Guerin - 7 points
Colorado Avalanche
Goals For: 3.83/gp (T 3rd in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 3.50/gp (11th in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 18.1/73.3% (8th/13th in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Chris Kuntiz - 10 points
Season Series: 1-1
Avalanche 2, Stars 3
Stars 1, Avalanche 4
Keys to Success:
Two teams coming off perhaps the two most hard fought series in the playoffs so far. The season match ups occured at the very beginning of the season, so the results don't really mean anything. The Stars have played great defense and gotten great goaltending from Kipper. The Avs drove through the Blues by simply outscoring them and getting a couple clutch goals from Michael Nylander. The Stars have to try and limit the amount of pucks Kipper will see and keep the Avs from scoring on the powerplay, which was relatively successful in the first round. The Avs have to do the opposite, and really take advantage of powerplay time to beat Kipper. They also have to improve their defensive intensity, as well as get a better effort from J.S. Giguere.
The Prediction:
Colorado Avalanche in 7
A Very hard fought series, but the Avs ulimately come out on top. Kipper is great, but he can't stop everything. I'm not sure the Stars can score enough to keep pace with the Avs.
4. Detroit Red Wings vs. 6. Vancouver Canucks
Tale of the Tape:
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 48-24-10-4
Goals For: 238 (T 15th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 196 (3rd in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 13.8/85.8% (20th/13th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Mike Knuble - 70 points
Vancouver Canucks
Record: 39-30-13-1
Goals For: 262 (T-5th in HFNHL)
Goals Against: 224 (T 12th in HFNHL)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 16.2/86.9% (7th/6th in HFNHL)
Top Scorer: Eyvgeni Malkin - 70 points
Tale of the Tape: The Playoffs
Detroit Red Wings
Goals For: 3.00/gp (T 8th in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 2.40/gp (5th in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 17.6/100% (9th/1st in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Nik Lidstrom - 8 points
Vancouver Canucks
Goals For: 3.00/gp (T 8th in HFNHL playoffs)
Goals Against: 1.75/gp (T 1st in HFNHL playoffs)
Power Play/Penalty Kill: 33.3/77.7% (T 1st/11th in HFNHL playoffs)
Top Scorer: Brendan Morrison - 5 points
Season Series: Red Wings 1-0-1
Canucks 2, Red Wings 2
Red Wings 4, Canucks 1
Keys to Success:
Probably the most equal match up on paper in second round. The teams have similar offenses which rely on several lines, rather than one prominent one. The teams have solid goaltending in Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Brodeur. And both teams have star powered defenses which did a good job of holding opponents in check the first round. The Canucks held a much more powerful offense in the Oilers, thanks to incredible goaltending from Marty Brodeur. They will need much the same this round. The Vancouver powerplay was also excellent in the first round, however they are going against a remarkable penalty killing unit on Detroit. How remarkable is this penalty killing unit? Detroit took the most penalties in round 1, yet also did not allow a single power play goal. Vancouver will have to get bodies to the net and move the puck and really take advantage of undisciplined Wings hockey. Detroit is gonna have to get shots on Marty Brodeur and continued to play hard nosed hockey until the penalties start to bite them in the ass.
The Prediction:
Vancouver Canucks in 6
A hot goalie can really do damage to a teams confidence. Marty Brodeur has gotten hot at the right time and I think a Detroit offense which isn't outstanding, might have some tough time. I also think that Vancouver has better potential in capitalizing on powerplays than the Flames did. Close series, but I think Vancouver takes this one.
Last edited by Brock: 04-17-2008 at 08:30 AM.
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Sorry Dion, didn't mean to not give your team more credit. You did have a great season though. At least it was another goalie that ruined your playoff chances and not your own! Ray Emery in the playoffs, 4.00 GAA and a save percentage of 86%. Yikes.
