The NHL Playoffs started off with 16 very hopeful squads – all with the same dream – to drink from Lord Stanley’s Cup! As with any sport, there has to be the losing teams that make up the numbers along the way for those on the path of destiny. That’s where we sit right now NHL fans – four teams remaining on the ice, 12 others on the golf courses throughout North America. Those four teams now are so close they can taste it. Too close to let the chance of playing for the Cup slip through their collective hockey gloves…it’s Conference Finals time.

The Desert vs Hollywood – Western Conference Final

Say this out loud three times – the LA Kings versus the Phoenix Coyotes – and then ask yourself if anyone in their right mind had predicted this matchup?!

Dustin Brown has done it all for the Kings so far in the playoffs. Photo Courtesy - zimbio.com

The Kings came into the playoffs as the #8 seed in the West. They had been fighting for their playoff lives for weeks, and in actuality had been in ‘playoff mode’ for a month before the playoffs officially started! They would be easy pickings for the #1 seed – the mighty Vancouver Canucks right? Wrong – so very wrong. The Kings walked over the defending Western Conference Champions in five games. Up next – a sweep of the heavily favoured St. Louis Blues – could this be happening! The eighth seed in the Western Final? Well believe it hockey folks. These Kings are for real, and find themselves as only the third #8 seed in history to get this far (2006 Oilers, 2010 Canadiens), and haven’t lost on the road through two rounds (6-0).

The Coyotes have never – read that again – never been this far in the playoffs. They came into the league in 1979-1980 as the original Winnipeg Jets. They had many tight series’ over the years as both Jets, and Coyotes, but never have they had such postseason glory as they currently are enjoying. Mike Smith has been a wall of power in the Phoenix net, and Captain Shane Doan – so long waiting for a playoff run – has been leading this team in work-man like fashion. Coach Dave Tippett has his side working truly as a team – and the whole club has bought in to what he’s selling, and are believers.

So who takes this one?! Both teams have solid goaltending, great leadership, and maybe some of the best coaching in the NHL. Tough one to call! One team goes to the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in history (Coyotes), or the other goes back for the first time since 1993 (Kings).

Murph’s Pick – Kings in 6 hard fought games.

Why? Dustin Brown has been excellent in the playoffs – 6 goals, 13 points, 2 short-handed goals and three GWG. He also blocks shots, wins faceoffs and is a physical presence every night. If he continues this type of play, the Kings win.

The Swamp vs Manhattan – Eastern Conference Final

The battle of the East River – the New Jersey Devils versus the New York Rangers is our Eastern Final matchup! Many had predicted that the #1 seeded Rangers would be here, but not many had as much hope for the #6 seed from Jersey.

Ilya Kovalchuk has been solid for the Devils during their playoff run. Photo Courtesy - zimbio.com

Martin Brodeur turned 40 just last week – and we had all heard the whispers that Marty’s career was on the downward slide over the past few years.  Well, the future ‘Hall-of-Famer’ has been solid for the Devils this spring. He’s turned back the hands of time a bit, and looks like the Brodeur of playoff runs from the past. The biggest factor for the Devils has been Ilya Kovalchuk. He has been dominant on the ice when it counts for New Jersey, and his 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) leads the team, and puts him third in overall playoff scoring. New Jersey’s dogged forecheck, and their ability to play tough on the boards, and win loose pucks grinded down the heavily favoured Flyers in round two. This type of no nonsense trapping, grinding hockey has won the Devils championships in the past. Can they keep it up against the Rangers?

New York has had an incredible season. Henrik Lundqvist will win the Vezina as the NHL’s top goalie, and he is without a doubt the Rangers’ MVP. He has been brilliant in the playoffs (1.68 GAA, .937 Save %), and looks like he’s on a mission. Brad Richards is showing why New York made him the biggest free-agent signing of last summer, and his relationship with coach John Tortorella just works. The two have Stanley Cup rings as player and coach from 2004 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The x-factor for the Rangers is how they can combat the Devil’s forechecking, and can they withstand the physical pounding which they are about to face. Time will tell if they can do what Philly could not, but Dan Girardi and Marc Staal will log serious minutes on the blueline, and will be charged with shutting down Kovalchuk – no pressure then!

Murph’s pick – Rangers in 6 grinding games.

Why? The Rangers seem to be able to grind out wins whenever they have appeared defeated in the postseason. And, Brad Richards is starting to look like the star that we all believe he can be in these playoffs. Lundqvist has a bit more left in the tank than Brodeur, and New York are just a little deeper than the Devils. If Tortorella can continue to squeeze results from Ruslan Fedotenko, and Chris Kreider etc…the Rangers will win.

Enjoy the Conference Finals wherever you are watching!

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the NHL playoffs @MurphOnIce

Just when you thought that you had the NHL playoffs sorted out in your head – the teams’ involved throw you a collective ‘curve-ball’! This is of course very prevalent in the Western Conference – as two very unlikely teams will do battle to get to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

Coyotes captain Shane Doan has waited a long time for a big playoff run. Photo Courtesy - cp24.com

No experts picked the #8 LA Kings and #3 Phoenix Coyotes to be the only two teams left standing in the West. As a matter of fact – in the case of the Kings – there have only ever been two previous #8 seeds get this far in NHL history. The 2006 Edmonton Oilers went all the way to the Stanley Cup (lost to Carolina in seven games), and the 2010 Montreal Canadiens were knocked out in the Eastern Conference Final.

On the other side of the coin, the Coyotes’ franchise has been in the NHL since 1979-1980, when they were the original Winnipeg Jets. The organization has advanced to the Western Final for the first time in their history this year, and have exceeded all expectations in this playoff run.

So who has the upper hand in this one?!

In the regular season, these Pacific Division foes played six times. They went 3-3 against each other, and had a combined 25 goals in the six games. The Kings had 13 goals, while the Coyotes had 12. Pretty close to call – and even tougher to predict who is the favourite! In those six tilts – three were shutouts.

Jonathan Quick has been the Kings playoff MVP so far. Photo Courtesy - newsdaily.com

So logically, goaltending will win this Western Conference Final  – and someone obviously has the advantage here, right?! No – that is not the case between Jonathan Quick and Mike Smith! Here’s the postseason numbers for your analysis:

LA Kings Jonathan Quick -  8 wins, 1.55 GAA, .949 Save %, 1 shutout.

Phoenix Coyotes Mike Smith – 8 wins, 1.77 GAA, .948 Save %, 2 shutouts.

So then, who you going with?! This match-up is yet another example of what makes the NHL playoffs so much fun. No one honestly thought these teams would be where they are, and now no one can clearly say who’s the favourite! Either way, one team is going to the Stanley Cup for the first time in history (Coyotes), while the other side could be going for the first time since 1993 (Kings). Enjoy this series wherever you are!

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the NHL playoffs @MurphOnIce

Murph was .500 (4-4) with his picks in the opening round of the NHL playoffs. Here’s his take on the second round:

Beasts in the East:

(1) New York Rangers vs. (7) Washington Capitals

Murph’s Pick – Rangers in 7

Can Rangers Captain Ryan Callahan lead NY to the Eastern Final?

Why?– The Rangers survived their ‘wake-up’ call against the plucky Ottawa Senators. Henrik Lundqvist (.945 SV %, 1.70 GAA) made timely saves to keep his club in game six in Canada, and the Rangers showed character under adversity to come back after being down 3-2 in that series. Probably the best news for the Broadway Blueshirts was that in Game Seven their D-men stood tall and got engaged in the offence (Staal, Girardi). For Washington, they did what no one predicted or wagered. They knocked off the defending Stanley Cup champions in a thrilling seven game war of attrition. Their grinding series against Boston was the first playoff series in NHL history when all seven games were decided by just one goal. Braden Holtby (.940 SV %, 2.00 GAA) was outstanding between the pipes, and really got inside the Bruins’ heads. That being said – that kind of series (four overtime games) can really wear a team out. I think the Caps reached their peak in Boston Wednesday night – and the Rangers now know what it takes to survive a scare. When the dust settles in this one, New York will have too much on both sides of the puck, and Lundqvist will be better than Holtby.

(5) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Murph’s Pick – Flyers in 6

Danny Briere was hot in the 1st round for Philly with a pair of two goal games.

Why?– What can anyone say about what the Flyers did in the first round. The incredible offensive explosions, the coming out party for Claude Giroux (6G, 8A, 14PTS) as the leader in Philly, and of course the domination over Crosby and Malkin. This was all headline grabbing stuff. What’s forgotten about the series is the fact that it was incredibly physical, with a huge emotional toll. But the Flyers have had plenty of rest this week after dispatching the Penguins in six games last Sunday. I expect they will have no hangover from the ups and downs of that huge series. The Devils of course knocked out the number three seeded Florida Panthers in a seven game thriller. They needed double overtime in the decider – and rookie Adam Henrique was the hero, with the biggest goal of his hockey life in the second extra frame. Martin Brodeur (.922 SV %, 2.06 GAA) is the emotional figure-head for this Jersey squad, and Marty looked good at times versus the Panthers. He also looked average on a few nights in the opening round – something he cannot afford against the seemingly unstoppable Flyers. The big factor here is that Philly knows they can play any style of hockey and come out on top. They are simply too deep and too polished. The Devils will play them tough, and there is no love lost here, but the Flyers will come out on top in this one.

Go West:

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Murph’s Pick – Blues in 7

Brian Elliott has been solid in the Blues net all season. Photo Courtesy - zimbio.com

Why?– The Blues looked beyond impressive in the opening round. They stifled Joe Thornton and the Sharks with relative ease. San Jose were never really a threat in the series, and Brian Elliott (.949 SV %, 1.37 GAA) was again brilliant for the Blues. Andy McDonald (4G, 4A) emerged as a scoring threat for St. Louis, and Alex Pietrangelo’s stock continues to rise on the blue-line. The Blues power-play was lively in the opening round (33.3 %, 6-18), and if that continues then this team will be very tough. The Kings were also dominant in the first round. Jonathan Quick (.953 SV %, 1.59 GAA) was the driving force in the demolition of #1 seed Vancouver. Captain Dustin Brown also stepped up big-time, he had four goals (two short-handed), and looked dangerous on every shift against the Canucks. This will be a surprisingly tight series. Both teams can play up-tempo hockey – and this could be the gem of the second round. At the end of the day though, I think the Blues have a better system, and are probably ahead in the coaching realm. Ken Hitchcock has really done a fantastic job behind the Blues bench, and I think they are destined for the Western Conference Final.

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (4) Nashville Predators

Murph’s Pick – Predators in 6

Shea Weber was nasty in the opening round against Detroit. Photo Courtesy - usatoday.com

Why?– The Coyotes have done well to get past the Chicago Blackhawks. It was the franchise’s first playoff series victory since 1987 when they were the old Winnipeg Jets. Mike Smith (.950 SV %, 1.81 GAA) has been rock-solid in the Phoenix goal, and Mikkel Boedker supplied the overtime heroics in back-to-back wins over the Blackhawks. On the other side of the rink stands the Predators. Some might say that they were out-played, and out-shot in the opening round against Detroit. That may be in some part true, but goaltending wins big games, and Pekka Rinne (.944 SV %, 1.81 GAA) was on form. The biggest issue for Phoenix will be the Preds’ deep defence corps. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are two of the best shut-down guys in the business, and Kevin Klein (2G, 1A) emerged as another threat against the Wings. The Coyotes have great leadership in Shane Doan, and a fantastic coach in Dave Tippett, but I think they will run out of options and steam against the bigger, nastier Predators.

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the NHL playoffs @MurphOnIce

Is there anything in sports more exciting than a winner-take-all deciding game?! I think the answer for most of us would be a no! An NHL Playoff Game Seven is what we live for. It’s what makes this time of year so captivating and special for the entire hockey community.

And the Eastern Conference has supplied a grand total of three Game Seven deciders for us in the opening round. It all kicks off with the defending Stanley Cup Champions hosting the Washington Capitals.

The Bruins will need Tyler Seguin to come up big in Game Seven vs Washington.

Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins:

This has been a great series. Every game has been decided by just one goal – with 3 games going to overtime – and one of those being a double OT. The Capitals have had an up and down season for sure – but have brought discipline and timely goal-scoring to this series. They have not been intimidated by the defending champs, and Braden Holtby has played like a veteran star. The rookie goalie has had poise throughout, and at times appeared to be getting inside the Bruins’ heads. Boston has looked great at points of the series, but average at times as well. Tim Thomas has been up and down and that has probably dictated some of the Bruins flow. One thing is for sure – if Tyler Seguin and Milan Lucic can make a difference in Game Seven, then the B’s should win this one. But if Holtby and Alex Ovechkin can bring their ‘A’ games to Beantown, then the Caps will be no push over.

My Prediction: Bruins

Ottawa Senators at New York Rangers:

Henrik Lundqvist has been the Rangers' MVP this season. He needs one more big win against Ottawa.

This series has had it all! For a #1 seed versus a #8 seed – it has passed all expectations. Ottawa has never once looked outmatched or at all out of place against the top club in the Eastern Conference. New York has certainly not played bad – the Sens have just played great. There’s been suspensions and injuries (Daniel Alfredsson, Brian Boyle both suffered concussions), but the key as it always is in the playoffs, has been goaltending. Henrik Lundqvist is a shoe-in for the Vezina as the NHL’s top goalie, and he has been strong in this series. For the under-dog Sens, Craig Anderson has been very good – including a stellar 41-save shutout of the Rangers in Game Five. The Ottawa lads may regret not closing out New York in Game Six in Canada, but anything goes in a Game Seven! This one comes down to the two goalies mentioned – whoever can play to the top of their abilities will push their team to the next round.

My Prediction: Rangers

New Jersey Devils at Florida Panthers:

Does Martin Brodeur have some magic left up his sleeve? Photo Courtesy - nhlsnipers.com

A lot of credit has to be given to the Panthers as an organization. No one really believed that they could be a playoff team, and even fewer considered them a threat once in the playoffs. This is a team that seemingly has changed the culture of consistently losing – and now looks like a pretty capable and confident bunch. For the Devils, it looks like Martin Brodeur’s future may be uncertain, but he has shown flashes of the old brilliance from time-to-time in this series. I think the key here is experience and depth – two things that certainly favour the Devils. That being said – if Kris Versteeg and Stephen Weiss can continue to get timely goals for Florida, then we could see what many of us thought impossible – the Panthers in the second round!

My Prediction: Devils

Well the First Round of the Playoffs will end in what looks like dramatic fashion! What a great time of year for NHL fans, and the game itself. I hope that you’re enjoying the postseason wherever you are – and that your team is still alive!

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the NHL playoffs @MurphOnIce

Well the first round of the NHL playoffs is off and running! But what has been the dominant theme? Violence, a dash of anarchy, and maybe just a bit of bar-room mentality on ice.

I have to believe that if Brendan Shanahan had suspended Predators captain Shea Weber for even one game for his assault on the Wings Henrik Zetterberg, then maybe the players might have copped on early.

Arron Asham received a 4-game ban for his lunacy in Game 3. Photo Courtesy - pensburgh.com

Weber’s WWE style smashing of Zetterberg’s head into the glass was ridiculous. Weber was fined $2,500 and received zero games. What has resulted from that – in my opinion – is a state of anarchy. If an all-out assault from Weber garners only a fine, then I guess if you’re a player, you believe an elbow or massive charge may also be a fine, rather than a suspension.

Of course, we have now had an astonishing amount of suspensions through the first week of the postseason (8 in total), but could this have been prevented? If Weber gets suspended in game one, does the rest of the league see the tone that the NHL would have set. With his fine only as punishment, did some other guys just throw caution and respect into the wind? No doubt Shannie has a busy go of it here, and may even have his wings clipped a bit when it comes to throwing the book at big names, but has this made the NHL look silly? Where is the commissioner? Why no presence or guidance from Gary Bettman? Where is the head of the Players’ Union? Donald Fehr has been a ghost. Could either Bettman or Fehr bring any leadership or respect to this situation?

We can’t really know that for sure – but again – in my opinion, optically the Weber/Zetterberg play was the catalyst for what has become a crazy week – for all the wrong reasons.

Daniel Alfredsson remains on the shelf with a concussion from an elbow. Photo Courtesy - blogs.canada.com

How can anyone justify the actions of the Penguins’ Arron Asham in Philly? Why would anyone be happy that Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson is out of action with a concussion against New York? The NHL playoffs are supposed to be the top level of hockey the world over. One thing that is for certain in these opening games – the violence and dis-respect has been the resounding story – and that is a shame no matter which way you analyse it.

The story should be the fantastic run that both the Flyers and Kings are putting together. Who predicted that either team would be up 3-0 in their respective series? No one is the honest answer – not even the players on those clubs! And the fact that Philly is owning the Penguins, and that LA is crushing the Canucks, should be the top headlines. Sadly the wild actions of some players have overshadowed some good hockey, and some possibly monumental upsets. Here’s hoping the game, and actual skilled play, claws back our attention for the rest of the chase for Lord Stanley. I’m pretty sure that Brendan Shanahan would like that too.

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the NHL playoffs @MurphOnIce

Eastern Promises:

(1) New York Rangers vs. (8) Ottawa Senators

Murph’s Pick – Rangers in 6

Why?– This has been a dream season for Henrik Lundqvist (39-18, 1.97 GAA, .930 Save %). The Swedish netminder has been the heart and soul of the Rangers night-in and night-out. When I spoke to him in Stockholm at the NHL Premiere in October, he had a look in his eyes – a look that said more than any quotes. He had the same look that Tim Thomas had the season before in Prague for the Bruins. We all know how that worked out. For the Sens, they are a surprise playoff team. They should be proud of their season, but an upset in not on the cards here.

Zdeno Chara will be looking to get his playoff beard back to Stanley Cup length!

(2) Boston Bruins vs. (7) Washington Capitals

Murph’s Pick – Bruins in 6

Why? – There’s an old saying – ‘never bet against the defending champions!’ The Bruins have had a weird season. They had an undefeated November, and some dicey moments in parts of February and March. They are a team that knows how to win in the playoffs – and Tim Thomas has a lot to prove after some off-ice turmoil. The big X-factor – or should I say Z-factor is Zdeno Chara. The guy hates to lose, and will have the assignment of shutting down Alex Ovechkin. For their part the Capitals have never gotten off the runway this season – and Ovie will see no room against Chara.

(3) Florida Panthers vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Murph’s Pick – Devils in 6

Why? – The Panthers have turned around nicely in Florida. Again a surprise playoff team, so huge credit for their season. The problem for the cats, is that they backed into the playoffs (2-3-5 in last 10), and look like a team that has hit the skids at the worst possible time. The Devils are always tough in the playoffs, and Martin Brodeur knows he only has a few chances left at playoff glory. This will be an interesting series, but the Devils will pull off the upset as far as seeds go.

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Philadelphia Flyers

Murph’s Pick – Penguins in 7

Why?– What can be said about a team that has the NHL’s MVP in Evgeni Malkin (50G, 109PTS), and the NHL’s best player in Sidney Crosby! Not to mention a playoff proven goalie in Marc-Andre Fleury. This is a very deep and talented Pens squad, that is built for a deep run. The Flyers are a rugged team that boast their own star in Claude Giroux (93PTS). These two teams hate each other, and no quarter will be given on either side of the ledger. The big decider for me, and the reason I pick Pittsburgh in 7 is simple – goaltending.

Big question for the Canucks - will Daniel Sedin be healthy in the playoffs?

Wild Western Showdown:

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Murph’s Pick – Canucks in 7

Why? – The Canucks are still stinging from a game 7 Stanley Cup loss in their own barn last summer. They have had to endure the Bruins wild summer of celebrating, and I’m pretty sure that this is plenty of motivation for the #1 seed. The Kings are a good team – they’ve had some internal issues – but they have Jonathan Quick in net (35-21-13, 1.95 GAA, .929 Save %). Goaltending can win a series, and I think Quick will give LA a fighting chance. The Canucks will be hoping that Daniel Sedin can come back and play in this series after his concussion issues. Either way this one will be a beauty, but Vancouver are too good to be upset here.

(2) St. Louis Blues vs. (7) San Jose Sharks

Murph’s Pick – Blues in 6

Why? – Who could have predicted that this Blues team would be so good after Ken Hitchcock took over behind the bench? His air-tight defensive schemes, coupled with extraordinary goaltending from both Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak have made St. Louis one of the stories of the league. It is now emerging that Elliott could be struggling with a nagging injury, but Halak will be ready to go. Again this emphasizes the importance of goaltending this time of year. The Sharks have expelled a lot of energy in the past two weeks just to make the post-season. It could be argued that they have been in playoff mode for 7 games already at this point. St. Louis will just be too stifling defensively for San Jose in this one.

(3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks

Murph’s Pick – Hawks in 6

Why? – The Coyotes have been great down the stretch (7-1-2 in last 10) – no faulting them there as they win a tight Pacific Division. The reason I am taking Chicago is simple – talent and depth. The Hawks have Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp – and hope that captain Jonathan Toews (concussion issues), will play in the series. That’s the type of talent that the Coyotes cannot match. The Hawks will be a tough proposition for Phoenix if they can roll their lines, and have a healthy Toews back.

(4) Nashville Predators vs. (5) Detroit Red Wings

Murph’s Pick – Predators in 7

Why? – As good as the Red Wings have been in the playoffs the past decade, and as much as they have great leadership in Nicklas Lidstrom and others – this will be a tough one for them. The Predators are built for a playoff run. Shea Weber and Ryan Suter are possibly the NHL’s best defensive tandem, and will be charged with shutting down the Wings top unit. And Pekka Rinne (43-18-8, 2.39 GAA, .923 Save %) has been super-human in Nashville’s net. It will be the time for the younger, faster Preds to dispatch the veteran Wings in a long, tough series.

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the NHL playoffs @MurphOnIce

Well I have to say – the Elite League Playoff weekend in Nottingham is a great event. The fans are knowledgeable, the National Ice Centre is top notch, and for me, live hockey is king. I enjoyed covering the three games here, and the Championship Final was a great watch. After the Panthers 2-0 victory over the Cardiff Devils Sunday, I caught up with Nottingham’s Craig Kowalski. Check out the exclusive 1-on-1 here:

You can follow Murph on Twitter @MurphOnIce

What an incredible semi-final to kick off the Elite League Playoff weekend! The Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants went to sudden death OT, then a winner-take-all shootout at the NIC. When the dust settled the Devils had the win, and a ticket to the Grand Final Sunday in Nottingham. See Murph’s exclusive post-game chat with Gerad Adams and Stuart Macrae here:

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the EIHL playoff weekend @MurphOnIce

Well we’re getting down to business here at the Elite League Playoff weekend. Semi-Final Saturday is just about to kick off here at the NIC. Murph caught up with Blaze head coach Paul Thompson for his thoughts on both games here today, and the excitement of the entire weekend. Check out their exclusive 1-on-1 here:

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the EIHL playoff weekend @MurphOnIce

Murph is in Nottingham for the UK Elite League Playoff weekend. He was lucky enough to catch up with Belfast Giants General Manager Todd Kelman at the hotel Friday for a chat about this weekend’s action. Check out their exclusive 1-on-1 here:

You can follow Murph on Twitter throughout the EIHL playoff weekend @MurphOnIce