Oh, and since the Western Conference gets no love in major hockey media, we’ll start with them!

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings

Personally, I’m more of a Jonathan Quick fan despite my Italian brethren tending the pipes in Vancouver. However, Luongo has struggled as of late, sporting an average 0.924 SV% and 1.6 GAA. Not to mention his last game against the Kings ended in a shutout.

Though, Jonathan Quick did notch 2 of his league leading 10 shutouts in the last 5 games of the season, before bottoming out and struggling against San Jose in the final 2 games.

Goaltending wise, I give the edge to Roberto Luongo, only because it will be tough for the Los Angeles Kings to beat Luongo.

#2 St. Louis Blues vs. #7 San Jose Sharks

Wow, the Sharks are in for a world of hurt. Not only are they unable to rally behind the play of Antti Niemi, but St. Louis is armed with 2 of the top 5 goalies in the NHL with Brian Elliot and Jaroslav Halak. To add insult to injury, St. Louis won all 4 match-ups between them and San Jose, earning 2 shutouts in those games.

Unless the depth of San Jose can pick up their game, I don’t seen St. Louis stopping anytime soon.

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #6 Chicago Blackhawks

Let’s face it, Mike Smith is hot, Corey Crawford is not.

#4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Detroit Red Wings

Ultimately, Jimmy Howard is a much better goaltender than Pekka Rinne, and is much more consistent. Rinne is going to have to swallow a Super Mario Bros. invincibility star and be in Altered Beast mode if Nashville is going to have any chance of over coming the Big Red Machine. Don’t be fooled, despite Detroit being the lower seed, Nashville is still the underdog.

#1 New York Rangers vs. #8 Ottawa Senators

Craig Anderson or Henrik Lundqvist? Lundernuts (like my nickname?) is one of the top goalies in the league for a reason. And not since Mike Richter’s stellar performance in 1994, has the New York Rangers been blessed with amazing goaltending during the post season. It’s a heart-warming story for Ottawa to make the playoffs, but that story will only last so long.

#2 Boston Bruins vs. #7 Washington Capitals

So, Tim Thomas is getting back into the swing of things, and Tukka Rask looks to be making a comeback for the playoffs. However, Washington looks to be completely EFFED as their 2 starting tendies, Tomas Vokoun and Michal Neuvirth, had to leave recent games due to injury, handing the reigns over to Braden Holtby. Does Holtby have what it takes to carry Washington deep into the playoffs, assuming Vokoun and/or Neuvirth don’t return soon? Not sure about that. Can he at least ward off the hungry, defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins?

Outlook is doubtful.

#3 Florida Panters vs. #6 New Jersey Devils

This is a tough match-up. Theodore has struggled recently while Clemmensen has played very strong for Florida, so I would expect Clemmy to face his old mentor Martin Brodeur! When Clemmensen last left Brodeur, he was but the learner, but now is he the master?

My sources say no.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Philadelphia Flyers

There are goalies in this match-up? Who cares! This series is going to be a blood bath! The Flower already has a Stanley Cup, and Bryzgalov is a joke; when he’s on his game, he is on! And when he is off, he’s terrible. That lack of consistency will hurt Philly in the end.

However, when all is said and done, the only team that advance will be the one that wasn’t left for dead.