By Steve Faulks:

For the Conference Finals I figured I would provide analysis on the series as they progress, since predicting them as not been a strong point of mine so far this playoff year.

First, I will start in the East where the Philadelphia Flyers are currently sitting with a 2-0 lead against the Montreal Canadiens with Game 3 in Montreal on Thursday.  Brian Boucher was very good against New Jersey but had come back to earth against the Bruins.  The Flyers found themselves in a hole, down 3-0, a deficit where only three professional sports teams had overcome.  There are a few things we have learned about the Flyers since then.

I will start out the previews and predictions by first recapping the first round in which I went a very disappointing 4-4, which will lead into the analysis of the semifinal matchups between those two respective teams.

In the Eastern Conference, Jaroslav Halak’s benching in game 4 probably only kept Washington in the playoffs until a 7^th game. It probably made the Captials over-confident as well as relaxing the young Montreal netminder, but first  in Game 4,  Halak’s replacement, Carey Price gave up 6 goals in a 6-3 loss. However, Washington would only score three on 140 shots over the final 3 games against Halak as he returned as a man on a mission, including a 53 save performance in Game 6 in Montreal.  This series saw Halak emerge as the potential “hot goalie”, a la Jean-Sebastien Giguere circa ’03.  Montreal sat back and counter punched the Capitals, who are still blossoming as a team that can win in the playoffs but are clearly not there.  Mainly, Norris Trophy candidate, Mike Green, who had just 3 points and had the costly turnover that would result in the series clinching win for the Habs.  It also seemed that Montreal got a big goal when it needed, and Washington went 1-33 on the power play, which was deadlier than a Chuck Norris roundhouse kick during the regular season.  So while the Caps rethink what went wrong and went wrong quickly, the Montreal Canadiens will be advancing to the second round for the first time in three seasons.

Your 2010 NHL Playoff Preview First Round brought to you by Steve Faulks

Eastern Conference

Washington Capitals (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)

This matchup based on standings is probably the easiest  to predict, however the Montreal Canadiens have a clear advantage in goal, in Jaroslav Halak.  Halak, who won the starting job from Carey Price, led a Canadiens team to a solid 2^nd half of the season, and the final spot in the Eastern Conference.  He has the ability to steal this series for the Habs.  When you say Washington Capitals, you think Alexander Ovechkin.  Ovechkin, who no question will be considered for the Hart Trophy this year, scored 50 goals, added 59 assists, and he missed 10 games to boot.

The biggest question and potential problem keeping the Capitals from the Stanley Cup is their goaltending.  Jose Theodore, who won 33 games during a solid regular season, was replaced during the first round by backup Semyon Varlamov.  This series will come down to special teams.  Washington and Montreal went 1-2, in the NHL on the power play.  Montreal’s penalty kill ranked 12^th, while Washington’s struggled, finishing 5^th worst.  If Montreal can keep Washington’s offense in check and can score on the power play, we could see the upset, however Alexander Ovechkin and company will be too much and Halak will only steal a game or two.

Prediction: Washington in 5

The US & Canadian Olympic teams have just been released, and where else would you go to get an analysis?  Exactly, nowhere else but here.  So that's exactly what I'm going to do, breakdown the choices and rosters and give you, my valued reader, the insight you need to be prepared for the North American hockey squads in next month's Olympic games.