2013 Stanley Cup Anti-Previews: Round 1
Monday, April 29, 2013 at 7:20PM
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Wow, not only was I surprised by the regular season being over so quickly, I was also shocked when I read that the post-season started on the 30th of April. I never pre-write so in the span of less than 24 hours I managed to assemble a quick and gritty guide to the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. No pictures or graphics in this one, but everything that matters is here.

Eastern Conference 

#1 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #8 New York Islanders

Thing could not have gone better for the Islanders as they will square off against the Penguins in their first post season appearance in franchise history. The Penguins are backstopped by noted swearing enthusiast and occasional playoff caliber goaltender Marc-Andre Fluery while the Islanders feature a goalie tandem that likely commutes to Uniondale everyday.

Players to watch:

 

Pens in LOL Islanders 

 

#2 Montreal vs. #7 Ottawa Senators

This Northeastern Division matchup is interesting because despite being generally poor there are four Northeastern teams in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. I haven’t gotten to watch much Eastern hockey this year, but I have no doubt that the better team will win this series. They have the ideal combination of skill and grit that a team needs in order to be effective. It also helps when your team is full of hulking defenseman and whatever the hell Karlsson is made out of.

Players to watch:

 

Remember when the Hulk gets mad and smashes little things? That's sort of like this series. Ottawa in however long the Habs manage to hold on. 

 

#3 Washington Capitals vs. #6 New York Rangers

After streaking their way into the playoffs going 8-1-1 in their last ten games, a lot of people are picking the Caps to take the series. The Capitals are coming charging out of the Southeast, having been battle-hardened by the likes of Ondrej Pavelec and a team slightly better than the Flyers. Still, it would be foolish to count out the Rangers as they will manage to ice the only competent goalie between the two teams.

Players to Watch:

 

They say the cream rises to the top. Sadly, the Capitals aren't very creamy. Rangers in 6 

 

Western Conference

#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #8 Minnesota Wild

Chicago has spent a lot of time this season being incredibly dominant with the tandem of Corey Crawford and Ray Emery shocking everyone by being consistently good enough. Meanwhile the Wild managed to trip on the threshold of the Playoffs but then pull off one of those stumble-jog maneuvers that are supposed to make you look casual but never fools anyone. This series should be hilarious.

Players to Watch

 

The Blackhawks have already won the war, the battles don't matter much. 

 

#2 Anaheim Ducks vs. #7 Detroit Red Wings

When it comes to the Pacific any one of those teams could top the division in any given season assuming we aren’t talking about the Coyotes or the Stars. The Ducks managed to put in a consistent season of very good play, which is really great and I’m sure they’ll feel really rad about that once the Red Wings stomp all over them.

Players to Watch

 

 I don't know, Wings in 5? Why not.

 

#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 San Jose Sharks

The easiest thing to say about this first round matchup is that it is a meeting of chronic Cup chokers. Fortunately for the Canucks the Sharks are barely better than the Wild. Fortunately for the Sharks the Canucks are much worse than the Blackhawks. In reality no one outside of the respective fan bases cares even a little about this series. If you were insulted by that comment that is ok, no one cared about the Predators-Coyotes series either so I’m right there with you.

Players to Watch:

 

The Canucks in 6 and the Sharks also in 6 

 

#4 St Louis Blues vs. #5 Los Angeles Kings

Easily the most anticipated matchup in the Western Conference finals, this series is going to be exciting as two gritty teams crash against one another like a pair of massive waves. And much like real waves they are not very good at scoring goals. Fortunately both sides feature strangely inconsistent goaltending, something I’m sure was set up at the beginning of the season just to keep things interesting.

Players to Watch:

 

 Kings in one more than it should take for them to put the Blues away.

Article originally appeared on Up The Pucks (http://www.upthepucks.com/).
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