Philadelphia Flyers vs. Buffalo Sabers
Opener: Thursday, 5 p.m. TV: ESPN2
Records: (1) Philadelphia (45-25-12), (8) Buffalo (35-36-11).
1999-2000 Series Record: Philadelphia 3-1-0.
Outlook: The Flyers rallied during the final eight weeks, including winning three games in the final four days, to take the Atlantic Division title and the top seed in the conference. Philadelphia trailed New Jersey by 15 points on Feb. 15., and went 9-4-1 during Eric Lindros' latest injury. Lindros is expectd to miss at least the first round with a concussion. Mark Recchi led the NHL in assists (63), power-play assists (32), and power-play points (39), and was third in points (91). He was also second on the Flyers with 28 goals, while leading the league's top-ranked power play unit. John LeClair (77 points) led the team with 40 goals, including 13 power-play and seven game-winners. D Eric Desjardins (career-high 55 points) replaced Lindros as captain on March 27. John Vanbiesbrouck was 25-15-9 with a 2.20 goals-against average but rookie Brian Boucher, who had the league's best GAA at 1.19, will be the playoff starter. The Sabres, losers to Dallas in the Stanley Cup finals last season, earned the conference's final playoff berth with a 1-1 tie with Washington on Sunday. Buffalo closed the season 7-2-1 and took advantage of the new overtime format, which awarded a point for regulation ties. Under the old rules, the Sabres would have finished ninth. Doug Gilmour, acquired from Chicago near the trading deadline, led the team in scoring with 73 points (25 goals, 48 assists). Miroslav Satan (67 points) had a team-leading 33 goals. Dominik Hasek (15-11-6, 2.21 GAA) missed the first half of the season with a groin injury. He did not play in any of the meetings between the teams. Buffalo was held to two goals in each of the three losses and scored three in the victory. Best guess: Flyers in 6.
Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Ottawa Senators
Opener: Wednesday, 5 p.m. TV: None
Records: (3) Toronto (45-30-7), (6) Ottawa (41-30-11)
1999-2000 Series Record: Ottawa 3-1-1.
Outlook: The Maple Leafs won the Northeast Division title with their first 100-point season and matched last year's franchixe record for victories. D Bryan Berard still hasn't regained vision in his right eye after being struck by the stick of Ottawa's Marian Hossa. Maple Leafs were fourth in the league in scoring with 246 goals. Mats Sundin (73 points) led the team in goals (32) and assists (41). Steve Thomas (26 goals, 37 assists) had nine game-winners. Curtis Joseph (36-20-7, 2.49 GAA) set a team record for victories. D Christ McAllister (foot inury) is expected to miss the first round. Senators return to the playoffs for the fourth straight year, winning the final two games after losing four of five, Ottawa fell just three victories short of last year's franchise mark, even without holdout C Alexei Yashin. Shawn McEachem (broken left thumb) is expected to miss at least the beginning of the first round. Senators lack a strong scoring presence without McEachem (29 goals, 51 points) and Yashin. Acting captain Daniel Alfredsson (21 goals and 38 assists in 57 games) has been the most consistent player since coming back from injury. Hossa (29 goals, 56 points) is teamed on the top line with Rob Zamuner (21 points) and Radek Bonk (23 goals, 37 assits). Goalie Tom Barrasso (8-11-2 with 3.17 GAA -- including 3-4-0 with a 3.16 GAA since being acquired from Pittsburgh at the trade deadline) has a bruised index finger on his blocker hand. His status for the beginning of the playoffs is uncertain. Backup Patrick Lalime (19-14-3, 2.33 GAA has never played in the postseason. Joseph (.915 save percentage) won't be enough for Leafs. Best guess: Senators in 6.
Washington Capitals vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Opener: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. TV: None
Records: (2) Washingotn (44-26-12), (7) Pittsburgh (37-37-8)
1999-2000 Series Record: Pittsburgh 3-1-0
Outlook: The Capitals finished first in the Southeast Division, but fell three points short of the top seed in the conference. Washington had its first 100-point season since 1985-86, finishing with a 2-3-1 mark--including a loss to Pittsburgh on March 30. The Capitals reached the Stanley Cup finals in 1998 and then missed out on the postseason last year. Washington had 11 players score at least 10 goals. RW Richard Zednik (19 goals, 35 points) has recovered from the concussion that sidelined him for a month. Adam Oates led the team with 56 assists and 71 points. Chris Simon (49 points) had a team-high 29 goals--seven on the power-play. Olaf Kotzig was 41-20-11 with a 2.24 GAA. Washington finished 36-14-6 against conference opponents. Pittsburgh's Jaromir Jagr (42 goals, 54 asists) won the scoring title, but continues to be plagued by back problems. Jagr's consistency will dictate how far Pittsburgh advances. The Penguins won five of last seven, including tough victories against New Jersey and Washingotn--both without Jagr. Robert Lang (65 ponts) led the team with 13 power-playgoals. LW Tom Chorske (shoulder ) is out indefinitely, and Jagr and D Michal Rozsival (groin) are day-to-day. LW Renee Corbet (shoulder) is out two-to-three weeks. Also, Jean Sebastien Aubin (23-21-3 with a 2.58 GAA) is expected to miss the first few games of the first round due to an ankle injury. Best Guess: Pittsburgh in 6.
New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers
Opener: Thursday, 5:30 p.m. TV: None
Records: (4) New Jersey (45-29-8), (5) Florida (43-33-6)
1999-2000 Series Record: New Jersey 2-1-1.
Outlook: The Devils failed in thir bid to win a fourth consecutive conference title, closing the season 9-13-2 and falling two points behind Philadelphia in the Atlantic Division. New Jersey went 4-3 after Larry Robinson replaced Robbie Florek as coach, with the victories coming agianst Atlanta, Tampa Bay, the Islanders--a combined 57-164-25--and Florida. The pressure is on after consecutive first-round playoff losses, preceded by a second-round exit in 197. The Devils finished second in the NHL in scoring with 251 goals--27 behind Detroit. Patrik Elias led the team with 35 goals and 72 points. Rookie Scott Gomez (70 points) had a team-high 51 assists and is a leading candidate for the Calder Trophy. Martin Brodeur was 43-20-8 with a 2.24 GAA. Panthers finished second in the Southeast, four points behind Washington. Florida was tied with Ottawa for sixth in the league in scoring with 244 goals. Pavel Bure (94 ponts) finished two points behind Jaromir Jagr in the scoring race. Bure won the Maurice Richard Trophy for most goals in a season with 58-- the most since Mario Lemieux had 69 in 1995-96. Bure had 11 power-play and 14 game-wionning scores. Viktor Kozlov was tied for sixth in the league with 52 assists. Mike Vernon, acquired from San Jose when Trevor Kidd dislocated his shoulder in the team's skills competition, had a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) snapped by the Devils on Saturday. Best guess: Devils in 7.