1ST ROUND REVIEW
The opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is the most exciting, most unpredictable round of the playoffs. For me it all starts with the opening montage Tim Thompson of CBC's Hockey Night in Canada puts together that airs before the first game of the playoffs. This year he went with Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls for the backing track to accompany the clip montage which I think doesn't hold a candle last years that featured The Who's Baba O'Riley.
Anyway onto this years first round matchups. Three stood out instantly as potential classics. The New York Rangers faced off with rival Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks met the LA Kings, and the hard hitting St Louis Blues came up against the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks.
For new fans, or long gone returning fans, I should mention that there has been a format change. Gone is the old three division in each conference format that saw the three division winners seeded 1-3 and five next best regardless of division seeded 4-8. This is the first year of a return to the pre-1993 divisional playoff format with a twist. The top three in each division make it in, the next two regardless of division qualify as wildcards with the 2nd wildcard meeting the top division winner. In round two we'll still be in divisional playoffs, round three is the conference championship round as the last team standing in each division faces off with the opposite member remaining in their conference before the East and West champions battle for the Stanley Cup.
VS
Boston Bruins (A1) vs Detroit Red Wings (WC2)
It was a bright start for the Red Wings. They held on for the ride and stole an away win in game one on Pavel Datsyuk's slick puck handling and sharp shot ripped under Tuukka Rask's glove hand.That loss woke up the Bruins and they bullied their way to four wins in a row to eliminate the physically smaller side. Not only that, they had Rask in brick wall mode making 152 saves in the five games for a .961 SV%. Milan Lucic contributed to the effort with a goal in three of the games including the series clincher plus the primary assist on Iginla's OT winner in game four. Second year defenseman Torey Krug came up huge in the series recording a goal and four assists. A few more of Boston's young stars shone. Dougie Hamilton, Reilly Smith and Carl Soderberg, together with Krug look a strong spine for the future. The Bruins, the 2nd team to advance to round two, will now face hated rival Montreal, the 1st team through to the 2nd round, for the 34th time in the playoffs. They last met in round one in 2011 when Boston went on to win the cup.
Game 1 - Boston 0-1 Detroit - GWG: Pavel Datsyuk (16:59 3rd)
Game 2 - Boston 4-1 Detroit - GWG: Reilly Smith (10:35 1st)
Game 3 - Detroit 0-3 Boston - GWG: Dougie Hamilton (09:00 1st)
Game 4 - Detroit 2-3 Boston (OT) - GWG: Jarome Iginla (13:32 OT)
Game 5 - Boston 4-2 Detroit - GWG: Milan Lucic (04:27 3rd)
Bruins win series 4-1
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