Stanley Cup Playoffs: Eastern Conference 1st-round breakdown
It's playoff time, folks. To get you prepared, we break down each of the Eastern Conference's first-round series below. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)
Lightning 1A vs. Devils WC2
| Lightning | Stat | Devils |
|---|---|---|
| 54-23-5 | Record | 44-29-9 |
| 60 | Goal differential | 12 |
| 51.62% (7th) | 5-on-5 Corsi % | 48.63 (21st) |
| 9.35% (1st) | Shooting percentage | 7.91% (11th) |
| .929 (5th) | Save percentage | .917 (25th) |
| 102.28 (1st) | PDO | 99.64 (19th) |
| Nikita Kucherov (100) | Leading scorer | Taylor Hall (93) |
From first overall pick to first playoff berth in six seasons, the surprising New Jersey Devils are set to take on the top-seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. The series features a pair of Hart Trophy candidates in Kucherov and Hall, but the X-factor should be Devils netminder Keith Kinkaid, who emerged as the starter down the stretch and played phenomenally, but will now be tasked with shutting down one of the league's most potent attacks.
Game 1: Thursday, April 12, 7:00 p.m. ET (See full schedule)
Bruins 2A vs. Maple Leafs 3A
| Bruins | Stat | Maple Leafs |
|---|---|---|
| 50-20-12 | Record | 49-26-7 |
| 56 | Goal differential | 45 |
| 53.8% (2nd) | 5-on-5 Corsi % | 49.86 (17th) |
| 7.82% (13th) | Shooting percentage | 9.01% (3rd) |
| .923 (14th) | Save percentage | .928 (8th) |
| 100.16 (15th) | PDO | 101.82 (2nd) |
| Brad Marchand (85) | Leading scorer | Mitch Marner (69) |
The cruelty of the playoff format pitted two of the top teams in the conference against each other in Round 1, but this one should be a doozy. The Maple Leafs won three of four contests versus Boston this season, and Marner led the way with nine points. However, the red-hot Bruins were merely one point away from capturing the East's top seed. Don't be shocked if this one goes the distance.
Game 1: Thursday, April 12, 7:00 p.m. ET (See full schedule)
Capitals 1M vs. Blue Jackets WC1
| Capitals | Stat | Blue Jackets |
|---|---|---|
| 49-26-7 | Record | 45-30-7 |
| 20 | Goal differential | 12 |
| 47.9% (24th) | 5-on-5 Corsi % | 51.55% (8th) |
| 9.14 (2nd) | Shooting percentage | 7.44 (21st) |
| .924 (13th) | Save percentage | .928 (7th) |
| 101.61 (4th) | PDO | 100.28 (14th) |
| Alex Ovechkin (87) | Leading scorer | Artemi Panarin (82) |
Metropolitan Division adversaries are poised to do battle in what should be an evenly contested matchup. The biggest questions for this series lie between the pipes, as Washington has elected to lean on backup Philipp Grubauer as its starter, while Sergei Bobrovsky's career postseason save percentage is a dreadful .887. Whoever wins out in goal is likely moving on.
Game 1: Thursday, April 12, 7:30 p.m. ET (See full schedule)
Penguins 2M vs. Flyers 3M
| Penguins | Stat | Flyers |
|---|---|---|
| 47-29-6 | Record | 42-26-14 |
| 22 | Goal differential | 8 |
| 52.23% (5th) | 5-on-5 Corsi % | 49.79 (18th) |
| 7.29 (23rd) | Shooting percentage | 7.88 (12th) |
| .910 (29th) | Save percentage | .924 (12th) |
| 98.33 (29th) | PDO | 100.36 (13th) |
| Evgeni Malkin (98) | Leading scorer | Claude Giroux (102) |
The defending champs begin their quest for a three-peat against their most bitter rivals, a spectacle that was can't-miss television last time they met in the playoffs in 2012. Pittsburgh holds a notable depth advantage, emphasized by the acquisition of Derick Brassard before the trade deadline. That said, five of the NHL's top 15 scorers are in this series, so buckle up.
Game 1: Wednesday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. ET (See full schedule)
(Photos Courtesy: Getty Images)