2011 NHL Eastern Conference Finals Preview
The Eastern Conference Finals drop the puck tonight with the fifth seeded Tampa Bay Lightning squaring off with the third seed Boston Bruins in Boston. Tomorrow, the President’s Trophy winning Vancouver Canucks host the second seeded San Jose Sharks in the first game of the Western Conference Finals. For a Western Finals preview, click here. On the line for these four teams is a chance to continue the dream: chasing the Stanley Cup. Find out who to watch, what to watch for, who has the advantages, and more, all after the jump.
Bryan Vickroy
#5 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING vs #3 BOSTON BRUINS
Game 1: 5/14 @ BOS
Game 2: 5/17 @BOS
Game 3: 5/19 @TB
Game 4: 5/21 @TB
Game 5: 5/23 @BOS*
Game 6: 5/25 @TB*
Game 7: 5/27 @BOS*
*if necessary
Offense
Tampa Bay has the firepower to go goal for goal with anyone in the league, and they are tied for most goals scored in the playoffs. They can fly up the ice, especially when Martin St. Louis gets the puck, and can use their defensive system to make turnovers into odd man scoring chances. Vincent Lacavalier had been hampered the last couple season by injuries, but he has shown the clutch play that has earned him a spot many star studded Team Canada rosters throughout his career. The Bruins look like a vintage version of the Boston clubs of yore. They grind and work the boards harder than anyone in the NHL, and are third is this years playoffs for goals scored. Nate Horton has flourished in his first postseason opportunity, contributing game winning goals all playoffs long. The second overall pick in last year’s draft, Tyler Seguin, hasn’t even played this postseason. Seguin may see ice time due to Bruins injuries, giving Boston another young speedy forward to match up against the speed of Tampa Bay. While the Bruins are physical, the Lighting aren’t afraid to mix it up, and are much more dynamic than the Bruin forwards. Advantage: Lightning
Defense
Tampa Bay employs an exotic 1-3-1 defense, essentially a neutral zone trap. They pressure a man on the puck, then essentially clog the neutral zone with three wide pressure. They basically act like a rubber band, expanding outward from center ice, forcing play to the boards. This pressure forces opposing teams to force their way into the offensive zone, usually dump and chasing. The Bruins are big, physical, and have powerful shots from the blue line. They clear the slot for Tim Thomas, and if Thomas can see the puck, he’s going to stop it. They have shown a good eye for jumping up into rushes this postseason. The Lightning corps is young and improving, but the Bruins have Zdeno Chara, and nobody can top that. Advantage: Bruins
Goaltending
Since the Lightning acquired Dwayne Roloson before the trade deadline, he has been phenomenal, and shown the same for of years past. Tim Thomas hardly played last season as Tuukka Rask was the starter. This season it is nearly impossible to get a puck past Thomas, and he has been as good, if not better, as these playoffs have gone on. Both goalies are proven, veteran winners who don’t give up cheap goals, or goals period. Expect a lot of games to be decided by crazy tipped shots, or passes, or other unconventional ways. The goalies in this series will both be great, and could cause a game or two in this series to go longer than regulation. Advantage: Bruins
Coaching
Lightning coach Guy Boucher has been a winner at ever level hes ever coached, whether that be juniors, minors, or even international competition. So far his winning ways have helped right the Lightning of the turmoil of recent years. He has brought his 1-3-1 strategy and taken a high powered team and taught them to control the flow of play and create opportunities from defensive stops. Boston coach Claude Julien has never been further than the Conference Finals in his career, and while the Bruins may have dispatched the Flyers, they now have to pass another hurdle to reach the Cup Finals. At times, Julien has been reluctant to change, and has yet to find a way to get the power play on track this postseason. Both coaches are very good, but Boucher’s innovation might overwhelm the Bruins like it has the Penguins and Capitals so far this postseason. Advantage: Lightning
Special Teams
The Lightning have been on fire on the power play this post season, and they are getting contributions from both units. Their penalty kill, numbers wise, is even better. If Boston takes any penalties, expect one of the Tampa snipers to capitalize on the man advantage. On the other hand, the Bruins have been pathetic on the power play, clicking at all of 5%. Boston is formidable shorthanded, but it doesn’t seem like any combination of four players in the world could stop the Tampa power play right now. Advantage: Lightning
Intangibles
The Lightning as a franchise have recently won a Stanley Cup, with a handful of players still on the roster with the rings to prove it. The Bruins seem to have some type of destiny to them, erasing past demons with series victories over the Canadiens and Flyers. Boston seems to be converting back into a professional hockey town in recent years thanks to roster improvements. Tampa finally has a steady front office and ownership, and GM Steve Yzerman has done a superb job of managing this team in his first year on the job. As weird as it sounds, there might be an actual competitive NHL team in Florida for years to come. Advantage: Bruins
PREDICTION
While Tim Thomas has been amazing all season and continues to wow night after night with acrobatic saves, there is a core of players on the Lightning roster who have won a Stanley Cup together before, have one Olympic gold, and have shown the ability to come back already in this postseason. The Bruins are starting to hurt from a physical playoff run. I think Tampa Bay has more offense than Boston. They will eventually find some way to get enough pucks past Thomas to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. Lightning in 7
Bryan Vickroy has an addiction to hockey, and is willing to partake in all its forms. He is skating extra shifts for The Sports Bank, covering the Minnesota Wild, the NHL, and NCAA hockey all year long. Look for new articles throughout the week. He can be followed on Twitter at @bryanvickroy. If you’d prefer to speak in more than 140 characters at a time to him, he can be reached at bryan.vickroy@gmail.com .