(2) DETROIT RED WINGS

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Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin combined for 15 points in the first round the NHL playoffs this season.

Photograph by : Getty Images

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(51-21-10, 112 points)

(8) ANAHEIM DUCKS

(42-33-7, 91 points)

SEASON SERIES

The Red Wings won three of four games.

OFFENCE

Red Wings: What's not to like? Detroit scored 18 goals in their first-round sweep of Columbus, with six players scoring two goals or more. The Wings also have Mr. Springtime rolling again. Johan Franzen, who had 13 goals in 16 playoff games last year, led Detroit with six points in the opening round.

Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf has arrived. The team's leading scorer during the regular season had another eight points in six games against San Jose. Rookie Bobby Ryan didn't slow up either, with four goals. Scott Niedermayer (five points), Chris Pronger (four points) and Ryan Whitney (four points) can all produce from the blue line.

DEFENCE

Red Wings: A quick, smart group that moves the puck with speed and accuracy. Nick Lidstrom, now 39, is ably supported by Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall. Rookie Jonathan Ericsson didn't look out of place against Columbus.

Ducks: Possibly the strongest collection in the game. Underrated Francois Beauchemin returned for the playoffs after a long time on the sidelines with a knee injury. Pronger and Niedermayer are all-world; Whitney and James Wisniewski were savvy add-ons during the winter months.

GOALTENDING

Red Wings: Forget all the talk about Chris Osgood being done. He was 4-0 and sported a 1.75 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage in Round 1.

Ducks: Former Conn Smythe winner J. S. Giguere was supplanted in the opening round by Jonas Hiller (1.64 GAA, .957 save percentage). If Hiller tumbles back to earth, Giguere gives coach Randy Carlyle a nice option.

INJURIES

Red Wings: Veteran forward Kris Draper (upper body injury) is expected back after missing the entire Columbus series. Henrik Zetterberg skipped practice early in the week with a sinus infection.

Ducks: Forward Petteri Nokelainen (upper body) skated in only three of the Ducks' first-round games. Defenceman Bret Hedican (back) vows to return at some point, but Anaheim need not push it with its blue-line depth.

RED WINGS WIN IF

They use their speed to lure the physical Ducks into taking penalties. Detroit sports a frightening power play. The Wings will also need another stellar series from Osgood.

DUCKS WIN IF

Discipline becomes their mantra, and Hiller and the defence continue to shine. Supplemental scoring beyond Getzlaf, Ryan and Corey Perry wouldn't hurt either.

PREDICTION

Red Wings in five games.

(3) VANCOUVER CANUCKS

(45-27-10, 100 points)

(4) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

(46-24-12, 104 points)

SEASON SERIES

The Canucks won twice; the Blackhawks won twice.

OFFENCE

Canucks: Once a sore subject, Vancouver now has a multi-layered attack that goes beyond twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who had nine points in the Canucks' sweep of St. Louis. Mats Sundin, Pavol Demitra, Alex Burrows (three goals) and Ryan Kesler have turned a previous negative into a positive.

Blackhawks: The Canucks' test will be figuring out who gets the checking assignment. Chicago has a deep attack that goes well beyond Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. Rookie Kris Versteeg led all Hawks in the first round with seven points against Calgary. Forwards Martin Havlat and Patrick Sharp and defencemen Brent Seabrook and Cam Barker also averaged a point per game in the six-game series.

DEFENCE

Canucks: Sami Salo (four points in three games)maintains he is healthy enough to play. He anchors Vancouver's power play. The Canucks' strength is the grit the likes of Kevin Bieksa, Mattias Ohlund and Willie Mitchell provide.

Blackhawks: Chicago has a young group that could dominate for years. Brian Campbell led the attack during the regular season with 52 points, but Seabrook, Barker and Duncan Keith are all smart puck-movers.

GOALTENDING

Canucks: Luongo played in three of the four games against Chicago during the season and won twice, including a 26-save shutout in the fourth and final meeting. He was outstanding in the first round against St. Louis and leads all playoff goalies with a 1.15 GAA and .962 save percentage.

Blackhawks: Cristobal Huet started three of four against the Canucks but he'll be watching Nikolai Khabibulin, who stole Game 6 from Calgary with a brilliant 43-save performance. Khabibulin has a 2.52 GAA in the playoffs and .914 save percentage.

INJURIES

Canucks: Mitchell (undisclosed), Salo (lower body), Sundin (undisclosed) all returned to practice earlier this week.

Blackhawks: None of note.

CANUCKS WIN IF

The series is played mostly 5-on-5 and the Canucks don't spend half the night in the penalty box; Luongo is his usual sensational self; and Burrows and Kesler continue to add scoring support.

BLACKHAWKS WIN IF

The series turns into a track meet and the Canucks can't contain the swift Blackhawk blue-liners joining the rush.

PREDICTION

Home-ice advantage and Luongo will make the difference. Canucks in six.

(1) BOSTON BRUINS

(53-19-10, 116 points)

(6) CAROLINA HURRICANES

(45-30-7, 97 points)

SEASON SERIES

The Bruins won all four games.

OFFENCE

Bruins: Boston has to be happy there wasn't an over-reliance on Marc Savard in Round 1. Michael Ryder (four goals, seven points), Phil Kessel (four goals, six points) and David Krejci (five points) all excelled against Montreal. More will be expected from Blake Wheeler, who had 45 points in his first NHL season but none in the first round, when he looked lost at times.

Hurricanes: Coach Paul Maurice has unleashed the hounds and Carolina's frenzied assault was too much for defensive-minded New Jersey to contain. Eric Staal had five goals against the Devils, including the series winner in the last minute of Game 7. Staal, Ray Whitney and Chad LaRose combined for 21 points.

DEFENCE

Bruins: Norris Trophy finalist Zdeno Chara leads a deep, underrated group. There's a potent mix of doggedness (Steve Montador, Aaron Ward) and skill (Chara, Andrew Ference, Dennis Wideman) here.

Hurricanes: No one compares to Chara, and this somewhat anonymous group could have trouble holding off the Bruins more physical skaters. Offensively, Joe Corvo, Dennis Seidenberg, Anton Babchuk and Joni Pitkanen all eclipsed the 30-point plateau in the regular season. Babchuk had 24 points in his last 29 games, but none in the first round.

GOALTENDING

Bruins: Tim Thomas didn't need to steal any games against Montreal, but he was solid (1.50 GAA, .946 save percentage). The unorthodox stopper will be tested further against Carolina's quick-strike blitz. If he stumbles, coach Claude Julien can opt for backup Manny Fernandez, although Fernandez struggled after Christmas.

Hurricanes: Cam Ward's remarkable regular season continued in the first round (.938 save percentage). He's unflappable and technically solid and should garner recognition as one of the NHL's very best.

INJURIES

Bruins: Defenceman Andrew Ference hasn't played since April 4 because of an unspecified injury, but is expected back for the second round. Defenceman Matt Hunwick (spleen) and forward Marco Sturm (knee) won't play.

Hurricanes: Nothing to report.

BRUINS WIN IF

They can find a way to slow down the charging Hurricanes. Look for Boston to play physical. Thomas needs to excel and the supporting cast needs to continue to score.

HURRICANES WIN IF

Ward stays strong while the Staal-Whitney-Larose line gets Thomas's head spinning.

PREDICTION

Bruins in six games.

(2) WASHINGTON CAPITALS

(50-24-8, 108 points)

(4) PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

(45-28-9. 99 points)

SEASON SERIES

The Capitals won the first three meetings. Pittsburgh took the fourth in a shootout.

OFFENCE

Capitals: Alex Ovechkin led the league in shots in the regular season (528) and in the first round (49). Ovechkin (seven points) is ably assisted by Alex Semin (five goals) and Nicklas Backstrom (seven assists). And Mike Green, more rover than defenceman, had five points in the seven-game series against the Rangers.

Penguins: Pittsburgh can match Washington in sexiness with Evgeni Malkin (nine points) and Sidney Crosby (eight points). Chris Kunitz had seven goals in 20 games with Pittsburgh after the trade deadline, but was shut out against Philadelphia in the first round.

DEFENCE

Capitals: The biggest surprise during the Capitals' comeback against the Rangers was the physical play of the defencemen. It's mostly a no-name group once you get beyond Green, although Tom Poti (six points) was splendid versus New York.

Penguins: Speed will be an issue. Hal Gill trying to chase down Ovechkin won't be a pretty sight. The return of Sergei Gonchar (five points) from a long-term injury was a huge boost, and Kris Letang has been a surprise.

GOALTENDING

Capitals: Rookie Simeon Varlamov appeared unfazed by the Rangers (1.17 GAA, .957 save percentage), but now he faces two of the world's premier talents in Crosby and Malkin.

Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury proved his worth during last season's run to the final and will be Pittsburgh's most important player Fleury's early-career penchant for flopping like a flounder in his crease has ceased.

INJURIES

Capitals: A long, physical series against New York has taken a toll, but Washington is relatively healthy. Slugger Donald Brashear (suspension) sits the first five games.

Penguins: They haven't played since eliminating the Flyers on Saturday and are reporting a clean bill of health. Crosby, who suffered knee and groin troubles during the regular season, relished the rest.

CAPITALS WIN IF

Ovechkin and gang get on the laggard Penguins' defence and don't let up. The Caps blue-line will have to bring the same level of tenacity it had against the Rangers. Varlamov must remain tranquil.

PENGUINS WIN IF

Fleury bails out his troops by stealing a game or two and Crosby doesn't get caught up in trying to outdo Ovechkin. You can probably add Malkin's name to that plan as well.

PREDICTION

The NHL's highest profile series goes to the Capitals, in seven games.

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Jim Bray, sports editor Detroit, Chicago, Boston, Washington

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Bruce Arthur, sports columnist Detroit, Vancouver, Boston, Pittsburgh

Joe O'Connor, sports reporter Anaheim, Chicago, Boston, Washington