Playoff Teams on Even Terms So Far

San Jose, Chicago, Detroit, and to a lesser extent Vancouver were all expected to roll right through their Western Conference foes in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. Things were going to be even more one sided in the East, were no teams could possibly match the might of Washington, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Buffalo.

Obviously the lower seeded teams (and the higher seeded Phoenix Coyotes) didn't get the memo that they were to roll over and die.

Through 4 games, every series in the Western Conference was tied at 2 games a piece. And home-ice advantage wasn't all it is usually cracked up to be, with the home teams only going 8-8 over that span.

Through 4 games in the East, the lower seeds weren't just staying with the higher seeded teams, they were actually beating them in a couple cases. Philadelphia was up 3-1 in a series they weren't even supposed to be a part of (they have since dispatched the New Jersey Devils) and Boston continued their excellent play against the Buffalo Sabres.

Only the Washington Capitals have had as easy a time in their series as was expected, though they are now up 3-2 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Philly will likely play the Capitals in the second round. The series should be a close, tight-checking affair but in the end, the Capitals potent offense should allow them to move on. The injury-plagued Flyers have exceeded expectations just to make it this far, but its the farthest they will advance this year.

The Pittsburgh Penguins will have 2 chances to dispatch the Ottawa Senators and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Pens play in Ottawa tonight, where they are 2-0 in the playoffs so far, and if they fail will get another go in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.

The winner of this series will play the winner of the Buffalo Sabres vs. Boston Bruins series, which the Bruins currently lead 3-2. Boston has been the better team and should advance given their current advantage, but its hard to count out the Sabres with the way goaltender Ryan Miller has played this year.

In the west, San Jose seems to finally be getting over their playoff funk from the past couple years. Colorado has looked anemic since the Sharks Joe Pavelski scored in overtime in game 4.

The series between the Vancouver Canucks and the Los Angeles Kings has been one that has gone closest to predictions. Both teams have seemed almost unstoppable in their home arenas of late, a trend which will favor the Canucks. The Kings are a young team that will be even better in years to come, but this likely isn't their year to excel.

The last two Western Conference series's, the Detroit Red Wings vs. the Phoenix Coyotes and the Chicago Blackhawks vs. the Nashville Predators, will come down to the wire. The Wings and 'Yotes have played some of the best games of these young playoffs, but Phoenix will have to win at the Joe Louis Arena in Hockeytown if they are to advance.

Goaltending has been the lay of the land in the Hawks vs. Predators series, which is currently tied 2-2. Chicago's offensive talent should be enough to bring home a series victory, but Nashville netminder Pekka Rinne is more than good enough to steal it.