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| Via: thescore.ca |
Well, it's finally here boys and girls, the start of the 2013 NHL playoffs. Don't forget to check out my preview posts of the Western Conference and Eastern Conference first round match-ups. Let's take a look at the three games up first on the schedule.
Minnesota Wild @ Chicago Blackhawks (8:00pm ET)
TV: CBC, NBCSN, Fox-Sports-N, CSN-CH
Series:0-0
Game one goes tonight in Chicago and features David facing Goliath. The Hawks finished the season first overall and will be taking on a Wild team that just barely squeezed into the playoffs in their final game of the season. It'll be a tough test for Minnesota tonight, as the Hawks only lost 3 games all year on home ice. The Blackhawk veterans will have to start quickly after resting the last few games, as the Wild have been in full playoff mode for weeks now. Expect Corey Crawford to get the start between the pipes for Chicago, and Nicklas Backstrom starting for Minnesota in the other end. Prediction: 3-1 Hawks
Los Angeles Kings @ St. Louis Blues (8:00pm ET)
TV: CBC, CNBC, Prime
Series: 0-0
It's going to be a battle tonight between two of the best defensive teams in the NHL. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick has been hot lately, with a 1.94 goals against average and .927 save percentage in his last 7 games. His counterpart, St. Louis' Brian Elliot has been equally good, only allowing 3 goals against in his last 3. The Blues don't have a great home record, so the defending champion Kings will want to jump on them quickly and make the Blues play from behind. Tonight marks the playoff debut, after ten seasons, for Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. Prediction: 2-1 Kings (OT)
Detroit Red Wings @ Anaheim Ducks (10:30pm ET)
TV: TSN, NBCSN, FoxSports-D, FoxSports-W
Series: 0-0
Detroit will be making their 22nd consecutive playoff appearance tonight when they faceoff against the Ducks. Also, tonight will be the 6th time these two teams have met in the playoffs since Anaheim joined the league only two decades ago. For the Wings, captain Henrik Zetterberg has been one of the hottest players in the league over the final week of the season, picking up 10 points in only 4 games. The Ducks will counter with Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, who combined for 5 points in their last 2 games. Jonas Hiller will get the start for the Ducks tonight, while Jimmy Howard, who has been phenomenal lately (0.75gaa .969S% in his last 4) will start for Detroit. Prediction: 4-3 Wings
Oh, it's going to be a good night of hockey everyone! Tonight's gif is one last look at the awesomeness that was Sergei Bobrovsky this season. How many saves does he make in this sequence, 6? 7?
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