Story lines

By Eduardo A. Encina
Published April 12, 2007

Experience in net: Not only did New Jersey's Martin Brodeur record a league-high 12 shutouts and league-record 48 wins this season, he is the third-most experienced netminder in playoff history. His 153 playoff games are nearly twice as many as the 86 combined for the East's other starting playoff goalies. No Lightning goalie - Johan Holmqvist, Karri Ramo and Marc Denis - has played a playoff game.

Goal drought: With 216 goals, the Devils are the lowest-scoring team among the 16 in the postseason. In the past five seasons, only the 2003 Wild advanced beyond the first round after being the lowest-scoring team among the field.

Battle of two forces: Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis rely on speed. But it will face a tough test in the checking line of John Madden, Jay Pandolfo and Sergei Brylin. The line makes its living on frustrating the league's most dynamic scorers and doesn't allow many odd-man rushes.

Giving and taking: The Lightning scored eight fewer goals than it allowed this season (253 vs. 261). Only one team in the past five seasons advanced beyond the first round after allowing more goals than it scored, Carolina in 2002.

Been here before: In today's NHL, it's tough to keep the gang together. But the Devils have 11 players left from the team that won the Stanley Cup in 2003 while the Lightning has 10 from the 2004 Cup team.

Lucky sevens: No. 7 seeds that won first-round series since 1997:

East

2004: Montreal over Boston, 4-3

2002: Ottawa over Philadelphia, 4-1

2001: Toronto over Ottawa, 4-0

2000: Pittsburgh over Washington, 4-1

1999: Buffalo over Ottawa, 4-0

1998: Montreal over Pittsburgh, 4-2

West

2006: Colorado over Dallas, 4-1

2003: Anaheim over Detroit, 4-0

2001: Los Angeles over Detroit, 4-2

1998: Edmonton over Colorado, 4-3

1997: Edmonton over Dallas, 4-3

[Last modified April 11, 2007, 20:33:04]