NHL Capsules

By Compiled by DAMIAN CRISTODERO

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 27, 2000

Eastern conference

Philadelphia Flyers (1) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (7)

FIRST ROUND: Flyers beat the Sabres 4-1; Penguins beat the Capitals 4-1.

SEASON SERIES: Flyers 4-0-1.

THE LOWDOWN: The Flyers are looking more like contenders than anyone expected after losing Eric Lindros (concussion) and coach Roger Neilson (cancer treatment). Interim coach Craig Ramsay has the Flyers focused, and their tight-checking game plan gave the Sabres fits. That won't be as easy to accomplish against the Penguins, who are more skilled than Buffalo and like to move the puck rather than rush it. Pittsburgh could do nothing against the Flyers in the regular season, but Jaromir Jagr is healthy and G Ron Tugnutt is hot.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Flyers -- Keep Jagr, who had three goals and seven assists against the Capitals, under wraps and hope G Brian Boucher continues to stand tall. Penguins -- Short-circuit Philly's power play, which tallied nine times against the Sabres. Win in Philadelphia, something they haven't done since 1994.

PREDICTION: Flyers in seven.

Toronto Maple Leafs (3) vs. New Jersey Devils (4)

FIRST ROUND: Maple Leafs beat Senators 4-2; Devils beat Panthers 4-0.

SEASON SERIES: Maple Leafs 3-0-1.

THE LOWDOWN: Toronto faces its second straight trap-happy team, but the Devils have more offensive weapons than the Senators and are better defensively. The Maple Leafs dominated the season series, but New Jersey finally has exorcised its first-round demons and is brimming with confidence. It's not often Pavel Bure is rendered harmless, but the Devils did it, thanks mainly to Scott Stevens. Toronto has reason to throw out its chest as well. Steve Thomas had six goals in the first round and Sergei Berezin scored points in the final five games.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Maple Leafs -- Keep the game wide open. G Curtis Joseph must raise his game from solid against the Senators to outstanding. Devils -- Slow the game. G Martin Brodeur must continue his high-class play.

PREDICTION: Devils in six.

Western conference

Dallas Stars (2) vs. San Jose Sharks (8)

FIRST ROUND: Stars beat Oilers 4-1; Sharks beat Blues 4-3.

SEASON SERIES: Sharks 4-2.

THE LOWDOWN: There is no way the Sharks can pull another upset, right? Before you dismiss that notion, remember, the Sharks won the season series against the Stars. Then again, that's also when the Blues dominated the Sharks. The Stars are well-rested and get a boost from the return of LW Jere Lehtinen (ankle) and D Sergei Zubov (knee). Still, the Sharks' swarming attack can knock anyone off their game and the Owen Nolan-Vincent Damphousse-Jeff Friesen line provides just enough offense.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Stars -- Stay focused, and don't get rattled when the Sharks attack. Dallas has the talent and the goaltender (Ed Belfour) to make short work of this series. Sharks -- Swarm, pinch, take the body -- anything to throw Dallas off. G Steve Shields must keep his Game 7 form.

PREDICTION: Stars in five.

Colorado Avalanche (3) vs. Detroit Red Wings (4)

FIRST ROUND: Avalanche beat Coyotes 4-1; Red Wings beat Kings 4-0.

SEASON SERIES: Red Wings 4-1.

THE LOWDOWN: It's not the rivalry it once was (Claude Lemieux is in New Jersey, and the teams played a penalty-free game to close the season). But the Wings and Avs still inspire enough passion to expect a thrilling series. Both are well-rested and hot. Colorado is on an 18-3-1 streak, and the acquisition of D Ray Bourque has helped the Avalanche backline and, by extension, G Patrick Roy. Detroit is 9-2-2 and enjoying exceptional play from G Chris Osgood, who shut out the Kings twice. With four of the best centers in the league (Colorado's Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg vs. Detroit's Steve Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov), the series could be a playmaker's dream.

KEYS TO VICTORY: Avalanche -- Keep the power play percolating. The Avs scored seven times with the man advantage in the first round. As always, Roy must come up big. Red Wings -- Look to the role players. Osgood, Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan and Nicklas Lidstrom are important, but guys such as Darren McCarty and Martin Lapointe set the tone against the Kings.

PREDICTION: Avalanche in six.

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