Eastern Matchup: (2) New Jersey vs. (7) Tampa Bay
| Tampa Bay Lightning | New Jersey Devils | |
| Power Home | 0.423 | 0.525 |
| Power Away | 0.527 | 0.572 |
| Power Total | 0.475 | 0.549 |
| Goals For | 253 | 216 |
| Goals Against | 261 | 201 |
| Diff Per Game | -0.098 | 0.183 |
| PowerPlay | 18.4% (9th) | 17.7% (16th) |
| PenaltyKill | 78.4% (28th) | 85.2% (4th) |
| PP+PK | 96.80% | 102.90% |
Key players for Tampa Bay: Johan Holmqvist, Vincent Lecavalier, Brad Richards, Martin St. Louis
Key players for New Jersey: Martin Brodeur, Brian Rafalski, Patrik Elias
Analysis: Martin Brodeur will match up more than nicely against the big Tampa forwards, and while New Jersey lacks depth, they make Tampa look like a puddle.
Tampa will need to vastly improve its play on the road or this series will be all but over before they even set foot in their home rink. More than anything, they need Richards to step up his play. As good as the tandem of Lecavalier and St. Louis are, Richards is the one making $7.8 million and needs to return to the play that saw him crowned playoff MVP a few years ago.
The poor management of Tampa Bay’s goaltenders will prove the final blow in the coffin. How can anyone in Tampa Bay show any confidence in Holmqvist or Marc Denis?
Prediction: New Jersey in four