East Matchup: (2) New Jersey Devils vs. (4) Ottawa Senators


Ottawa Senators New Jersey Devils
Power Home 0.540 0.525
Power Away 0.628 0.572
Power Total 0.584 0.549

Goals For 288 216
Goals Against 222 201
Diff Per Game 0.805 0.183

PowerPlay 17.9% (14th) 17.7% (16th)
PenaltyKill 84.5% (9th) 85.2% (4th)
PP+PK 102.40% 102.90%

Key players for Ottawa: Ray Emery, Mike Comrie, Dany Heatley

Key players for New Jersey: Martin Brodeur, Brian Rafalski, Patrik Elias

Analysis: After watching New Jersey have so much trouble with the Tampa Bay Lightning, I have little confidence in them defeating the Senators, who look like a determined and focused team against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Comrie has played very well, enough to add a significant second threat while keeping the big line of Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson together. Most importantly of all, the Senators have confidence in their goaltender and have plenty to prove. The Devils to me seem uninterested. That had better change if they hope to last against the Sens.

You can never count out Brodeur, but he’ll have virtually no margin for error in this matchup. The Senators are much stronger at every single position than the Lightning were, and the Devils had trouble with them. The Devils are an excellent team at pouncing on turnovers, but so are the Senators, and their guns are bigger. I’d expect a fairly quick out for the Devils.

Prediction: Senators in 5

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