Devils-bruins Preview

[insanity_gallops]

Devils profile: http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy2003/seriesb/preview1.html

Bruins profile: http://www.nhl.com/cupcrazy2003/seriesb/preview2.html

The Matchup

As is the case with any Playoff series the New Jersey Devils are involved with, defense will be the key to this series between the second-seeded Devils and seventh-seeded Boston Bruins. This series figures to be close-checking and low scoring.

In four games against New Jersey this year, Boston managed just seven goals in dropping the season series, 2-1-1. The good news for Boston is that New Jersey managed just eight goals in the series.

So, not surprisingly, the initial focus will be on the goaltenders. Few, if any, would argue that the favored Devils have the advantage here.

As mentioned before, Martin Brodeur is one of the favorites to win the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goaltender. Boston, meanwhile, has gone through five goalies this season and is still undecided about who will be their goalie come Wednesday's Game 1.

But, neither Jeff Hackett, coming off a hand injury, nor Steve Shields, a career backup, has anywhere near Brodeur's credentials. Rookies Andrew Raycroft and Tim Thomas have no Playoff experience.

Yet, Boston has some reason for confidence. In its only win against New Jersey this season, Boston chased Brodeur for one of the rare times in his career. Boston's Martin Lapointe fired off a hat trick and Mike Knuble added the other goal in a 4-3 victory last month.

The bad news for Boston fans is their team only managed three other goals -- all by Joe Thornton -- in the four-game series. In all, Brodeur stopped 101 of the 108 shots he faced from the Bruins' this season.

In order to generate more offense, the Bruins will have to be more effective in the neutral zone, a difficult task against a New Jersey team that has perfected a system limiting possession in the middle of the ice.

Better decisions with the puck and a better use of the team's speed, especially speedsters like forwards Brian Rolston and P.J. Axelsson and defenseman Bryan Berard to lug the puck out of the defensive zone.

Once in the offensive zone, Boston must cycle the puck regularly, hoping to wear down the Devils' defense. This is especially true when Boston's top line is on the ice. The Devils usually counter Boston's top line with the checking unit of John Madden, Jay Pandolfo and Turner Stevenson, as well as making sure that defenseman Scott Stevens is also on the ice.

Madden, however, is at a size disadvantage against the hulking Thornton and that could prove telling in a long series.

New Jersey knows it will only go as far as its offense will take it. Fortunately, the top line of Patrik Elias, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta has shown signs of coming to life late in the season. Additionally, New Jersey has received scoring from both the Madden unit and the second line of Joe Nieuwendyk, Jamie Langenbrunner and Jeff Friesen in the season series against Boston. Madden, Pandolfo and Langenbrunner each have a goal and two assists this year against the Bruins. Friesen has a goal and an assist and Nieuwendyk has a goal.

The Devils must also get their offense more involved in the play. Richard Smehlik has that unit's only point in the four games this season. That deficiency is especially telling on New Jersey's dismal power-play unit when a lack of shots from the point often derails the attack before momentum can be sustained.

The lack of a power-play threat will only encourage the Bruins to play a more physical game, walking the edge of legality while trying to wear down the Devils.

[point]

I just LOVE that Phila-Toronto matchup! I hope they beat the living daylights out of each other and the survivor can only stagger to a 0-4 second round exit!

[Triumph]

Very imprecise writing at the end there, claiming that the Devils need more of a contribution from their defense, on offense. While that's true, I hardly think it is a "deficiency" (tell me any team that can match the Devils Big 3) and I also hardly think that point shots are the reason for the Devils' "dismal" power play.

[shrubbery]

You know, I always wondered why Burns never used 3 forwards on the PP ala Fetisov did when Larry was couching. Especially since our PP was so much lacking this year and still not great even though its slightly improved. I think someone else brought this up before.