Eastern Conference

Playoff goaltending ranked 1 (best) to 16 (worst)

1 Canadiens vs. 8 Bruins
Expect Montreal 's skilled forwards to overwhelm Boston at times. The Bruins ' only hope is for mammoth defenseman Zdeno Chara (right) to do it all: shut down Alex Kovalev (left), score and help defuse the Canadiens ' highly potent power play. It's too much to ask.

THE PICK
Canadiens in six

7
14

2 Penguins vs. 7 Senators
When Pittsburgh was hit by injuries, Evgeni Malkin (left) and his mates rallied—now the Penguins are a deeper team for it. In Ottawa the absence of injured forwards Daniel Alfredsson and Mike Fisher will be too much for superb playmaker Jason Spezza (right) to overcome.

THE PICK
Penguins in five

12
16

3 Capitals vs. 6 Flyers
This could be the nastiest series of the entire playoffs. Philadelphia , with 6'5", 220-pound defenseman Braydon Coburn (right), will try to intimidate Washington forwards Nicklas Backstrom (left) and Alex Ovechkin ; Caps leader Ovie, though, is not easily intimidated.

THE PICK
Capitals in seven

11
13