Senators by the Numbers:
Points Leader: Oliver Ekman-Larsson (82)
Goals Leader: Derek Stepan (34)
Goalie: Braden Holtby (43 W, 0.918 PCT, 2.25 GAA)

Habs by the Numbers:
Points Leader: Jussi Jokinen (71)
Goals Leader: Jussi Jokinen (33)
Goalie: Steve Mason (45 W, 0.923 PCT, 2.03 GAA)

Regular Season Head to Head: Montreal (2-2-1-0)


Playoffs By the Numbers:

Ottawa:
Points Leader: Tyler Seguin (8)
Goals Leader: Tyler Seguin (4)
Goalie: Braden Holtby (4-2, 0.904 PCT, 2.41 GAA)

Montreal:
Points Leader: Vincent Trocheck (6)
Goals Leader: Vincent Trocheck (4)
Goalie: Steve Mason (4-2, 0.922 PCT, 2.41 GAA)

Analysis:
In my first round predictions, I said that despite all of Ottawa’s firepower, the Sens would only go as far into these playoffs as Braden Holtby would carry them. True to that prediction, it was a close shave for Ottawa as it took them the full 7 games to take out the Washington Capitals to get out of the first round. The big reason the series went the distance? Goaltending. Holtby has been subpar so far in these playoffs: he was chased from the net in Game 5 vs. the Caps and finished round one with an underwhelming 0.904 sv% and a 2.41 GAA.

As for the Habs, they’ve continued their strong defensive play into the post season led by goalie Steve Mason with a stellar 0.922 sv % and 2.41 GAA. Offensively Montreal has been clicking as well potting 18 goals in the six games they’ve played thus far.

Head-to-head in the regular season, Montreal just edged out Ottawa in their season series with the Habs eking out an extra point with a shootout victory. Other than that it was split down the middle with two wins and two losses each and the aforementioned shootout loss by the Sens. There’s no indication that this playoff series will be any different and should go to seven games.

Prediction:
The outcome of this series will almost be verbatim of the prediction for Ottawa’s series against the Caps in the first round: everything hinges around Ottawa goaltender Braden Holtby. He was superb in the final 32 games of the regular season when he acquired by Ottawa, but he was very ordinary prior to that for the St. Louis Blues. Thus far it’s been the St. Louis version of Holtby that’s shown up for the playoffs, which almost had Ottawa singing the blues.

The Canadiens on the other hand are once again up against a team that outclasses them offensively, but as they showed against the Red Wings, their defensive play was more than up to the task. And you can’t underestimate their scoring. Les bleu blanc et rouge in 7.

Flyers by the Numbers:

Points Leader: P.K. Subban (64)
Goals Leader: Kyle Okposo (25)
Goalie: Brian Elliott (42 W, 0.925 PCT, 1.89 GAA)

Bolts by the Numbers:
Points Leader: Patrick Kane (88)
Goals Leader: Patrick Kane (32)
Goalie: Cam Talbot (40 W, 0.920 PCT, 2.26 GAA)

Regular Season Head to Head: Philadelphia (2-0-0-1)


Playoffs By the Numbers:

Philadelphia:

Points Leader: Anze Kopitar (7)
Goals Leader: Taylor Hall (2)
Goalie: Brian Elliott (4-2, 0.943 PCT, 1.69 GAA)

Tampa Bay:
Points Leader: Patrick Kane (10)
Goals Leader: Jordan Staal (7)
Goalie: Cam Talbot (4-3, 0.877 PCT, 3.67 GAA)

Analysis:
Well, the Tampa Bay Lightning did it again! After an impressive run to finish off the season, they managed to sneak into the playoffs on the final day of regular play, on tie-breakers no less, and then proceeded to take out the top seeded team in the Eastern Conference in the New Jersey Devils in the first round. The Devils of course were picked by many as the odds on favourite to win it all. Anyone see a glass shoe lying around? Or maybe more apt for this league, anyone check to see if Eric has a rusty horseshoe shoved up his ass?

The Philadelphia Flyers finished their first round the same way they finished off the regular season; on the back of goalie Brian Elliott. Elliott continued to be brilliant in the playoffs shutting down the New York Islanders in six games while posting an insane 0.943 sv% and 1.69 GAA along the way. The only pause for concern for Philly at the end of their series against the Isles was that they scored the fewest amount of goals for out of all of the teams heading into the second round.

Philly took the regular season series match up against the Bolts with 2 wins and one OT loss but gave up a surprising 7 goals against in those 3 games. Only the Senators, Canadiens and Red Wings scored more against the Flyers in three game regular season matchups.

Prediction:
Offensively, Tampa Bay seems to have hit their groove these playoffs. In their 7 game series against the Devils, they lit the lamp 23 times; that’s the most goals for out of any of the teams in the playoffs so far. Leading the way for the Bolts are the trio of Patrick Kane, Jordan Staal and Kyle Palmeri who have combined for a whopping 14 goals and 28 points.

Unfortunately, the Lightning have also given up the most goals against so far in these playoffs with 25 pucks finding their way behind netminder Cam Talbot, who’s stats as a result are ugly: 0.877 sv% and 3.67 GAA.

With Elliot playing lights out, Tampa can’t expect the same production against the Flyers that they had against the Devils. And unfortunately, with how Cam Talbot has played so far, they can’t rely on their goaltending to pull out the series for them either. Can you hear the bells tolling at midnight? Flyers in 6.