Eastern Conference Finals

Tampa Bay Lightning vs Boston Bruins

ap exchange 

This can be considered by many to be a surprise east finals match up but given their performances last round it will be hard to not give them credit after both finished in sweeps. The Tampa Bay Lightning took down a Capitals team that had looked different from years past and appeared to be its most ready to make a long run. Dwayne Roloson continued his dominance of Washington this season after shutting them out twice during the regular season. The big names have been accounted for so far in the playoffs with Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier playing the veteran roles this time as they try and win Lord Stanley's Cup. Tampa Bay lost Simon Gagne in game 1 last series to a concussion but he has been skating with the team again and is expected to start the next series. Gagne was hit by Washington defenseman Scott Hannan and had his head bounce off the ice. Gagne will be a nice addition if he is able to continue where he left off. A surprise player always usually makes a name for themselves in the post season and this year it is Sean Bergenheim. Bergenheim has scored a number of big goals for the Lightning thus far and leads the team with 7. He will look to continue that positive play against the Bruins. There are a few players on this Tampa Bay team that have won it all before and will use that experience to catch an edge up on Boston.

The Boston Bruins couldn't have been happier with the way their series finished against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Bruins defeated one of the league's deepest teams in 4 games and rally took advantage of by far the worst playoff goal tending in NHL history.  The Bruins are a team that uses spaced out scoring, solid defense and outstanding goal tending to win and it is proving to be quite effective. David Krejci had an excellent series against the Flyers and really showed up for the first time this post season along with Milan Lucic. The play of Thomas is always important and he is back to his Vezina winning ways. Thomas is once again in the running for the Vezina after being replaced by Tukka Rask last season. The Bruins will be without Patrice Bergeron and that will hurt because he is the team's highest point producer through the first two rounds. Bergeron took a hit from Flyers forward Claude Giroux and is out with a concussion. If he is unable to return it could be a tough going for Boston. Zdeno Chara will also have to do his best at containing the likes of Martin St. Louis and company if the Bruins wish to advance

X Factor

The Bruins did well against Brian Boucher and Sergei Bobrovsky but they know run into 41-year old Dwayne Roloson. Roloson was a late addition for the Lightning in net and is proving to be the most importance piece in the puzzle. in 2006 Roloson was traded to the Edmonton Oilers and helped take the 8 seed to the Stanley Cup Finals where they lost to Carolina in 7 games. Roloson was hurt in game 1 however and did not return. He will look to get another crack at the cup in this series against Boston.

The Boston Bruins will be hurting with out Patrice Bergeron and if they had him maybe it will be enough. The rest of the Bruins are still confident in their abilities however, especially new comer Nathan Horton who is in the post season for the first time ever and making it count. The Lightning are flying high after beating the Penguins and Capitals and are proving to be difficult to deal with. Look for the Lighting to get the best of this one in an incredible goal tending battle. 

Lightning in 7