2006 NHL Hockey Playoff Preview

2006 STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS PREVIEW

It really is the best hockey around-- the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The goaltending is tougher, the shots are crisper, and the checks are harder. Teams, in essence, play a second season, during which they can look brilliant one night and totally lost the next.

Only the best survive to make it to the next grueling round.
In the playoffs, clubs that have won their respective divisions are seeded 1-3, with the remaining five teams earning the 4-8 seeds in descending point totals. Surviving teams are re-seeded before the next round begins.

What follows is a more in depth look at the top three seeds in each conference and a quick glance at the remaining teams that are in the playoffs, with an eye towards what each club must do to win the Cup.

First Round Matchups, click the preview link next to the team matchups for a full outlook and our first round predictions.

2006 NHL Playoffs

FIRST ROUND:

Eastern Conference
(8) Tampa Bay Lighting Vs (1) Ottawa Senators Preview
(7) Montreal Canadiens Vs (2) Carolina Hurricanes Preview
(6) NY Rangers Vs (3) New Jersey Devils Preview
(5) Philadelphia Flyers Vs (4) Buffalo Sabres Preview

Western Conference
(8) Edmonton Oilers Vs (1) Detroit Redwings Preview
(7) Colorado Avalanche Vs (2) Dallas Stars Preview
(6) Anaheim Mighty Ducks Vs (3) Calgary Flames Preview
(5) San Jose Sharks Vs (4) Nashville Predators Preview

The First round of the 2006 NHL playoffs is over and boy was it a tale of 2 conferences. All top 4 teams advanced in the Eastern draw, while all 4 of the higher seeds lost in the Western Conference. Don't give this title to an Eastern conference team just yet, this has been one of the most balanced hockey seasons I can remember and a team red hot like the San Jose Sharks just could ride a hot goaltender all the way to the cup. Without further ado here are the second round matchup previews.

SECOND ROUND:

BUFFALO vs OTTAWA

NEW JERSEY vs CAROLINA

EDMONTON vs SAN JOSE

COLORADO vs ANAHEIM

Some of the most exciting hockey was seen in the second round of the playoffs. We had a couple surprise winners in Edmonton and Buffalo, while Carolina and Anaheim looked very sharp in their series wins. We are down to 4 teams and here are the 2 series previews for the conference finals.

THIRD ROUND:

Buffalo vs Carolina

Edmonton vs Anaheim

FINALS:

Coming Soon

More Articles on the 2006 NHL Playoffs

If you haven't started betting on the NHL playoffs, read up on the article on handicapping the goaltender.

Check out the recent home ice advantage piece on the NHL playoffs from maddux sports.

Anaheim has made it through 2 rounds, a big reason for the turn-a-round was the goalie change to Ilya Bryzgalov and the great play of the Ducks Rookies.

Read more about 2 of the best centers left in the playoffs, Daniel Briere & Eric Staal. These 2 will lock up in the third round of the NHL playoffs.

The Sabres knocked off the number 1 seeded Ottawa Senators, thanks in large part to Chris Drury. Read about Buffalo's go-to-guy.

Stay tuned for more hockey playoff information from the leader in sports handicapping information MadduxSports.com. In the meantime check out the NHL playoff picks from our trusted handicappers if you plan on wagering on the NHL playoff tournament in 2006.

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