John Dietz's playoff capsules
Western Conference finalsBlackhawks vs. Anaheim
How they got here: Hawks beat Predators in six and Wild in four games. Ducks beat Jets in four and Flames in five games.
Hawks playoff leaders:
Patrick Kane (7G, 6A); Jonathan Toews (4G, 7A)
Corey Crawford (.916 save percentage)
Ducks playoff leaders:
Corey Perry (7G, 8A); Ryan Getzlaf (2G, 10A)
Frederik Andersen (.925)
The skinny: Anaheim, a team that boasts 17 regulars over 200 pounds, steamrolled through the first two rounds of the playoffs and has yet to really be tested. Their top six forwards will be a force to be reckoned with, and the Hawks must find a way to contain Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf. The two veterans combined for 58 goals this season and 9 more in the playoffs. Shutting down this line may come down to the Hawks' fourth line of Andrew Desjardins, Marcus Kruger and Andrew Shaw, a group that has played very well thus far in the postseason. How the Ducks decide to defend the Hawks' top three lines will be interesting. A so-so defensive corps will have a tough time containing the Hawks' firepower.
Prediction: Anaheim's the top seed in the West, but the Hawks just know how to win. Experience is the X factor and the Hawks will prevail in six games.
Eastern Conference finalsTampa Bay vs. N.Y. Rangers
How they got here: Lightning beat Red Wings in seven and Canadiens in six games. Rangers beat Penguins in five and Capitals in seven games.
Lightning playoff leaders:
Tyler Johnson (8G, 4A); Nikita Kucherov (6G, 5A)
Ben Bishop (.931)
Rangers playoff leaders:
Derick Brassard (5G, 3A); Derek Stepan (3G, 5A)
Henrik Lundqvist (.944)
The skinny: This should be quite a series, pitting the Rangers' defense against the Lightning's high-powered attack. New York's D held the Penguins and Capitals to 20 goals in 12 games. In nine of those 12, they allowed zero or 1 goal. Tampa Bay is led by Steven Stamkos (43 goals in the regular season), Tyler Johnson (29) and Nikita Kucherov (29). Stamkos (3 goals) has been AWOL for much of the playoffs, but Tampa Bay advanced in spite of that thanks to Johnson, Kucherov and great goaltending from Ben Bishop.
Prediction: Many people think New York is headed to a second straight Final, but I like the Lightning - which was 3-0 vs. the Rangers this season - to advance in six games.