Breaking down the next round of the NHL playoffs
Stanley Cup playoffs
Western Conference capsule3. St. Louis (45-28-9) vs. WC 1 Dallas (43-32-7)
When: Series opens Thursday in St. Louis
Season series: Dallas won three of four
Blues leaders: Ryan O'Reilly (28-48-76), Vladimir Tarasenko (33-35-68), Brayden Schenn (17-38-55)
Goalie: Jordan Binnington (24-5-1, .927, 1.89)
Stars leaders: Tyler Seguin (33-47-80); Alexander Radulov (29-43-72), Jamie Benn (27-26-53)
Goalie: Ben Bishop (27-15-2, .934, 1.98)
The skinny: The Blues, one of the hottest teams entering the postseason, survived a wild series against Winnipeg in which the home team won just once. Jaden Schwartz has scored St. Louis' last 4 goals - the game-winner in Game 5 with just 15 seconds remaining, and all 3 in a 3-2 Game 6 victory at St. Louis. … Dallas vanquished the playoff-tested Predators when D-man John Klingberg scored 17:02 into overtime in Game 6. The play was set up by Alexander Radulov, who leads the Stars with 4 playoff goals. Radulov has 56 goals in two seasons with Dallas. … This figures to be a low-scoring series as both teams feature outstanding netminders. Blues rookie Jordan Binnington allowed 16 goals to Winnipeg, but 6 of them came in one game. Ben Bishop, meanwhile, made 47 saves in that Game 6 victory and he sports a .945 save percentage and 1.90 goals-against average in the playoffs.
Prediction: Blues in 7.
Eastern Conference capsule2. Boston (49-24-9) vs. WC2 Columbus (47-31-4)
When: Series opens Thursday in Boston
Season series: Boston won two of three, one in overtime
Bruins leaders: Brad Marchand (36-64-100), David Pastrnak (38-43-81), Patrice Bergeron (32-47-79), David Krejci (20-53-73)
Goalie: Tuukka Rask (27-13-5, .912, 2.48), Jaroslav Halak (22-11-4, .922, 2.34)
Blue Jackets leaders: Artemi Panarin (28-59-87), Matt Duchene (31-39-70), Cam Atkinson (41-28-69), Pierre-Luc Dubois (27-34-61)
Goalie: Sergei Bobrovsky (37-24-1, .913, 2.58)
The skinny: Columbus shocked the sports world by not only eliminating Tampa Bay, but by sweeping the vaunted Lightning right out of the playoffs. The Blue Jackets, who went all-in at the trade deadline by acquiring Matt Duchene and Wheaton's Ryan Dzingel, outscored Tampa Bay 19-5 after surrendering 3 goals in the first period of Game 1. It was the first time Columbus has won a postseason series. … Boston eliminated Toronto in seven games, getting a goal and an assist from former Blackhawks forward Joakim Nordstrom in a 5-1 Game 7 victory. The Bruins feature a battle-tested goalie in Tuukka Rask. The 32-year-old Finn has gone 39-33 in 72 playoff games with a .925 save percentage and 2.25 goals-against average.
Prediction: Blue Jackets in 6
- John Dietz