The Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors face off in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. The series tips off on Saturday afternoon. These teams met four times during the regular season, with the home side taking each contest, meaning the Clippers’ home court advantage could play a major factor.
The Eastern Conference Quarterfinals matchup between the Miami Heat and Charlotte Bobcats is one that comprises two different narratives for two very different franchises.
There are some bragging rights, as well as the trip to the Western Conference semifinals, in the Lone Star State when the 8th seed Dallas Mavericks face the #1 seed San Antonio Spurs in the opening round of the playoffs.
If you’re looking for an entertaining NBA playoff series, look no further than the Western Conference quarterfinals matchup between the fourth-seeded Houston Rockets and the fifth-seeded Portland Trail Blazers.
The puck drops on a gritty Original Six match-up on Friday night, as the Red Wings and Bruins do battle in what should be a seven-game series of attrition. Both of these teams are hungry and resilient, but one should be more talented, which may well be the difference.
The Dallas Stars hope to build on the momentum they garnered in the last half of Game 1 when they visit the Duck Pond again; trying to even the series before it shifts back to Dallas for Game 3.
The Tampa Bay Lightning host the Montreal Canadiens on Friday evening in game two of their opening round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Montreal won Game 1 in the series in overtime on Wednesday on a goal by Dale Weise, 5-4.
Indiana may be limping into the playoffs but they are doing it as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Speaking of limping the Atlanta Hawks were doing that too making them look like the perfect first round opponent for the struggling Pacers.
The NHL’s second season is officially upon us – the playoff matchups are set and the playoff beards have already started sprouting.
Many expected that the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks would meet in the playoffs in what would be a fascinating showdown. No one predicted that matchup would occur in the first round.
California rivals – the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks will meet for the third time in four years in the Stanley Cup Playoffs when they kick off their first round series in San Jose.
The Avs’ quick resurgence with a glut of young players – after the Joe Sakic/Milan Hejduk/Alex Tanguay glory years – has been remarkable. Minnesota hopes its fistful of marquee players and overall team cohesiveness are enough to gloss over potentially substandard goaltending.
Two of the more offensively gifted teams in the NHL do battle in what should be a wide open first round playoff series that kicks off in Anaheim Wednesday night.
NHL Playoffs First Round Preview – Ducks vs. Stars
The Anaheim Ducks enter the NHL playoffs as one of the best teams in the Western Conference for the second year in a row, hoping to erase a disappointing first round exit from last year’s playoffs.
On the surface, the opening round playoff series between Metropolitan Division rivals the Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets has the makings of a blowout. The Penguins took all five regular season meetings between the teams by a score of 16-7.
The Montreal Canadiens and the Tampa Bay Lightning meet in what was projected weeks ago to be a first round matchup of two teams that were close in the standings all season long.
