Stanley Cup Playoffs: Eastern Conference 2nd-round breakdown
It's playoff time, folks. To get you prepared, we break down each of the Eastern Conference's second-round series. (Advanced stats at 5-on-5 courtesy: Corsica)
Lightning 1A vs. Bruins 2A
| Lightning | Stat | Bruins |
|---|---|---|
| 4-1 | Round 1 record | 4-3 |
| 6 | Goal differential | 8 |
| 53.58% (3rd) | 5-on-5 Corsi % | 52.23% (5th) |
| 7.5% (T-10th) | Shooting percentage | 9.23% (4th) |
| 94.74% (4th) | Save percentage | 91.36% (12th) |
| 102.24 (4th) | PDO | 100.59 (7th) |
| Kucherov (10) | Leading scorer | Pastrnak (13) |
The Lightning will come into this series as the more rested team after making quick work of the New Jersey Devils in Round 1. But after coming off an emotional high from a wild Game 7 against the Toronto Maple Leafs, don't take the Bruins lightly. In fact, the Bruins owned the Lightning during the regular season after walking away with the W in three of their four meetings.
The matchup should be highlighted by a battle between two of the best lines in hockey: Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak versus Kucherov-Stamkos-Miller. The Bruins' trio combined for 30 points in Round 1, while the Lightning's top three had 20 points in its five-game series with the Devils.
Game 1 begins Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Amalie Arena in Tampa Bay
Capitals 1M vs. Penguins 2M
| Capitals | Stat | Penguins |
|---|---|---|
| 4-2 | Round 1 record | 4-2 |
| 6 | Goal differential | 13 |
| 49.23% (9th) | 5-on-5 Corsi % | 51.63% (7th) |
| 7.5% (T-10th) | Shooting percentage | 15.22% (1st) |
| 91.93% (10th) | Save percentage | 91.51% (11th) |
| 99.43 (9th) | PDO | 106.73 (2nd) |
| Carlson (9) | Leading scorer | Crosby & Guentzel (13) |
What would a second round be without the Capitals and Penguins going head to head?
The Capitals will be looking for revenge after being eliminated by their Metropolitan rivals the past two postseasons. And, of course, the spotlight will once again shine brightest on the renewed showdown between the teams' respective captains. While Crosby (10 goals, 22 points) historically comes out on top in terms of series wins, Ovechkin (12 goals, 26 points) has statistically fared better between the two in their 20 playoff contests against one another.
Game 1 begins Thursday at 7 p.m. ET at Capital One Arena in Washington
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)