I’m Canadian, did you expect me to skip out on a tiny bit of playoff coverage? Don’t worry, I won’t be overrunning the front page with hockey updates…

Instead you’ll see a new page has been added, you’ll be able to find the scores and what have yous of each game on that page. If you don’t know how the playoffs work… first of all - d’oh, second of all… here’s what you need to know

• 16 teams make the playoffs
• There are the quarterfinals, semifinals and conference finals…
• The 2 teams that win in their conference then go to the Stanley Cup Playoff round
• Each section is the best out of 7
• The games start on the 11th

That’s pretty much it… If you’re interested in more specific stats on the teams that are playing each other… I can give you that.

As for what I think will happen?

Buffalo, Jersey, Atlanta, Ottawa and Calgary, Minnesota, Dallas, Nashville

Well, that’s what I want to happen in this round. In the end I’d want to see Ottawa duke it out against Dallas so that I’d be happy with the outcome either way…

Really… I’ll only be disappointed if one of those teams I listed above… don’t win it all. I’ll be happy if any of those teams win… But for now I’m cheering for Dallas. And oddly enough, if Dallas loses to Vancouver, I’ll switch to cheering for Vancouver until they’re out. Hrm. Sorry, I get a little lost when my team doesn’t actually make the playoffs. (The good news is…Sakic was signed for another year! so many if they get … you know.. better players, next season won’t be such a downer)

TSN’s Power rankings for teams are:

Buffalo Sabers
Anaheim Mighty Ducks
Ottawa Senators

Players:

Marty Brodeur (New Jersey Devils)
Dany Heatley (Ottawa Senators)
Daniel Alfredsson (Ottawa Senators)

Eastern Conference

Buffalo vs Islanders

• Regular season series: Buffalo won, 3-1
  • Oct 26: Sabres, 3-0
  • Jan 1: Sabres, 3-1
  • Jan27: Islanders, 5-3
  • March 30: Sabres, 6-4
• Previous playoff series:
  • 1976 — New York Islanders, 4-2 (quarterfinal)
  • 1977 — New York Islanders, 4-0 (quarterfinal)
  • 1980 — New York Islanders, 4-1 (semifinal)

New Jersey vs Tampa Bay

• Regular season series: Lightning won, 3-1
  • Jan 18: Lightning, 3-2, Shootout
  • Jan 26: Devils, 2-0
  • Feb 11: Lightning, 4-1
  • March 22: Lightning, 3-1
• Previous playoff series:
  • 2003 — New Jersey Devils, 4-1 (conference semifinals)

Atlanta vs Rangers

• Regular season series: Atlanta won, 3-1
  • Nov 10: Rangers, 5-2
  • Nov 28: Thrashers, 5-4, Overtime
  • Jan 20: Thrashers, 3-1
  • March 16: Thrashers, 2-1, Overtime
• Previous playoff series: none

Ottawa vs Pittsburgh

• Regular season series: Pittsburgh won, 3-1
  • Nov 10: Senators, 6-3
  • Dec 6: Penguins, 5-4, Shootout
  • Jan 18: Penguins, 4-3, Shootout
  • Apr 5: Penguins, 3-2
• Previous playoff series: none

Western Conference
Detroit vs Calgary

• Regular season series: Series tied, 2-2
  • Nov 1: Red Wings, 3-2
  • Nov 17: Flames, 4-1
  • Feb 11: Red Wings, 7-4
  • March 20: Flames, 2-1
• Previous playoff series:
  • 2004 — Calgary Flames, 4-2 (conference semifinals)

Anaheim vs Minnesota

• Regular season series: Series tied, 2-2
  • Oct 26: Ducks, 2-1
  • Oct 27: Wild, 3-2, Shootout
  • Nov 12: Ducks, 3-2
  • Dec 13: Wild, 4-3
• Previous playoff series:
  • 2003 — Anaheim Ducks (as Mighty Ducks of Anaheim), 4-0 (conference finals)

Vancouver vs Dallas

• Regular season series: Series Tied, 2-2
  • Oct 23: Stars, 2-1
  • Nov 6: Canucks, 2-1
  • Jan 3: Canucks, 2-1, Shootout
  • Feb 25: Stars, 2-1, Overtime
• Previous playoff series:
  • 1994 — Vancouver Canucks, 4-1 (conference semifinals)

Nashville vs San Jose

• Regular season series: Nashville won, 3-1
  • Oct 26: Predators, 4-3
  • Dec 9: Sharks, 3-1
  • Feb 14: Predators, 5-0
  • Feb 28: Predators, 4-3, Shootout
• Previous playoff series:
  • 2006 — San Jose Sharks, 4-1 (conference quarterfinals)