Eastern Conference first round series breakdowns

A subtle barb from his coach seems to have restored Alex Semin's focus, and that's not good news for the Habs. Greg Fiume/Getty Images

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Canadiens (8) vs. Capitals (1)

Season series: 2-2

Nov. 20: Montreal 3, Washington 2
Nov. 28: Washington 4, Montreal 3 (SO)
Jan. 5: Washington 4, Montreal 2
Feb. 10: Montreal 6, Washington 5 (OT)

How the Caps can win: Break out the DVDs from last year's series against New York. That clash was as lopsided on paper as this one appears to be, yet the undermanned Rangers had Washington on the brink of elimination before the Caps took the final three games. Complacency at both ends of the ice, not just their much maligned defensive work, triggered the near disaster. If they've learned their lesson and can maintain their focus, the overwhelming gap in firepower should cut this series short.

How the Habs can win: Power-play success. There may be teams that can keep up with the Caps five-on-five, but Montreal certainly isn't one of them. Their only chance of staging a monumental upset would be to goad Washington into the box and then take advantage of the extra man. Power play point men Andrei Markov and Marc-Andre Bergeron will have to be les meilleurs for the bleu, blanc et rouge to craft an upset.

Key performer: Alexander Semin, Capitals. Coach Bruce Boudreau recently offered his 40-goal man a backhanded compliment -- or perhaps just a gentle reminder that effort tends to be rewarded: "When he wants to play, and he's wanted to play an awful lot these days, he's as skilled as there is in this league." Semin has a displayed a tendency to drift in and out of games in the past, but with 10 points in his last 11 contests, he may already have taken the hint.

Keep an eye on: Jeff Schultz, Capitals. Sidelined by a rib injury for all but one playoff game last spring, the blueliner missed out on his chance to bring order to the Keystone Caps. Count on him making that impact this time around. After watching Schultz post a league-leading plus-50 rating this season and provide a steadying and influential defensive presence next to Mike Green, it's conceivable that the team's blueline could be viewed as a strength by the time this series is over.

X-Factor: Washington's finishing kick. If the Canadiens happen to catch the Caps napping, they'd better be certain to put them to bed for the night. Washington led the league in third-period scoring and ranked second in come-from-behind victories, highlighting the quick response potential of their offense.

Bruins (6) vs. Sabres (3)

Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask may be a rookie, but his style and composure are well suited for the playoffs. Michael Tureski/Icon SMI

Season series: Boston, 4-2

Nov. 7: Boston 4, Buffalo 2
Nov. 20: Boston 2, Buffalo 1 (OT)
Jan. 29: Buffalo 2, Boston 1
Feb. 9: Boston 3, Buffalo 2 (SO)
Mar. 29: Buffalo 3, Boston 2
Apr. 8: Boston 3, Buffalo 1

How the Sabres can win: Ryan Miller won't have to steal the series, but he'll need to play at a near-Olympian level to keep up with the guy at the other end and compensate for his own team's fits-and-spurts approach to offense. Miller, who lowered his GAA for the fifth consecutive season, gives the Sabres the same emotional edge that Dominik Hasek once did. When he's between the pipes, any game is winnable. Scoring support could come from Thomas Vanek, the disappointing winger who finally found a groove with five goals over the season's final weekend. If he's rolling, the Bruins will be hard pressed to answer.

How the Bruins can win: Put the Sabres to sleep. It's no secret that the Bruins enter the postseason having scored fewer goals than any team and their top offensive threat, Marc Savard, remains sidelined with a concussion. Scoring by committee sounds like a plan -- until you realize committee members like Michael Ryder (three goals in his last 23 games) and Marco Sturm (one in 16) might not show up for the meeting. They'll have to cling to Claude Julien's defensive scheme like it was Linus' blanket, keep the over/under at three, and hope that rookie sensation Tuukka Rask doesn't pull a Jim Carey.

Key performer: Tuukka Rask. The Sabres can win without Miller being their best player, but with an offense that scores less often than a young Bud Bundy, the Bruins won't survive if Rask bends, let alone breaks. The league leader in both GAA and save percentage may lack playoff exposure, but his calm demeanor and economical style are ideally suited to withstand the pressures of the postseason.

Keep an eye on: Tyler Myers, Sabres. Not that the 6-8, 222-pound favorite for the Calder was going to skate by unnoticed, but it'll be interesting to see how he responds to his first playoff experience, especially with Zdeno Chara wreaking havoc at the other end of the ice. He'll likely be used to contain Milan Lucic, Boston's best hope for establishing physcial domination in the series.

X-Factor: Tim Connolly, Sabres. The first line center missed the final nine games of the season with a foot injury (has it been determined yet if his bones are made of papier mache or glass?), but he's expected to return for the series opener. If he can stay healthy, Connolly bolsters Buffalo's five-on-five scoring and both special teams. That may be all the edge the Sabres need.