by Larry Leavitt

Los Angeles vs. Anaheim: The big four Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and L.A. they’re all still in and they’ve all been in it in years past and there’s probably a reason. So if you watch their style of play they sure look like they can be in it for the long haul too.

Drew Dougty of the Kings is impressive the minutes he put into a game is what is so impressive and he plays the most minutes of any NHL defenseman and it’s just not eating up minutes, it’s quality minutes. Dougty is a tough defenseman, he moves the puck well, and the Ducks in this series have been trying to hammer him because he was hurt at the end of this season.

The Ducks are really going out of their way to hit Dougty but he seems to be chugging along and the Kings in general just have a tough, tough team all around. The best part about the Kings right now is they have people who are out hurt and people who are filling in.

There has not been a drop in quality of play, their keeping their standards high, their going out and playing a team game. It’s not an individual it’s very much a team game. Heat flying one through four and quality attacking lines, quality defending lines, the Kings are playing a well rounded game.

Minnesota vs. Chicago: The Chicago Blackhawks are expected to carry the series because their so deep but who’d expect Minnesota to go down 2-0 and they did. Minnesota came back and won the third game and then the Wild and Hawks have an exciting game coming up.

Minnesota is just one of those teams that really don’t have that star power on every line. They have a lot of superstars on the team but the people who are there are doing the job and doing the job well and they just hang around and wait for that opportunity and when they get it they go for it.

They played a really well defensive game obviously because they won 4-0, this series can go either way. Minnesota can keep playing in their style that got them here and Chicago has trouble scoring it can go either way.

Boston vs. Montreal: I have been following Montreal pretty much all year, and I’m impressed with their team their a very well rounded team this is what you need for a playoff. Goaltending is what cost them to win the playoffs and Carey Price is an awsome goaltender and he’s doing really well right now.

The Canadiens are catching the Bruins at a good time, the Bruins don’t seem to have the jump that they’ve been known to have at playoff time. They’re still playing physical, they’re still playing hard and the thing with Boston is they can turn it around real quick and get some quick goals on you.

The Canadiens if they want to win this series they have to play a full 60 minutes with the Bruins you can’t have a let down stretch on the ice because before you know it, they can put two or three on net pretty quick.

NY Rangers vs. Pittsburgh: The Rangers are the underdog in this series by far right now, the Penguins are such a well rounded team and when you got that team in front of you you can’t say their not going to be there at the end. The Rangers put up a fight and their playing a good game they just need to get the breaks.

The Rangers need those things to go their way and work out for them and their not getting the lucky bounces and before you know it the Penguins have put the puck in the net. The Rangers are not completely out of this but the Pens certainly look like the dominate team for this series.

The Rangers head to Pittsburgh for game five of the series and the Pens can wrap it up with one more win as the Pens lead the series 3-1.

Larry Leavitt does commentary on the NHL on http://www.sportsradioservice.com