Stanley Cup playoff preview

Here's a look at the four NHL playoff series that begin Thursday night and Friday:

BRUINS VS. CAPITALSThe defending Stanley Cup champions from Boston have had a pretty smooth sail to the No. 2 seed in the East, but Tuukka Rask's injury late in the season has put a bit more pressure on goalie Tim Thomas, who turns 38 on Sunday and has looked his age more often this season. The Caps' Alex Ovechkin powered his team through a coaching change midseason and severe inconsistency all season long, but they're playing well now and have Nicklas Backstrom (concussion) in the lineup once again. The Bruins need captain Zdeno Chara to neutralize Ovechkin and Boston's high-end forwards to duplicate their efforts of a year ago. This one won't be easy.

Prediction: Bruins in 7

PANTHERS VS. DEVILSThe No. 6 seed in the East is a pretty coveted spot, given that the Devils get to face a Florida team that eked out the Southeast Division despite a 2-3-5 finish to the season and has one of the worst goal differentials (minus-25) of any post-lockout playoff team. Florida, with rookie coach Kevin Dineen, is a star-free squad that may go with former Devils backup Scott Clemmensen in nets. New Jersey, with former Panthers coach Peter DeBoer, is star-laden, led by Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise and Mr. Everything Marty Brodeur in net, playing as if last season's ugliness never existed. Kovalchuk may get his first playoff series victory.

Prediction: Devils in 6

BLUES VS. SHARKS

St. Louis turned its season around after only a month, hiring Ken Hitchcock to give a solid but underachieving team a needed kick in the hockey pants. Jaro Halak and Brian Elliott were the league's best goalie tandem, with Halak ready to take the Blues on a run; his playoff neophyte teammates may not be quite so ready for the ride. The Sharks, Western Conference finalists last season, bumbled through much of this campaign, but have the chops to be cool under pressure this series. Joe Thornton, Dan Boyle and company have failed as favorites before. This time, they may succeed as underdogs.

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Prediction: Sharks in 6

COYOTES VS. HAWKSAnother 3-6 matchup with a 100-point team, Chicago, starting on the road. But the Blackhawks have some holes, starting with the iffy availability of captain Jonathan Toews and poor goaltending all season long. The Coyotes have shaken off their unwanted franchise status to be yet another hard-working Dave Tippett team, with first-year Coyote Mike Smith leading the charge from the nets. Throw in some unknown talents like Radim Vrbata, Keith Yandle and the ageless Ray Whitney, and Phoenix looks tough to beat.

Prediction: Coyotes in 6