(3) Florida Panthers    (6) New Jersey Devils

38-26-18       Record        48-28-6
21-9-11        Home          24-13-4
17-17-7            Away         24-15-2
2-3-5       Last 10 Gms      7-2-1
197              Goals For           239
216         Goals Against        200
-19              Differential        +39
7th              PP Rank            14th
25th            PK Rank          1st
7th                PP Time           14th
2nd               PK Time          14th
25th     Even-Strength Rank    19th 

Season Series:
FLA (2-1-1)                       NJ (2-2-0)

11              Goals             11
9.1%         PP %             0%
100%           PK%           90.9%

Prediction: Devils in 4

Breakdown
It’s pretty simple, the only advantage that Florida possesses in their Power Play.  The fact that New Jersey owns the best PK in the league makes the Special Teams a complete non-factor in this series, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Henrique an Parise combine for more shorties in this series than Florida nets in PPGs.  How Florida even made the playoffs is beyond all rational comprehension. Bottom line is that this series will come down to goaltending and 5-on-5 five play.  Unless Jose Theodore gets a Hart Trophy nomination and tries to steal a round to justify it, the future Hall of Famer Brodeur should have the edge.  As far as 5-on-5 play goes, the Devils are not great, but the Panthers are awful, and sans-Kovalchuk which should be the dagger.

Fantasy Studs, Duds & Sleepers

Florida Panthers

Studs

Brian Campbell
If anyone is going to score on the PP, its soupy.  The functionality of the Cats’ man-advantage begins and ends with him.

Kris Versteeg
Going into the playoffs hot, and with a Stanley Cup to his name, the Cats will look to him to lead the way offensively 

Duds

Tomas Fleischmann
5 points in 22 career playoff games … sheesh.

Sleepers

Steven Weiss
The 30-year old playoff virgin is ready for the dance finally, and will be ready to make a name for himself outside of the first 82 games.

New Jersey Devils

Studs

Ilya Kovalchuk
There is no one with more to prove than Kovie, and he bounced back nicely this season after a mediocre 2010-2011 campaign.

Patrik Elias
Coming off of the quietest 78 point season in the history of the NHL, Elias can still play (apparently).  Also, back when the Devils used to win Cups, he was known to find the net in the post-season: 117 career playoff points in 139 games.   

Zach Parise
25 points in his last 28 playoff games, the upcoming UFA will be playing for more than just a Cup this post-season

Duds

Alex Ponikarovsky
10 points in 38 playoff games … if ol’ glass-clavicle doesn’t get hurt, he’ll pull a convenient spring Houdini

Sleepers

Adam Henrique
The Calder candidate will have lots of experience surrounding him to take the weight off of his young shoulders.  Look for Henrique to be a forgotten scorer in the Florida defensive strategy.