playoffs: 2019-20 | ECRR | Boston, Tampa Bay, Washington & Philadelphia

BOSTON BRUINS:

2019-20 season: 44-14-12, .714 points percentage

Season series: TBL 1-2-1; WSH 1-1-1; PHI 1-0-2

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[td]GAME BREAKER:[/td]

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[td]Forward Brad Marchand tied St. Louis Blues center Ryan O'Reilly for the NHL lead with 23 points (nine goals, 14 assists) in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs. His 87 points (29 goals, 58 assists) in 70 games before the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus were the second most in his NHL career, behind the 100 (36 goals, 64 assists) he scored in 79 games last season.[/td]

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[td]NUMBERS TO KNOW:[/td]

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[td]If the Bruins reach the Stanley Cup Final, they would become the fifth team in 21 seasons to get there in back-to-back seasons, after the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016 and 2017; 2008 and 2009), Detroit Red Wings (2008 and 2009), New Jersey Devils (2000 and 2001) and Dallas Stars (1999 and 2000).[/td]

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TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING:

2019-20 season: 43-21-6, .657 points percentage

Season series: BOS 3-1-0; WSH 0-2-1; PHI 2-0-0

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[td]GAME BREAKER:[/td]

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[td]Forward Nikita Kucherov can be among the best players in the NHL when he's on; he won the Hart Trophy voted as League MVP last season with 128 points (41 goals, 87 assists). He scored 85 points (33 goals, 52 assists) in 68 games before the season was paused March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus. With Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point, Kucherov is part of a top line that can be hard to stop. He's a threat because of his abilities as a scorer and playmaker, and his creativity is one of the keys to the Lightning's fortunes.[/td]

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[td]NUMBERS TO KNOW:[/td]

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[td]The Lightning finished first in the NHL in goals (243) and goals per game (3.47) this season. It was the third consecutive season that they finished first in the League in scoring. The Toronto Maple Leafs were second in goals (237), and the Washington Capitals were second in goals per game (3.42).[/td]

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WASHINGTON CAPITALS:

2019-20 season: 41-20-8, .652 points percentage

Season series: BOS 2-1-0; TBL 3-0-0; PHI 1-3-0

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[td]GAME BREAKER:[/td]

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[td]In his 15th NHL season, left wing Alex Ovechkin tied Boston Bruins forward David Pastrnak for the NHL lead with 48 goals in 68 games. It was his NHL-record ninth time leading the League in goals. He's eighth in NHL history with 706.[/td]

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[td]Washington's power play was fifth in the NHL at 25.3 percent (22-for-87) through 28 games but was 30th in the NHL at 15.5 percent (20-for-129) in 41 games after that. ... The Capitals had the best winning percentage in the NHL when trailing after two periods (.321; 9-17-2).[/td]

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PHILADELPHIA FLYERS:

2019-20 season: 41-21-7, .645 points percentage

Season series: BOS 2-1-0; TBL 0-2-0; WSH 3-0-1

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[td]GAME BREAKER:[/td]

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[td]Sean Couturier, the center on Philadelphia's top line, was third on the Flyers in goals (22) and second in points (59). A finalist for the Selke Trophy as the top defensive forward in the NHL, he won a League-best 59.6 percent of his face-offs (minimum 500 taken), including 59.5 percent of defensive-zone face-offs, third best in the NHL behind teammate Claude Giroux (65.8 percent) and Jay Beagle of the Vancouver Canucks (61.0 percent). Coach Alain Vigneault will utilize Couturier in every important situation at 5-on-5 and on special teams.[/td]

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[td]NUMBERS TO KNOW:[/td]

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[td]The Flyers allowed an NHL-low 28.7 shots on goal per game. That includes limiting the Boston Bruins to an average of 29.3 shots on goal in three games, below Boston's season average of 32.1; the Tampa Bay Lightning to 26.0 in two games, below Tampa Bay's average of 31.1; and the Washington Capitals to 29.5 in four games, below Washington's average of 32.0.[/td]

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[td]https://www.nhl.com/news/east-round-robin-stanley-cup-qualifiers-preview/c-317615044[/td]

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