Round 2: Devils (2) vs. Senators (4)

Offense: The Senators had the League's second-best offense during the regular season, scoring 3.5 goals per game, nearly a full goal better than the 27th-ranked Devils. The Sens offense kept rolling in the first round, led by captain Daniel Alfredsson (3 goals, 3 assists), but balanced and deep, with 11 different players finding the net in the five games. On the other side of the match-up, the Devils' Zach Parise had his coming out party in Round One, scoring six times in six games, but as the "EGG" line went, so went the Devs -- Jersey's top line of Patrik Elias, Scott Gomez and Brian Gionta combined for 8 goals and 14 assists in the series, but only two assists in the team's two losses. Each team converted on 25% of their power plays in the first round. Edge: Ottawa

Defense: That's the name of the game in New Jersey, and the Devils allowed the fourth-fewest goals in the League during the season (Ottawa was 10th) and had the fourth-best penalty-killing efficiency (Ottawa was 9th). The Sens have the better, more mobile defense corps, and some outstanding checking forwards, but Jersey's line of Sergei Brylin, John Madden and John Pandolfo is as good a shut-down line as you'll find (despite struggling at times with Tampa's top guns and registering a combined minus-12 rating in the first-round). Edge: New Jersey, but only very slightly

Goaltending: Martin Brodeur looked strangely human for the first couple of games against the Bolts in Round One, but settled down and saved 94 of 98 shots (a .959 save percentage) in the final three games of the series, all Devils wins. Yeah, he's in the zone. At the other end of the ice, Ray Emery was solid if unspectacular against the Pens, holding the kids from Steeltown to two goals per game. Edge: New Jersey

Prediction: The Devils won three of the four regular season meetings between the two teams (though the Sens' one win was a shocking 8-1 blowout back in October). Throw out that anomalous performance by Brodeur and he was 3-0 with a 1.62 goals against average and a .938 save percentage against Ottawa this year. Emery posted similarly spectacular numbers against the Devils -- 1-2-1 with a 1.98 GAA and .935 save percentage when opposing the great Brodeur this season. In fact, for their respective careers against the other team (regular season only), Brodeur is 28-16-4 with a 2.17 GAA and .917 SV%, while Emery is 3-2-1 with a 1.97 GAA and .930 SV%. In other words, if you liked Turco/Luongo in Round One, you'll probably love Brodeur/Emery in Round Two.

The Devils were the NHL's least-penalized team this year, and they'll need to continue to be disciplined to have a chance to win this sure-to-be low-scoring series. Marty Brodeur certainly can steal a series on his own, but Ray Emery has shown that he can match Brodeur nearly save-for-save. Nearly. Jersey in seven.

For more on the Devils, check out these blogs here, here and here.
For more on the Senators, check out these blogs here (still a personal favorite), here and here.