NHL PLAYOFFS : Now, Are You Ready for Some Summer Hockey?

Last spring, one of the NHL’s original six teams cruised to the league’s best record and ended a decades-long Stanley Cup drought.

The Detroit Red Wings are hoping the same script the New York Rangers followed will work for them this year.

Detroit hasn’t won the Cup since 1955, the NHL’s longest wait since the Rangers ended their 54-year losing streak. Like the Rangers of a year ago, the Red Wings have a potent offense, strong defense and a coach, Scotty Bowman, who has been to the Cup finals.

Play begins today in the East and Sunday in the West, and could end July 1, making the playoffs seem almost as long as the lockout-shortened season.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Detroit Red Wings (33-11-4) vs. No. 8 Dallas Stars (17-23-8)

A year ago, the Red Wings’ shaky goaltending, lazy defense and selfishness made them ripe to be toppled by San Jose. This time, they have depth at center and on defense, a Cup-winning goalie in Mike Vernon (Calgary, 1989), leadership from a rejuvenated Paul Coffey and a sound defensive system. The Stars, who lost top scorer Mike Modano to an ankle injury, almost fell out of the playoffs when they lost their last four games. Their only chance is if Andy Moog gets hot and their rugged defense plays big. Likely outcome: Red Wings in five.

No. 2 Calgary Flames (23-17-7) vs. No. 7 San Jose Sharks (19-25-4)

Except for Theoren Fleury (29 goals), Joe Nieuwendyk (21) and defenseman Phil Housley, the Flames were uninspired. They haven’t survived the first round since 1989. The Sharks were torn by dissension as management added youngsters to the lineup and traded many of the players who helped propel them past Detroit in last spring’s playoffs. Only recently have the Sharks jelled and goalie Arturs Irbe (3.26 goals-against average) regained his poise. They have youth, a boisterous home crowd and a matchup they wanted instead of facing Detroit. Sharks in seven.

No. 3 St. Louis Blues (28-15-5) vs. No. 6 Vancouver Canucks (18-18-12)

The Blues came alive in late March, after Coach Mike Keenan said they weren’t earning their league-high paychecks. An 11-2-3 spurt soothed him, but he’s right to say that with two former 50-goal scorers (Brendan Shanahan and Brett Hull) and Al MacInnis, their power play should be better than 16.4%. MacInnis is out because of a shoulder injury. “Right now I’d say we need to get our act together,” Hull said. Pavel Bure (20 goals) never got going, and the Canucks, who lost a seven-game final to the Rangers last spring, never won more than three consecutive games. They’re thankful goalie Kirk McLean (2.74 goals-against, 90.4% saves) was solid and the rest of the West was so bad. Blues in six.

No. 4 Chicago Blackhawks (24-19-5) vs. No. 5 Toronto Maple Leafs (21-19-8)

Which Chicago team will show up--the dispirited crew that went 0-10-3 from March 29 to April 23 or the productive team that won its last five games? The Blackhawks miss center Jeremy Roenick and must find a way to get Bernie Nicholls away from whoever is assigned to check him. Goalie Ed Belfour was their one constant, compiling a 2.28 goals-against average and helping them wrest the Jennings Trophy (fewest goals against) from Detroit. The Maple Leafs limped through the season with a hobbled Doug Gilmour and without defensemen Dave Ellett and Jamie Macoun for long stretches, and they didn’t protect goalie Felix Potvin well. Blackhawks in six.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

No. 1 Quebec Nordiques (30-13-5) vs. No. 8 New York Rangers (22-23-3)

The Nordiques were the NHL’s highest-scoring team, averaging 3.85 goals a game, and are decent defensively. Owen Nolan (30 goals), Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Mike Ricci and Scott Young attack in endless waves. The Rangers never regained the grittiness they lost when Keenan, Esa Tikkanen and Craig MacTavish departed. Defenseman Brian Leetch found his playoff MVP form only in the last few weeks, and goalie Mike Richter (2.92 goals-against, 89% saves) didn’t reach top form at all, leaving Glenn Healy the likely starter. They are 0-3 against the Nordiques this season. Nordiques in six.

No. 2 Philadelphia Flyers (28-16-4) vs. No. 7 Buffalo Sabres (22-19-7)

The Eric Lindros line was dominating. Lindros (29 goals), John LeClair (26) and Mikael Renberg (26) are big, skillful and tenacious. But Lindros will sit out the first two games because of a blood clot in his left eye. Center Rod Brind’Amour scored 39 points, and defenseman Eric Desjardins had 24 assists. Sabre goalie Dominik Hasek had the NHL’s lowest goals-against average (2.11) for the second consecutive season despite being under constant duress behind a low-scoring offense. Right wing Donald Audette was their surprising goal-scoring leader with 24, ahead of Alexander Mogilny (19). Flyers in five.

No. 3 Pittsburgh Penguins (29-16-3) vs. No. 6 Washington Capitals (22-18-8)

In losing their last three games, the Penguins failed to grab the No. 1 seeding and raised doubts about their fate. Coach Eddie Johnston, who hasn’t won a playoff series with Pittsburgh and lost in six games to Washington last spring, might regret predicting: “We’ll get by the first series, no problem.” Scoring champion Jaromir Jagr (32 goals, 70 points) leads a potent offense, but their defense is banged up. Rookie goalie Jim Carey (2.13 goals-against) got Washington into the playoffs and must maintain that level. Peter Bondra, the first Capital to win the goal-scoring title (with 34), scored five goals against Pittsburgh in five regular-season games. Capitals in seven.

No. 4 Boston Bruins (27-18-3) vs. No. 5 New Jersey Devils (22-18-8)

Bruin Cam Neely squeezed 27 goals out of his creaky knees, and Bryan Smolinski (18 goals) was an offensive boost. Defenseman Ray Bourque (43 points) remains among the league’s best. Rookie goalie Blaine Lacher slumped in the second half. The Devils weren’t as impressive as they were last season, but they’re still solid defensively, and goalie Martin Brodeur will steal some victories. Bruins in seven.