Goaltending Issues Need Attention

Commissioner Gary Bettman couldn’t have scripted it better.

The East playoff scramble went to the final day of the regular season and teams changed position several times in the last hour. When the ice chips settled, the Ottawa Senators held off the Carolina Hurricanes for first place overall, Coach/General Manager Lou Lamoriello led the New Jersey Devils to the top of the Atlantic Division, and the New York Rangers, who had played so well all season, limped to the finish for a No. 6 seeding.

Goaltending questions shadow several teams. The Senators’ Ray Emery played well after Dominik Hasek was injured at the Olympics, but he has no NHL playoff experience. John Grahame hasn’t carried the Lightning and was replaced by Sean Burke for a stretch late in the season.

In Montreal, the debate will rage over whether Coach Bob Gainey made the right decision in starting Cristobal Huet over David Aebischer. Huet had a superb season, but Aebischer has playoff experience with Colorado. Carolina’s Martin Gerber has played only two playoff games, but that’s two more than Huet.

Flyer Coach Ken Hitchcock chose Robert Esche to start over Antero Niittymaki, who was the most valuable player of the Olympic tournament for leading Finland to a silver medal. Each had a 2.97 goals-against average, but Hitchcock apparently gave greater weight to Esche’s strong showing when the Flyers lost the 2004 conference final.

The first-round matchups:

* Who: No. 1 Ottawa (52-21-9) vs. No. 8 Tampa Bay (43-33-6)

* Head to head: Ottawa, 4-0.

* What you need to know: Ottawa scored 103 more goals than it gave up and never faltered when Emery replaced the injured Hasek in goal. Hasek won’t be ready for a while, but it might not matter. Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley each scored 103 points, and Jason Spezza dazzled with a career-best 90 points. The Senators are too big and deep for the Lightning, which struggled in net all season. Center Brad Richards had a fine season, with 23 goals and 91 points, but the Lightning gave up more goals (260) than it scored (252). The Senators should romp.

* Who: No. 2 Carolina (52-22-8) vs. No. 7 Montreal (42-31-9)

* Head to head: Carolina, 4-0.

* What you need to know: The Hurricanes nearly caught Ottawa for the top spot thanks to an offense that produced 294 goals, third behind Ottawa (314) and Detroit (305). Martin Gerber had a fine season (2.76 goals-against average, .906 save percentage) but must prove he can hold up as the starter in the playoffs. The Hurricanes outscored the Canadiens, 25-9, in sweeping the season series. They probably won’t continue that domination, but they were a formidable 31-8-2 at home. Montreal’s Bell Centre doesn’t intimidate opponents as the old Forum did.

* Who: No. 4 Buffalo (52-24-6) vs. No. 5 Philadelphia (45-26-11)

* Head to head: Buffalo, 3-1.

* What you need to know: The Sabres are the little team that could. Small but skillful, they had the league’s third-best power play, at 21.2%, and second-best penalty killing, at 86.6%. They’re resourceful and fun to watch. The Flyers nearly won the Atlantic title and No. 3 seeding but settled for fifth on the season’s final day. Peter Forsberg has been in and out of the lineup because of a groin pull, and if he can stay in the lineup he could turn the series the Flyers’ way. Rookies Jeff Carter (22 goals) and R.J. Umberger (20 goals) give the Flyers young legs.

* Who: No. 3 New Jersey (46-27-9) vs. No. 6 New York Rangers (44-26-12)

* Head to head: New Jersey, 4-3-1.

* What you need to know: The Devils were 19 points out of first on Jan. 6 but put together an 11-game winning streak that vaulted them past the Rangers. The Rangers lost their last five games. Jaromir Jagr, runner-up to San Jose’s Joe Thornton in the scoring race with 54 goals and 123 points, wasn’t getting much help late and gritty Steve Rucchin was injured. The Devils, led by Brian Gionta’s 48 goals, have three-time Cup winner Martin Brodeur in net. Ranger rookie Henrik Lundqvist will make his playoff debut.