NHL Playoffs...

The NHL Playoff match-ups are now set...time to take a look at some former Hawks and their match-ups in Round 1:

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Braydon Coburn and the Philadelphia Flyers open their first round series against the Southeast Division Champs, the Washington Capitals, and NHL leading scorer Alexander Ovechkin.

Coburn had a great year for Philly, posting 9-27-36 and a team leading +17 in 78 games.


He will get a chance to slow down Ovechkin and his 60+ goals and 112 points. Not an easy task, but I kind of like Philadelphia in this series - especially if Marty Biron can play well in net. (photo credit - Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Brandon Dubinsky and the New York Rangers will take on their cross-river rivals, the New Jersey Devils in Round 1.


The two teams met in the final regular season game to determine which team would have home ice in the series, with the Devils gaining that advantage.


Dubinsky finished 6th on the Rangers in scoring - 14-26-40 and a +8 while playing in all 82 games this season. He has played mostly with Jaromir Jagr and Martin Straka of late, and with his gritty style, could be a catalyst for the Rangers.

As it usually does, this series should come down to goaltending, and its hard to bet against Martin Broduer for the Devils. (photo credit: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

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Andrew Ference and the Boston Bruins will renew their heated rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens in Round 1. The Canadiens have home ice advantage.

Ference battled injuries down the stretch, but posted 1-14-15 in 59 games for the B's this season.

It is always great when two Original 6 teams square off, but it should be even better with Boston and Montreal going at it.

Can Carey Price be the man for the Habs in the post-season? Hard to bet against him, and I like Montreal's offense, especially with the way Alex Kovalev has played this season, and I'm going Montreal in Round 1. (photo credit: Elsa/Getty Images)

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Marian Hossa will get a chance to take on his former team, the Ottawa Senators, with the Pittsburgh Penguins having home ice advantage.

Hossa has struggled in playoffs past, but this could be the year he breaks out with the young and talented Pens.

Hossa finished the year with 29-37-66 in 72 games split between Atlanta and Pittsburgh, down from the 43-57-100 he posted in 82 games in 2006-07.

Hossa is the rare, two-way star that is just as responsible in his defensive zone as he is dangerous in the offensive zone.

The Penguins have two of the three rising stars (excluding Ovechkin in Washngton) in Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Malkin led the Pens in scoring this season and it will be interesting to see how Crosby performs coming off the high ankle sprain that limited his action down the stretch.

To me, this is a toss-up series, but I'm leaning towards the Pens. (photo credit: Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

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Cody McLeod will get his first taste of NHL playoff action when his Colorado Avalanche take on the Minnesota Wild in Round 1. Minnesota will have home ice advantage.

McLeod posted 4-5-9 and 120 penalty minutes in 49 games after being recalled from Lake Erie in December due to injuries in Colorado. He spent the rest of the season in Colorado, due in part to his tenacity and work ethic.

I wouldn't expect to see McLeod get a ton of ice time in the series, but his line will be looked to for energy and spark, and we know that McLeod can provide that.

This is another toss-up series, but I'm leaning toward Minnesota, because of Marian Gaborik and the Wild's defensive play. (photo credit: AP)


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Brenden Morrow and his Dallas Stars will get the first chance to knock of the defending Stanley Cup Champion Anaheim Ducks, as they'll meet in the first round. Anaheim has home ice advantage in the series.


Team Captain Morrow, led the Stars in goals with 32 this season, chipping in 42 assists for 74 points and 105 penalty minutes.


The addition of Brad Richards, acquired from Tampa Bay at the trade deadline, will help the Stars in the post-season as the look to bring the Stanley Cup back down to the heart of Texas.


It won't be easy, Anaheim is a good candidate to repeat as Champions and they have the experience to fall back on with Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Chris Pronger and J.S. Giguere to lead them.


In the end, my heart says Stars, but my brain says Ducks. (photo credit: Tony Avelar/AP)

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Scott Nichol and the Nashville Predators battled to get into the postseason and for their efforts, they get the #1 seed Detroit Red Wings in Round 1.

Grinder Nichol posted 10-8-18 in 73 games for Nashville this season and is counted on as a checker and top penalty killer for the Preds.

Of course, former Hawk Head Coach Brent Peterson is behind the bench as an Assistant for the Preds.

Have to say, the Wings should win this series. (photo credit: Getty Images)

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Finally, the one series not involving any former Hawks is the Calgary Flames and the San Jose Sharks. Should be a Sharks win in Round 1.