St. Louis will play at Dallas, the two-time defending Western Conference champs, on Friday. The Red Wings won the first two games from the Kings, but then LA swept the next four games. New Jersey, the top seed in the East, survived a scare from the Carolina Hurricanes but advanced in six games. The Devils won the first three games only to lose Game 4 in overtime and Game 5 at home. Things returned to normal in the sixth game as the Devils won 5-1.
New Jersey plays a Toronto team that it eliminated in last year's second round.
Devils defenseman Scott Stevens set the physical tone with devastating hits in that series, just as he did against Carolina . Goalie Curtis Joseph, bothered recently by a right-hand injury, led Toronto's upset of the Senators with shutouts in the first two games. He gave up just three goals in the series. That's the type of goaltender he is. He is going to be good.