The NHL Conference semifinals are upon us with a number of interesting rivalries set to take place. Here is a look at each one and how the matchups could wind up.

Eastern Conference

NY Rangers vs. Washington Capitals

Season Series - Rangers win 3-1

These teams have played one another several times over the years and each side has managed major wins over the other in that span. Of course the Rangers have gotten the better of Washington in recent series with two straight Game 7 victories. Will this go seven as well is the prevailing question.

The Caps just finished a seven-game bout with the New York Islanders that drained the side. It was a physical battle, but Washington came out on top thanks to a perfect penalty kill, strong goaltending and scoring from secondary sources. The team will be tested by a rested Rangers side that is the undoubted favorite.

That said, the Rangers will miss Mats Zuccarello who was among the team scoring leaders with 49 points in 78 games. The team struggled to take down the Pittsburgh Penguins despite finishing the job in five games; each match was decided by one goal and the Rangers never scored more than three times in a contest.

This will be a physical battle with the Caps likely to employ their physical punishment on the speedy Rangers, who happen to be smaller than the Islanders.

Prediction: Washington in 7.

 Montreal vs. Tampa Bay Lightning

Season Series - Tampa won 5-0

They say that to win the Cup you have to learn to lose. A year ago, Montreal swept the Lightning out of the playoffs. Now we will know if they learned the lesson in a rather intense matchup.

Steven Stamkos has yet to score a goal, but as long as his team is winning, he probably has a chance to break that barrier down.

Goaltending will decide this matchup. Carey Price was dominant for Montreal in its 4-2 series win against Ottawa. Ben Bishop had numerous highs coupled with a few lows. If he plays the way he played in Games 6 and 7, this team should be able to find enough goals to score past Price and win the series.

Prediction: Tampa Bay wins in 5.

Western Conference

Anaheim Ducks vs. Calgary Flames

Season Series - Anaheim Wins 3-2

On paper this should be a no-brainer, but few would have predicted the Flames to get out of the first round. And yet here they are. Possession be damned.

True to form, Calgary was among the worst possession sides in the first round with only 45.1 percent of shot attempts going their way during the series with the Vancouver Canucks. But strong goaltending on their end and poor goaltending on the other side helped the Flames make it through to take on a far more daunting challenge.

The Ducks swept Winnipeg while scoring four goals per game and putting on a possession clinic against one of the top possession squads of the regular season.

The Ducks are seasoned and a favorite to go the distance. The Flames are young and, according to War on Ice, quite lucky to be here (their PDO, which measures luck, was at an above average 101.9).

Prediction: Ducks in 5.

Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Season Series: Chicago won 3-2

These two teams have some history, with Chicago taking down Minnesota in the last few playoff meetings.

But the tables have turned in a way few would have envisioned. In past encounters, Chicago entered the series secure in net while the Wild were undergoing their seemingly eternal goalie carousel.

Nowadays, the Blackhawks have no idea what they have in goal while the Wild are literally riding on the coattails of one Devan Dubnyk.

How important is Dubnyk to this team's success? Just look at the first round in which the Blues dominated the Wild in shot attempts; the Blues led the first round with 57.1 percent of shot attempts going their way while only 42.9 of attempts went Minnesota's way, by far the worst of any team in the postseason. And yet the Wild managed to oust the Blues in six games. How did that happen? Dubnyk was solid if not stellar at moments in the series. He had one shutout and put up a save percentage of .964 in the four wins. He was poor in a few games, most noticeably when he conceded six goals on 17 shots, but he will be a tough goalie to stop if he continues playing the way he has all season.

Meanwhile, Corey Crawford, who will start Game 1, has a playoff worst .850 save percentage. Small sample sizes apply, but it will be interesting to see how he bounces back.

The team in front of him averaged 3.17 goals per game in its six games against Nashville, good for third overall in the playoffs. But the team will need to step up its offensive game against a Minnesota team that can prevent goals.

Prediction: Minnesota wins in 7.