Exciting first round bodes well for Stanley Cup playoffs

The battles of attrition have begun, otherwise known as the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Four overtimes in the Vancouver-Dallas series? That will wear your sweater off and that was Game 1 of the first round.

The NHL wanted parity, just like the rest of sports, and it got it. The league also got some of the most exciting play in years with the enforced rules that open up ice allowing the two-line pass that stretches the game out.

That type of play will continue in the postseason by order of the league office to officials.

Dominik Hasek is still the story of the year. His work in net in Detroit has been the most unexpected story in years. The Wings will beat a physical Calgary team and they will be a favorite to come out of the West.

Vancouver is an unappreciated team. Roberto Luongo may be as good a goalie as Marty Brodeur in New Jersey. He made 72 saves in the four-overtime affair. The Canucks have a fast, efficient offense and are right there with Detroit.

The Canucks will beat Dallas, but this is one of those bruising first-round matchups that could derail a good team early. Whoever wins this will be exhausted.

Anaheim is a better team than the Wild, but the Wild play that trap game that just frustrates teams to submission. This one could go a while, but the Ducks should win.

Nashville and San Jose is a beauty. These two both deserve to move on in the playoffs, but that won’t be. San Jose needs Joe Thornton to rise to the occasion and beat the rap that he disappears in the postseason.

If he does not, Nashville will win.

New Jersey has Brodeur. Tampa Bay is tenacious with former Maine Black Bear John Tortorella as their coach. Another bruising battle of a series. Devils should win, but …

The Rangers never thought they would make the postseason until the bitter end. Now they are flying and Jaromir Jagr is hyper. He can be the difference. They can beat Atlanta if he stays excited.

Buffalo will beat the Islanders. They are a solid team.

Ottawa was for the past four years the team that should win. Now they are the team that is forgotten, and they will win their series against the young Penguins, who may have Sidney Crosby but do not have the goaltender.

These first-round matchups are always tough. This year they are tighter than ever.

Injuries will again play a key role. There is no way to go 21/2 months at the pace of the playoffs and not have injuries that change the course of a series or two.

The intensity is genuine and the play is fast. There is nothing like the run to Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.