NHL's conference semifinals begin Tuesday

The Ottawa Senators will attempt to pull off their second straight series upset starting Tuesday night when the NHL's conference semifinals get under way.

Ottawa, seeded seventh in the Eastern Conference and coming off a five-game win over No. 2 Montreal, will play Game 1 at top-seeded Pittsburgh.

The other Eastern Conference semifinal will pit the New York Rangers against the Boston Bruins after both advanced in Game 7s Monday night.

In the Western Conference, defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles and surging San Jose will begin on Tuesday, while heavily favored Chicago and Detroit will start Wednesday.

Here is a look at the matchups:

Eastern Conference

The Penguins struggled to get past the upstart Islanders in the first round, and they will have a goaltender disadvantage (no matter which one they use) when they face Ottawa's Craig Anderson, who had a .950 save percentage in the upset of the Canadiens. But the Senators, who have shown grit by overcoming a slew of injuries this year, cannot match the Penguins' offensive firepower.

Pick: Penguins in six.

Game 1: Ottawa at Pittsburgh, Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

If momentum is the lone factor, the NHL should engrave the Bruins' names on the Stanley Cup. Trailing Toronto by 4-1 in the third period of Game 7, Boston tied it with three goals - two with its goalie pulled - and then won it in OT. Patrice Bergeron, Jaromir Jagr and Co. will have the unenviable challenge of beating Henrik Lundqvist, who was his usual superb self in leading the Rangers past Washington. Do the Rangers, who won two of three against Boston in the regular season, have enough offense? Are the Bruins now feeling destined?

Pick: Rangers in seven.

Game 1: New York at Boston, TBA.

Western Conference

The Kings seemed to be rounding into last year's playoff form as they eliminated the offensive-challenged Blues in Round 1. The Sharks, coming off a sweep of the Canucks, will provide a tougher test, led by forwards Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. The key to the series may be how the seemingly unflappable Kings - and shutdown goalie Jonathan Quick, who rebounded from a rare blunder that gave St. Louis Game 1 - handle the Sharks' power play.

Pick: Kings in seven.

Game 1: San Jose at Los Angeles, Tuesday at 10 p.m.

The Blackhawks were the class of the NHL during the regular season, when they won all four games against the Red Wings. Detroit, which advanced with a seven-game win over No. 2 Anaheim, has a good mix of youth and veterans and has momentum from a late-season surge and the Game 7 win over the Ducks. Chicago counters with four quality lines, a terrific goalie (Corey Crawford) and a solid defense.

Pick: Chicago in six.

Game 1: Detroit at Chicago, Wednesday at 8 p.m.