EASTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (7) Ottawa Senators
The Skinny: The Pittsburgh Penguins were challenged in six games by the pesky New York Islanders, but ultimately came out on top. Marc-Andre Fleury was taken out in game 4 after a terrible start to the series. Backup Tomas Vokoun came in and won the final two games and closed the series down. While the Senators dismantled the Montreal Canadiens in five with superb goaltending and timely goals. Craig Anderson was the best goaltender in the first round by far and the Senators will need the same if they want to beat the Penguins. The young forwards for the Senators did a good enough job of creating space and capitalizing on their chances. The big storyline in this series is if the Penguins can regain their form that made them so dominant in the season. If they can’t then look for the Senators to take it the distance and possibly win the series and oh yeah, don’t forgot the Matt Cooke-Erik Karlsson storyline.
Penguins win if... Whomever plays goalie, plays well. I said in my predictions of round one that a good series against a good offensive team for Fleury would be huge down the road. Instead there are more questions about Fleury then ever. Pulled in favour for Tomas Vokoun after a horrendous game 4. Vokoun has taken the ropes and ran with it. He is (2-0) so far in the playoffs and has looked good. Sidney Crosby was quiet despite finishing with (3G, 6A), he will need to have a bigger impact for the Penguins to beat Anderson and take the series
Senators win if... Craig Anderson is well Craig Anderson. This guy is a puck-stopping machine. 50+ saves in game 1 against the Canadiens and is a big reason why the Senators won that series. They also continue to get contribution from all four lines. During the series with the Canadiens the Senators had 12 different players put the puck in the net, that trend will need to continue.
Prediction: Penguins in 6
(4) Boston Bruins vs. (6) New York Rangers
The Skinny: Both teams were taken to the brink but both won in different fashions. The Bruins lost 2 at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs and almost lost 3-in-a-row and the series had it not been for Game 7’s craziness. The big bad Bruins did not look so big and bad. In fact, they looked pretty normal. Tukka Rask is not Tim Thomas. Their blue line is banged up with Redden, Ference and Seidenberg all missing game 7 due to injuries. For the Rangers they lost the first two in Washington before taking four of the final five games, including, two shutouts in Game 6 and Game 7. Goaltending will be the key and with the way that “King” Henrik Lundqvist is playing, it will surely be tough to beat him.
Bruins win if... They resort back to being the tough-to-play Bruins. Big. Mean. In your face type hockey that has opponents cringe when they face up against them. The line of Milan Lucic-David Krejci and Nathan Horton were unstoppable in the first round, they will need to continue to produce. Also they will need more out the future HOF Jaromir Jagr who was held without a goal against the Leafs.
Rangers win if... Henrik Lundqvist continues his hot play. There is no question that you need goals to win games but when the other team can’t score, it gives the Rangers the ability to win games 1-0. Rick Nash is finally into the second round of the NHL playoffs but he has been held to just 2 assists. He will need to step up as will Brad Richards. After seven games Derek Brassard leads the team in scoring with (2G, 7A).
Prediction: Rangers in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings
The Skinny: The Chicago Blackhawks cruised to an easy series win in five games against the Minnesota Wild. Corey Crawford was solid behind the NHL’s stingiest defensive team. Jonathan Toews only had two assists in the first round and the Hawks will need more production out of him going forward. For the Red Wings they were able to come from behind and beat the Anaheim Ducks on the road in Game 7. The team has not made it look pretty, nor do they resemble Red Wings teams of the past, but they still manage to win games. The team flows through Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg and they will need to explode offensively to beat the Blackhawks.
Blackhawks win if… All four lines continue to contribute. So far Joel Quenville has been able to role four lines effectively and there are holes for them to exploit against the Red Wings. On paper this team is better then the 2013 Red Wings in every way, but they can't look past the experience of this team or they will be out of the playoffs. It’s one of the two Original Six matchup of the second round and it should be a highly contested series.
Red Wings win if… They keep games close. They were in four overtimes against the Ducks, so their ability to keep games close will be key. Mike Babcock will have his team prepared but it looks like it’s the end of an era for one franchise while another one is on the rise. The Red Wings age will be a key as the young Blackhawks will feed on the tired legs. Jimmy Howard has to be a force in net for there to be any chance at the Wings winning the series.
Prediction: Blackhawks in 5
(5) Los Angeles Kings vs. (6) San Jose Sharks
The Skinny: California Dreaming. The Los Angeles Kings opened their playoffs looking to become the first NHL team to go back-to-back since the Detroit Red Wings did in 97-98. Winning in consecutive years has been one of Sport’s toughest achievements. The 09-10 Los Angeles Lakers were the last team to do it in the “Big Four”. The Kings lost both games on the road to open their series with the St.Lous Blues. However, the result was the same as last year, with the Kings winning four straight and taking the series. The San Jose Sharks made quick work of the Vancouver Canucks in four and dominated in every facet of the game. You have to face the best teams eventually, but this writer think the Sharks would have preferred a Ducks series win and a match with them then the defending champions.
Kings win if… Jonathan Quick continues to play outstanding. After his game 1 gaffe against the Blues and a lousy goal in game two that resulted in the winner, Quick has been nearly flawless. The team also has the league's most formidable forecheck and they will have to continue to lean on that against the Sharks.
Sharks win if… Logan Couture takes this team all the way. Yes, guys like Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau are important, but Couture has taken the next step in becoming an all-star like Claude Giroux.
Sorry to rub it in Leafs fans but (http://bit.ly/eK1cEz) he could have been yours .
Prediction: Kings in 6
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