Round 2 Western Conference Predictions

With San Jose's elimination, the path to the cup out west will run through Detroit, once again. Here's who I like to advance to the Western Conference Finals...

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks

This re-match of the 2007 Western Conference Finals features two very different teams. While the Ducks rely heavily on one line offensively and two go-to guys on the blue-line, the Wings rely on a consistent puck possession game that sees their whole team get involved...not that their lacking in star power.

Pavel Datsyuk is a nominee for the Hart, the Selke, and the Lady Byng. Henrik Zetterberg is last season's Conn Smythe Winner. Nicklas Lidstrom has won six Norris Trophies, including the last three. They also picked up a guy named Marian Hossa in the off-season.

For the Ducks to win, they will need to play with the same mind-set they had versus the Sharks in the first round. Getzlaf will need to be the best forward in the series. They will need some timely scoring from players not named Getzlaf, Perry, or Ryan. They must receive solid defensive contributions from all six defensemen. Hiller needs to outplay Osgood.

I cannot envision each and everyone of these things happening.

While the Ducks have a great make-up for a playoff team, Detroit is simply better. They cannot be pushed around. They are deeper. They are faster. They are more talented.

It just does't add up for the Ducks.

Barring out-of-this-world performances from their top line, top two d-men, and goaltender, you have to like Detroit in this one.

Prediction: Red Wings in five.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks

Doesn't it feel like the Canucks haven't played for a month?

After quickly disposing of the Blues in an exciting but short-lived four game series, the Canucks will now face a young, upstart Chicago team. The Hawks showed some spunk, getting past a physical, though injury riddled, Calgary squad.

The most important player in this series is undoubtedly Roberto Luongo. Although the Canucks are far from a one person team, they will go as far as "Bobby Lu" can take 'em. If he plays like he did in the first round, it's hard to see this team losing anytime soon.

I said in my original playoff predictions that the Sedins would need to fire at or near a point per game pace. They did just that in the first round, registering three goals and six assists between the two of them.

For Chicago to come out ahead, they will need to first and foremost find a way to get to Luongo early. It sounds redundant, but it's worth noting. If Luongo settles in nicely, Chicago will find themselves golfing much sooner than they wish.

If the first round was a sign of things to come in Chicago, Jonathon Toews is destined for playoff stardom. He was a stud at both ends of the ice, and was clearly the leader of this young, but composed, Chicago team.

I'm going with Vancouver here. Their defense is very physical, and will continue to wear down guys like Patrick Kane and Martin Havlat. Let's not forget, teams that face Calgary early in the playoffs don't advance far afterwards (i.e. San Jose last year, Detroit the year before). Calgary put a beating on Kane and Havlat, and I expect the Canucks to follow suit.

The play of Kesler and Burrows will continue to be excellent. Chicago's role players, guys like Versteeg, Byfuglien, and Pahlsson, will need to answer the bell.

When it's all said and done, Luongo and the Vancouver defense will loom large.

Prediction: Vancouver in six.

Round 2 Eastern Conference Predictions

We have two quality match-ups here, with the feature series consisting of Sid's Pens versus Ovie's Caps. Here's who I like...

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes

While the Hurricanes persevered in a back-and-forth seven game series against the Devils in the first round, the Bruins were able to sweep the lowly Canadiens in four games.

This series' outcome hinges on these three battles:

1. Chara vs. Staal

The possible Norris Trophy winner versus the young but playoff proven playoff performer. Size vs. size. Determination vs. determination. Best Bruin vs. Best Cane.

This will be a good one.

Staal will be around the net all series, and plays with too much determination come springtime for Chara to shut him down. Expect a quality series from both players...

2. Bruins' offensive depth vs. Canes' offensive depth

Both of these teams are loaded from top to bottom up front. Jussi Jokinen, Carolina's fourth line center, had a monster first round. Boston consistently gets contributions from up and down their lineup, from Marc Savard right down to Shawn Thornton.

The Canes' four lines will really need to wear down the steady team defense of the Bruins to have some success in this series.

I'll give the Bruins the edge here. They've been consistent up front all season from the first line down to the fourth, and they are also more well-rounded. They have the power forward (Lucic), the playmakers (Savard, Krejci), the two-way checker (Bergeron), and the experienced vet (Recchi)...

3. Tim Thomas vs. Cam Ward

Another great goalie battle for Cam Ward. Tim Thomas, the likely Vezina Trophy winner, has had a magical season. He won his first playoff series in the round one victory over the Habs.

I actually like Ward here. He has a Cup, and just beat Martin Brodeur, the NHL's all-time winningest tender, in a hard fought seven game series. I'm a huge Thomas fan, but I expect Ward to outplay him, slightly...

Expect a long series. I think Carolina can definitely pull off the upset - they are playoff tested, deep up front, and have a "better than the sum of their parts" defense...But, I still got to go with the B's here.

Prediction: Bruins in 7.

(2) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Sid vs. AO. Malkin vs. AO. Sid vs. Semin. This series has NHL Brass foaming at the mouth.

I actually find this series quite simple to break down...

Forwards - edge to Pittsburgh.

While most people would probably go with the Caps here, I like Pittsburgh, and here's why - Crosby and Malkin. These guys continue to elevate their play in the spring. Sure, they don't have the offensive depth of a team like the Caps, but I don't think that is a cause for concern for Pens' fans. The Staal line was very good for a majority of the first round, and has a great make-up for tight playoff hockey.

Ask me who I want in a playoff series, Sid or AO, and I'm taking Crosby without hesitation. In the playoffs, you need to have a large offensive arsenal from which to choose from. Don't get me wrong, Ovechkin can create. The guys going to win his second straight Hart Trophy, as he should. I just think the variety in Sid's game - he can pass, drive the net, win key face-offs...the guy does it all.

Defense - edge to Pittsburgh.

This isn't close. Pittsburgh's defense is playoff tested, hard-nosed, and deep. Mike Green took a beating in the first round, and was very average as a result. There were rumours floating around that he was suffering from the flu - either way, his play in the first round wasn't up to snuff.

In a playoff series, I'd take Sergei Gonchar over Mike Green any day of the week. Gonchar is a calming presence on the back-end for the Pens in all situations, while Green currently has the Caps wondering which Green they will see - regular season Mike Green or the Mike Green of the first round.

Let's see how the Caps deal with an offense that is approximately 4,693,747,503 times better than the Rangers' offensive corps.

Goaltending - edge to Pittsburgh.

Simeon Varlamov has a bright future. His first round was incredible....but you have to go with Fleury here. Fleury has the experience, the better defensive group in front of him, and the swagger that a successful NHL goaltender needs to succeed.

Varlamov faced very few great scoring chances in the first round. Don't expect that trend to continue versus the likes of Crosby and Malkin.

Everyone expects a long series. So long as the Pens stay out of the box, I don't.

Prediction: Penguins in 5.

Injury Update

Surprise, surprise.

You might remember after Game Two of the Penguins/Flyers series I said this:

"There is absolutely no way Mike Richards is playing at full strength. I refuse to believe it. He has looked absolutey brutal of late, including these first two games of the playoffs."

Well, turns out I was right. Per TSN:

"Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards will undergo surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, according to the Courier Post. "

After Game Four of the Capitals/Rangers series I mentioned:

"What cannot be forgotten is the effort of Blueshirts' Captain Chris Drury. Playing with what I suspect to be a broken or fractured wrist, he was able to notch his 17th game-winning playoff goal after a crucial blunder by Simeon Varlamov."

Make that a fractured hand. Per the New York Post:

"When the series ended, when the Rangers went through the handshake line following last night's 2-1 Game 7 defeat, Chris Drury used his left hand to congratulate the Capitals. That's because, as he told The Post, the captain had played the first round with a broken right hand he sustained late in the April 9 victory over the Flyers in the Garden finale that clinched a playoff berth."

Moral of the story, besides the given that NHL players are the hardest guys in sports, don't bet on NHL playoff games. I went 5 for 8, not that bad for a league with such parity, but worse than I would've liked. I picked the Rangers and the Flyers to win. Had I known each team's captain was playing at significantly below 100%, I like to think I would've picked differently.

Am I making excuses? Yep.

Kudos to Richards and Drury for toughing it out for their respective clubs. It should be noted Drury played the final two games of last years' postseason with broken ribs - wow.

Fedorov Sends Rangers Packing, Jokinen and Staal Shock the Devils

In Game Six the Capitals exposed Henrik Lundqvist high glove to the weak side.

With five minutes left in Game Seven, Sergei Fedorov proved that he was taking notes.

Walking in on a seemingly harmless rush, Fedorov was able to pull up to the outside of Wade Redden and snap one top corner short side on the Rangers' netminder.

Game. Set. Match.

After dominating the first period, the Rangers were only able to muster seven shots on net in periods two and three. Despite the Caps being outplayed early, and falling behind on a Nik Antropov marker, Alexander Semin was able to knot the contest at one on a flukey rush that saw the puck deflect off of Ryan Callahan, then Dan Girardi, and into the back of the cage.

Alex Ovechkin was a non-factor. Sean Avery was the best player on the ice. But, as has been the theme in this series, it's all about who can finish their chances, not who outplays who.

Simeon Varlamov was able to stymie the Rangers on some great scoring chances early, which loomed large since the Blueshirts were unable to generate much offense throughout the rest of the game. They missed out on a key chance, their only chance, to put their stamp on this game.

You can't overlook what Sergei Fedorov brings to the Caps. Experience. Excellent defensive play. Face-off wins. Leadership. And, it goes without saying, some timely offense.

As a Rangers fan, I hate to say it - the better team won. Best of luck to the Capitals going forward...

Over in Newark, the Devils fans had a lot to be happy about with under two minutes left in the third. They were winning 3-2, and seemingly on their way to the next round, while their cross-river rivals had just been eliminated.

Well, not so fast said Carolina.

Joni Pitkanen hit Jussi Jokinen with a beautiful cross ice pass after a great keep-in by Tim Gleason. Jokinen one timed the pass through the wickeds of an outstretched Martin Brodeur to pull the contest back to square one.

48 seconds later, with 32 ticks left in regulation, Eric Staal came up big. Streaking down his off wing, Staal released a blazing snap shot low blocker side that was able to find twine, and send the Canes into the second round.

This was hands down the best series of the first round. Two over-time games. Two games decided within the last 32 seconds of regulation. A total goal differential of two.

Great entertainment. Props to Eric Staal - 32 playoff games, 14 goals, 21 assists, 35 points. That's raising your game when it matters.

Here's how the Eastern Conference Semi's play out...

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes

(2) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Well, get ready to here about Crosby and Malkin vs. Ovechkin and Semin for the next two weeks. Hopefully it's a long series.

I'll have my second round playoff predictions up soon...

Ducks, Hawks Advance

Thanks to two Game Six Victories compliments of the Ducks and the Blackhawks, the Western Conference Quarterfinals have come to a close.

In Anaheim, the Ducks were able to oust the President Trophy Winning San Jose Sharks thanks to excellent goaltending and elevated play from their top players.

Ryan Getzlaf continued to lead the charge upfront, registering a Gordie Howe Hat Trick (Goal, Assist, Fight). He dropped the mitts with Thornton just two seconds into the game. As a hockey fan, how can you not love to see each team's top player go at it? It was reminiscent of Iginla and Lecavalier throwing down fisticuffs in the 2004 Stanley Cup Finals.

Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger were dominant from start to finish, in both this game and in the series as a whole.

As much as people are going to label it an upset, and I suppose it is, how many people really thought the Sharks would shake their playoff demons and come out of the west?

Joe Thornton only brought his 'A' Game to the rink in Game Five, Evgeni Nabokov failed to make the crucial stops at key points in the series, and the while the Ducks were able to make the most of their chances, the Sharks just weren't able to bear down.

If you're Sharks General Manager Doug Wilson what's the next move? You're team had the best record in the league during the regular season, but once again failed dismally in the playoffs? Do you move Thornton like the Bruins did? Do you exile Captain Patrick Marleau?

I wouldn't envy being in Dougy Wilson's position right now...

Up in Calgary, the Hawks were able to ride out to another hot start and extinguish the Flames in six.

Just as in Game Five, the Hawks were able to take a sizeable lead going into the second period. Patrick Kane was able to convert a rebound in the slot after Dustin Byfuglien drove the net and redirected a Kris Versteeg pass on net. Byfuglien continued to excel in the first period, hitting Adam Burish driving the net with a slick pass to make the score 2-0 in favor of Chicago. The Hawks didn't look back.

Nikolai Khabibulin had an outstanding performance, stopping 43 of 44 shots to preserve the win.

The Flames had a multitude of problems. Their defense was banged up. No Robyn Regehr. Dion Phaneuf was playing hurt and missed Game Six with a suspected concussion. Jarome Iginla wasn't his usual self. Miikka Kiprusoff got little help, and when he did, he still wasn't that great.

But make no mistake, the Hawks earned this series...

The Western Conference Semi's will look like this:

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks

Two Game Sevens on the dial tonight. The Capitals look to complete their comback over the Rangers on home ice, while the Devils look to cook the Canes in Newark.