So, with the Annual Sharks Collapse out of the way, we are left with four intriguing 2nd round series. Also, for at least a year we'll avoid a scenario where a team in one division wins the other division's championship. Anyway, with Game 1 of the Canadiens @ Bruins about to start, let's get to the games.
Atlantic Division Championship - (3) Canadiens vs (1) Bruis
The Bruins were much better this season, there is no debating that fact. They earned 117 points, most in the NHL. The Canadiens had 100. The Bruins scored 84 more goals than they allowed, while the Canadiens scored just 11 more. That all said, this could be a real close series. First, the Canadiens play very well against the Bruins. They were 3-1 (one OT win) against the Bruins this year, after winning the season series with them last year. Also, just as recently as last year, the Canadiens had a better record than Boston. The Canadiens are the faster team, but the Bruins are the stronger team, and the deeper team, with their 3rd and 4th lines capable of winning their matchup against almost all other teams' 3rd and 4th lines. This could be one of the only teams, though, where the Bruins don't have the definite goalie edge. Tukka Rask has been great so far these playoffs, but Carey Price had a breakout season last year and continued it this year. He's among the best goalies in teh NHL, and can absolutely steal this series. The Canadiens also have very offensive-minded defensemen, something the Bruins have struggled with in recent postseasons (Chicago last year, Washington the year before). Still, the Bruins are just better across the board. They shouldn't lose this series, even in the NHL when a goalie can steal it.
Bruins in 7
Metropolitan Division Championship - (2) Rangers vs (1) Penguins
This series has a lot of the same factors that Canadiens vs. Bruins does. Namely, the underdog is a more defensive minded team with a goalie capable of stealing the series, the Penguins are higher powered. Of course, this is a better contrast of styles. The Penguins don't have the depth that the Rangers do, with really weak 3rd and 4th lines. The Rangers have the depth on offense to throw different lines at the Crosby line and not depend on any one matchup. As Martin St. Louis has gotten more comfortable in New York, the Rangers power-play has started getting really good, and if the Penguins start taking penalties, something that has plagued them in recent postseasons, they can really capitalize. It all really comes down to how the Rangers defense does against McDonagh, Girardi and the rest of the Rangers defenseman. Personally, I like where the Rangers are right now. They seemed a really confident team in that Game 7, adn the Penguins, despite winning the round, still have to have so many questions about Marc Andre-Fluery in goal, and their 3rd and 4th lines are at such a disadvantage here.
Rangers in 6
Central Division Championship - (4) Wild vs (2) Blackhawks
The Wild are the only Cindarella left, the only 4 seed to win their 1st round series, and they did it in dramatic fashion, with a come-from-behind win on the road in OT in Game 7. The Wild have depth in that their 2nd through 4th lines are about equal, but none are as good as the similar line on the Blackhawks, who with Toews and Kane healthy in the last series, they were rolling 4 lines about as good as they've done all year. Until a late season swoon that was caused largely by injury, the Blackhawks were challenging for the #1 spot in the division. They are a really good team, about as good as the one that won the Cup a year ago. The Wild face a really different issue here, as the Avalanche are not an offense, despite their skill players, that keeps the puck a lot, which the Blackhawks do, which should be good against a defense of no-names, mostly. The Blackhawks are just really running well right now, and Crawford played well throughout the series, while Darcy Kuemper was really up and down against Colorado. They'll need Kuemper to be a lot better this series, and I don't know if he has that level yet, and if he doesn't and Ilya Bryzgalov makes an appearance, real problems could occur.
Blackhawks in 5
Pacific Division Championship - (3) Kings vs (1) Ducks
Many people, after the Kings run from 0-3 down to winning the series are ready to give the Kings this series easily, if not the Cup as well. They've definitely become trendy picks to win all the cups in last playoffs and this one. Well, I fervently disagree (this isn't some Kings hate, I would have picked the Ducks to beat the Sharks as well). First, the Ducks are really, really good. Yes, it is somewhat comical how many goalies they have, but they all play pretty well. Also, they're really, really good, netting 116 points in the harder division and conference. They have a lot of depth on offense, and while it seems they overly rely on Getzlaf and Perry, they have a lot of other players provide support throughout the seasons, with players like Andrew Cogliano, Mathieu Perrealt, Ben Lovejoy, Daniel Winnik and more having nice seasons. They are definitely bigger than given credit for. They also have Getzlaf and Perry, top players that can muscle up to Kopitar/Brown, who will likely be thrown at them throughout the series. The Ducks have the advantage in goal, no doubt, but the Ducks have played the Kings well throughout the series, winning four of the five meetings. I think a lot of people are doubting the Ducks mainly because Bruce Boudreau is their coach, but this team has the stones and the size and the defensive responsibility that his Washington teams rarely had. I think the Ducks surprise people, as I'm getting a very 2007 vibe from them.
Ducks in 6
Enjoy the Best Playoffs in teh World
Atlantic Division Championship - (3) Canadiens vs (1) Bruis
The Bruins were much better this season, there is no debating that fact. They earned 117 points, most in the NHL. The Canadiens had 100. The Bruins scored 84 more goals than they allowed, while the Canadiens scored just 11 more. That all said, this could be a real close series. First, the Canadiens play very well against the Bruins. They were 3-1 (one OT win) against the Bruins this year, after winning the season series with them last year. Also, just as recently as last year, the Canadiens had a better record than Boston. The Canadiens are the faster team, but the Bruins are the stronger team, and the deeper team, with their 3rd and 4th lines capable of winning their matchup against almost all other teams' 3rd and 4th lines. This could be one of the only teams, though, where the Bruins don't have the definite goalie edge. Tukka Rask has been great so far these playoffs, but Carey Price had a breakout season last year and continued it this year. He's among the best goalies in teh NHL, and can absolutely steal this series. The Canadiens also have very offensive-minded defensemen, something the Bruins have struggled with in recent postseasons (Chicago last year, Washington the year before). Still, the Bruins are just better across the board. They shouldn't lose this series, even in the NHL when a goalie can steal it.
Bruins in 7
Metropolitan Division Championship - (2) Rangers vs (1) Penguins
This series has a lot of the same factors that Canadiens vs. Bruins does. Namely, the underdog is a more defensive minded team with a goalie capable of stealing the series, the Penguins are higher powered. Of course, this is a better contrast of styles. The Penguins don't have the depth that the Rangers do, with really weak 3rd and 4th lines. The Rangers have the depth on offense to throw different lines at the Crosby line and not depend on any one matchup. As Martin St. Louis has gotten more comfortable in New York, the Rangers power-play has started getting really good, and if the Penguins start taking penalties, something that has plagued them in recent postseasons, they can really capitalize. It all really comes down to how the Rangers defense does against McDonagh, Girardi and the rest of the Rangers defenseman. Personally, I like where the Rangers are right now. They seemed a really confident team in that Game 7, adn the Penguins, despite winning the round, still have to have so many questions about Marc Andre-Fluery in goal, and their 3rd and 4th lines are at such a disadvantage here.
Rangers in 6
Central Division Championship - (4) Wild vs (2) Blackhawks
The Wild are the only Cindarella left, the only 4 seed to win their 1st round series, and they did it in dramatic fashion, with a come-from-behind win on the road in OT in Game 7. The Wild have depth in that their 2nd through 4th lines are about equal, but none are as good as the similar line on the Blackhawks, who with Toews and Kane healthy in the last series, they were rolling 4 lines about as good as they've done all year. Until a late season swoon that was caused largely by injury, the Blackhawks were challenging for the #1 spot in the division. They are a really good team, about as good as the one that won the Cup a year ago. The Wild face a really different issue here, as the Avalanche are not an offense, despite their skill players, that keeps the puck a lot, which the Blackhawks do, which should be good against a defense of no-names, mostly. The Blackhawks are just really running well right now, and Crawford played well throughout the series, while Darcy Kuemper was really up and down against Colorado. They'll need Kuemper to be a lot better this series, and I don't know if he has that level yet, and if he doesn't and Ilya Bryzgalov makes an appearance, real problems could occur.
Blackhawks in 5
Pacific Division Championship - (3) Kings vs (1) Ducks
Many people, after the Kings run from 0-3 down to winning the series are ready to give the Kings this series easily, if not the Cup as well. They've definitely become trendy picks to win all the cups in last playoffs and this one. Well, I fervently disagree (this isn't some Kings hate, I would have picked the Ducks to beat the Sharks as well). First, the Ducks are really, really good. Yes, it is somewhat comical how many goalies they have, but they all play pretty well. Also, they're really, really good, netting 116 points in the harder division and conference. They have a lot of depth on offense, and while it seems they overly rely on Getzlaf and Perry, they have a lot of other players provide support throughout the seasons, with players like Andrew Cogliano, Mathieu Perrealt, Ben Lovejoy, Daniel Winnik and more having nice seasons. They are definitely bigger than given credit for. They also have Getzlaf and Perry, top players that can muscle up to Kopitar/Brown, who will likely be thrown at them throughout the series. The Ducks have the advantage in goal, no doubt, but the Ducks have played the Kings well throughout the series, winning four of the five meetings. I think a lot of people are doubting the Ducks mainly because Bruce Boudreau is their coach, but this team has the stones and the size and the defensive responsibility that his Washington teams rarely had. I think the Ducks surprise people, as I'm getting a very 2007 vibe from them.
Ducks in 6
Enjoy the Best Playoffs in teh World
