NHL Second Round Predictions

After a first round that lived up to many picks but also brought a few surprises, eight teams move on the getting one step closer to the coveted Stanley Cup. The biggest upset came out of the Western Conference where once again San Jose failed to meet expectations and fell the to 8th seeded Anaheim Ducks. While the Ducks underachieved throughout the whole season, they were finally able to put all the pieces together, including starting Jonas Hiller at goalie, to dismantle the Sharks. Even though they had a new coach, the Sharks were not able to receive the needed production from former MVP Joe Thornton, Captain Patrick Marleau, and other stars. Instead of continuing on to what seemed like a guaranteed long playoff run, the Sharks are once again out before May rolled around. The Eastern Conference also did not fail to disappoint in terms of surprises. While no series ended with a shocking winner, as many predicted the Hurricanes to upset the Devils, the Rangers and Capitals' series lasted longer than many expected. Behind the Henrik Lundqvist's great goaltending, the Rangers jumped out to a 3-1 series lead, a lead they have never lost before in their playoff history. Unfortunately for them, there's a first for everything. After game 4, Lundqvist became human again, Alexander Ovechkin found the back of the net, and the Capitals claimed the next three games. The next round should prove to contain just as much drama and excitement as the intensity increases.

Western Conference 

2) Red Wings vs. 8) Anaheim Ducks

In what may be one of the most intriguing 2 vs 8 matchup in NHL history, the Ducks look to develop a string of upsets and take out the defending Stanley Cup Champions. This series is a battle between the last two Champions and maybe the two best all-around teams in the league. The Red Wings, who became the first defending champion to win a first round series since the Avalanche in 2002, have some of the best two-way players in the NHL, specifically MVP candidate Pavel Datsyuk and Conn Smythe (MVP in playoffs) winner Henrik Zetterberg. Their defense may be the most experiences in the league, with 46-year old Chris Chelios and 6-time winner of the Norris Trophy (best defenseman) Nicklas Lidstrom. The only weakness may be at goaltending, but Chris Osgood has proven to be a winner as long as he has a team that can help him. The Ducks also have great players at all positions and carry over a very similar team that won it all two years ago. This will be a hard fought series, but home-ice advantage may prove to be the difference. 

Red Wings in 7

3) Vancouver Canucks vs. 4) Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks are finally back in the second round for the first time since 2002, led by great play from young players and the veteran defenseman Brian Campbell and goalie Nikolai Khabibulin. This is a young team that relies on speed, energy, and desire for motivation. Besides Campbell and Khabibulin, there is little to no playoff experience, but the blend has proven successful. The Canucks on the other hand are an older team with more experience and desperation. There are many old players who have yet to get their hands on Lord Stanley's Cup, including Mats Sundin, Pavol Demitra, and Sami Salo. However, this is not to say that they do not also have their share of young scrappers. Ryan Kesler, at only 24, has been nominated for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the best defensive forward. However, this is a team that relies on its goaltending first, as they are backed up by Roberto Luongo, arguably the best goalie in the world. This series will come down to who can carry their team farther, Luongo or Khabibulin.

Canucks in 6

Eastern Conference

1) Boston Bruins vs. 6) Carolina Hurricanes

Coming off a complete dismantling of their primary rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins are feeling confident and ready to win their first Stanley Cup since 1972. Led by likely Vezina Trophy (Best Goalie) winner Tim Thomas, the Bruins feature both the best offense and defense in the Eastern Conference. Great setup man Marc Savard leads a young offense that features some of the best scorers in the league. The offense does not only rely on one line either, which makes it almost impossible to stop. The Bruins' defensive players are nothing to scoff at either. Two-time Norris Trophy finalist and captain Zdeno Chara is a stalwart at the defensive end and a threat at the offensive end, possessing the hardest shot in the league and one of the hardest in NHL history. However, if the Bruins think they can roll in and sweep the Hurricanes like they did the Canadiens, they will be behind and fast. The Hurricanes enter the second round with enormous momentum after winning game 7 against the New Jersey Devils with only 31.7 seconds left to play. Eric Staal's series winning goal came only 48 seconds after Jussi Jokinen scored a goal to tie the game. The Hurricanes are 1:20 away from heading to the golf course before they snatched away a victory from the formidable Devils. This series will be decided by what wins out, the Bruin's skills or the Hurricane's momentum.

Bruins in 6

2) Washington Capitals vs. 4) Pittsburgh Penguins

This series is the series that NHL executives have been waiting for ever since Sidney Crosby was drafted in 2005. It will feature the best young players in the NHL, with Ovechkin, Crosby, Pen's Evengi Malkin, Cap's Alexander Semin, and more. The Penguins enter the series after taking care of their inter-state rivals Philadelphia Flyers in 6. The series win only continued to prove that this is a different Penguins team that looked like it wouldn't even qualify for the playoffs earlier in the season. It also marked the first time a losing conference finals winner made the second round since the Dallas Stars made the second round in 2001. The Penguins hope they can find a little more success against a team that has quickly developed into a primary rival. There is much bad blood between these two teams, as both Crosby and Ovechkin have traded words. Malkin and Ovechkin also have a history, going back to agents in Russia. Not to feel left out, Semin also threw his hat in the ring with some critiques of Crosby. This four way battle between four of the best young guns in the league will provide enough drama to keep anyone watching. However, the series will be determined by not young forwards but young goaltenders. The Penguins are backed by 24-year old and former number one overall pick Marc-Andre Fleury while the Capitals are backed up 20-year old rookie Simeon Varlamov, who took over Jose Theodore after game 1 of the Rangers' series. While Varlamov looked good in round one, he will face a much tougher test, as the Rangers were the worst offensive team in the league and the Penguins are one of the best. These are both unpredictable goalies, so which ever one decided to step up will be the one to take his team to the conference finals.

Penguins in 6

-A.S.