Well, here at Lost In Skates we didn’t do too badly on the first round: 6 out of 8 correct with the other two series both going to 7 games (as predicted). Not too shabby!
Now on to the second round.
BOS vs MTL
If there is one team that can give the Bruins fits it’s Montreal. This is a capital ‘c’ classic, original six, playoff match up and, the Habs being the Habs, anything could happen. I don’t think it’s outrageous to posit that the Canadiens could be the only thing that stands between Boston and another Stanley Cup.
Both teams have had some rest after round 1, but particularly significant will be how quickly Montreal can get up to speed after an especially long lay off. The Habs may lose game one due primarily to rust-or jitters. Otherwise, the question becomes whether Montreal can play a pesky, quick enough style, game after game, to throw the Bruins out of their rhythm. Both teams are defensively sound, with Montreal being perhaps the better fore checking team; Boston better at clogging up the middle. The goal tending is as even as you’ll find in any playoff series this year. Yes size will matter, but it’s just a question of whether it’ll be the big bad Bruins or the darting, diminutive Canadiens dudes, that can have their way! An upset is a very real possibility, but I’ll stick with Boston in 6.
PITTS vs NY Rangers
Hard to have resounding confidence in this current group of Penguins. And it starts with Marc Andre Fleury. Goal tending is the key factor in the playoffs, and the Pittsburgh goalie still has the some demons of inconsistency swirling around him. And they’re up against Lundqvist! Are there a bunch of players playing hurt (Crosby, Sutter, Letang), or with varying degrees of disinterest (Malkin, Neal)? Whatever is happening with the Penguins, the parts don’t seem to add up to a whole. The Rangers play a pretty tight game with a great goalie to back em up. NY has some scoring weapons, but they have to get going–better than in the series against the Flyers. I think they will, and the Rangers will win in 7.
ANA vs LA
Once again one feels compelled to decide the outcome of this series, like many of the others, based on goal tending. The Ducks are formidable, but aren’t looking all that convincing to me that their fire power and considerable depth thru their line up can overcome a less than air tight net factor. The Kings are looking like their ‘usual’, playoff ready selves again and definitely have the edge between the pipes. LA are a strong, relentless and tiring team to play against-especially in the playoffs. LA in 5.
MINN vs CHI
The Wild are a team that no one should take lightly. They, like Montreal, could surprise. The have a solid system, with a good balance between defensive and offense. But I think Chicago, who is rounding into form, presents a much more experienced and cohesive challenge than the young Avs team that Minnesota just out played in round 1. Chicago’s key guys are finally waking up after a slow playoff start (where are you Patrick Sharp?). And they are going to be way smarter in systems play, and not so wide open, back and forth, as Colorado was. The Wild are putting an impressive team together. But this is the end of the line this year. Black Hawks in 6