Here Comes Round 2

The first round picks could have been a little better, but over all not bad. Now it's time for the second round.

2 DET vs 8 ANH

I would never have picked Hiller to play so well, but the Sharks really helped the Ducks to win in the first round. The Red Wings will not be so helpful. By the same token the Wings dominated a Jackets team that no one thought would even get there this season. I don't think either team will have the easy walk in this round they did in the first. This should be a fun battle to watch. Can Bobby Ryan and Jonas Hiller help the Ducks take down the Wings? Will Osgood be able to maintain a high level of play? I think it will be a tight match, but I think the Wings have a slight edge.

DET in 6

3 VAN vs 4 CHI

Only 2 points separated these teams during the regular season with the Hawks in 4th with more points. The Canucks will need to stay out of the box to have a chance in this series. If they give the Hawks as many PP chances as they gave St. Louis there is no way they canwin. Patrick Kane might just be the most creative scorer in the league right now. There is a lot of youthful exuberance in that Chicago locker room. Luongo will need to be the best player in this series for the Canucks. I think this could be a long series and really go either way, but I will put more faith in the Canucks' goaltending.

VAN in 7

1 BOS vs 6 CAR

Carolina and New Jersey may have been the best series of the first round. Almost all of the games were close. Both goalies stole a game and it came down to the hard work of the Canes and the collapse of the Devils. I don't think "wanting it" more will help this series. Boston may show some signs of rust in Game 1, but that won't last. As strange as this is to say, the Bruins are stronger defensively than the Devils. The Bruins are the better team and played great hockey all season. Look for the rested Bruins to take this series.

BOS in 5

2 WSH vs 4 PIT

Here is the series Gary Bettman has been drooling over for a few years now. This will be Ovechkin vs Crosby. There is only one small problem. Someone forgot to tell Malkin that Crosby is better than him. This Series will come down to Ovechkin vs Malkin. Crosby is not as good as either of those to despite what the NHL would like people to believe. (After all, you can't sell Russians as the face of the NHL). This should be a fun and high scoring series. It would be easy to give the Pens the nod on goaltending, but no one really know much about Varlamov. He does however have the best GAA and 2nd best SV% in the playoffs. You can also thank the Rangers for waking up the Capitals. Overall I think the speed and power of the Caps will wear down the Pens D.

WSH in 7