After a crazy first round, the teams don't exactly have much time to regroup as the second round starts literally the next night. So teams need to regroup as quickly as possible. For some teams it just means resting up. For others it means working up a new game plan. Let's take a look at the matchups.
1. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 7. Ottawa Senators
1) Cooke vs. Karlsson
It was one of the most controversial plays of the regular season, one that almost got a forensic investigation going. Matt Cooke's skate dug into the star defenseman's leg and 70% of his left Achilles tendon was sliced. Here's the horrific video of the incident (note: Karlsson on one foot is still a better skater than I am on two).
Well this series we'll see the two matched up against one another and we'll see if sparks fly.
2) Penguins Can Kinda Score at Will
There were times in the Islander series where the Penguins just seemed to be able to score whenever they wanted. They may have given up a goal and then they would come right back down the ice and score a minute later to tie things up. Whatever the case, it seemed they just got things done when they had to.
Now if only they had a goaltender who can keep the lead.
3) Vokoun to Save the Day
After Fleury's game 1 shutout, we all thought his playoff performance from a year ago was behind him. Well it wasn't.
Fleury was ultimately pulled and benched for game 5 and Tomas Vokoun came in and clinched the series for them.
Now the big question is if Fleury should start. Well in the past two postseasons, he's given up 40 goals in just 10 games. Therefore it seems clear that Vokoun will get the nod. Vokoun's career playoff stats? 5-8 with a solid .928 SV%.
4) The Senators are the Islanders. But Better
The Islanders gave the Penguins trouble for a few reasons.
They were fast. The Islanders had many forwards who could really push it.
They were physical. The Islanders are a team that loves to get in on the forecheck and throw their body around.
Well Ottawa has guys that do these also, effectively. Guys like Pageau, Zibanejad, and Silfverberg will be all over the ice. As for the hitting, guys like Chris Neil and Zack Smith can get that done.
The Senators need to take what the Islanders did and increase it.
5) Penguins Powerplay is Automatic
In overtime in game 3, right when the Islanders committed a penalty, I honestly shut off my TV because I KNEW that the Penguins were going to score. Pittsburgh had the best PP% in the first round and they were just deadly at creating and finishing their chances. Expect that to continue.
6) Ottawa Has to Stay Discipline Because of the Above
True, the amount of penalty minutes Ottawa had was because of the type of series they were in, but there's no way Ottawa will have a chance if they continue having about 32.4 penalty minutes a game. Pittsburgh's powerplay is way too good for you to take stupid penalties.
7) Craig Anderson Helps You Win Games
Not only was he the MVP for the Senators in the first round, but it was in the way he helped them win.
Two important stats for Anderson:
a) he gave up just 2 goals in the first period all series. That means that Ottawa was able to get on board first and get the ever important lead.
b) he gave up no goals in the third period. Nothing hurts a team more than giving up goals in the third period. Just ask Toronto.
8) Sid the Kid is Back
After missing games with his jaw injury, Sidney Crosby is back and he did not miss a beat. Even though he missed all those games at the end of the season, Crosby still managed to finish 4th in points. And in the 5 games he played against the Islanders last series, Crosby put up 9 points. Maybe the Senators should try to stop him.
9) Anderson is Their Only Hope
It's not really a secret but the Senators are going as far as Anderson takes them. I wrote about his game-stealing abilities in the playoff preview and nothing has changed. Anderson was unbeatable against the Habs and he can still beat the Penguins but he's got to be the best goalie out there.
Prediction:
The goaltending inconsistency for the Penguins and the speed of the Senators will make this a close series. The Senators benefited from the Habs falling on top of themselves. The Penguins offensive power is too strong and, with a strong defensive corps, won't be that easy to beat.
Penguins in Six
4. Boston Bruins vs. 6. New York Rangers
1) Emotional Win for City of Boston
If you're reading this, stop what you're doing and read this instead. I'll wait.
In what has to be the craziest finishes for the past few years, the Bruins came out on top as victors. This game showed the Bruins resiliency as a team and their mental toughness. This team isn't going to fold or choke in the big moments. The City of Boston, with what they've been going through, needs this team to keep moving and the team is dedicated to that cause.
2) Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi Are Good
McDonagh and Girardi were essentially on the ice everytime Caps forward Alex Ovechkin was, and then some. And the matchup worked to perfection. They held the Hart Finalist to just 1 goal in 7 games. Both Dmen finished in the top 15 for time on ice in the first round. The two gotta be tiring up but they still got a lot of game left in them.
3) Boston's Gotta Forecheck
The one thing that worked for the Capitals in games 1 and 2 when it seemed like they were going to cruise to a series win was the same thing the Devils did last year to beat the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Maintain a healthy, physical, and quick forecheck.
It's not easy to do but the Capitals did so in games 1 and 2 but weren't able to keep it going the whole series. The Bruins have to do this, especially with their big and powerful forwards.
4) Untimely Injuries for Boston
Boston defensemen Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg are both out (for now) with injuries. Injuries are tough to deal with in the post season but the timing for two of the Bruins' top defensemen is crushing for the B's. They need to find a way to overcome this.
5) Wade Redden vs. His Old Team
Until the middle of this season Wade Redden was on the Connecticut Whale, eating away at the Rangers payroll. This year, thanks to a new rule, he was bought out by the Rangers, finally freeing him from his AHL hell. After being picked up by the Blues and passed on to the Bruins, Redden put up 7 points in 29 games.
Redden has playoff experience from his days in Ottawa and, with the injuries to the Boston blueline, might be needed to help out in this series.
This might be a good storyline to follow.
6) Which Rask Are We Seeing
There's no question that Tuukka Rask is the man for the Bruins. He had an incredible season, finishing top 5 in SV% and GAA. He's been reliable and one of the best in the league, one of the reasons Boston is still around.
However, after the close call with the Maple Leafs last round, the question presents itself.
Is Tuukka Rask a playoff choker.
Need I remind you his collapse in 2010 with his Bruins up on the Flyers 3-0. Now, he almost repeated the collapse, just hanging on to a 3-1 series lead, winning it in game 7. If Boston gets a lead in this series, Rask HAS to be able to hold the fort.
7) Henrik Has to Be Perfect
It happened four times in the Washington series that the Rangers scored 1 goal or less. At times, it seemed the only way the Rangers were going to win was if their star goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, actually got a shutout.
The same feeling was present in game 6 and the Rangers just held on to a 1-0 victory.
The Rangers have to give Henrik support but, if they can't, Lundqvist is going to be relied upon for more shutouts.
8) Bruins Defensive Forwards
One issue with Washington was their lackluster defense for the forwards. Only one Washington forward was more than +1. Alex Ovechkin had plays like this. And Mike Ribiero was a -4 in game 7.
Now compare that to Boston's forwards and you see guys who are +11 and +9. Needless to say, the Rangers might have more trouble scoring this series. IF that's even possible.
9) Nash is Still Goalless
The Rangers got Rick Nash just so he can add to their scoring. However, through the first round of the playoffs, Nash went scoreless. He's stuck at one career playoff goal and, at this point, it seems his gripping his stick too hard. The Rangers HAVE to get Nash going if they want to win this series.
Prediction:
The Bruins just withstood a major test of willpower and, if it's possible, have more momentum than a team that just won a game 7 by the score of 5-0. The Bruins defensive awareness will make things harder for the snakebitten Ranger offense and I don't see Lundqvist keeping up his tremendous shutout streak. That being said, it's Henrik Lundqvist and a stingy Ranger team that blocked 161 shots in the first round. This is going to be an incredible series to watch.
Bruins in Seven
1. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7. Detroit Red Wings
1) Say Goodbye
The Detroit-Chicago Rivalry has been a great one for the NHL. Always competitive, it's highly regarded as one of the best in the NHL. Well say goodbye to this rivalry because next year, due to conference realignment, the Red Wings will be a member of the Eastern Conference.
So not only is this the last time the Wings play the Hawks in the playoffs, it's also the last time the Wings are in the Western Conference. Expect fireworks in this one.
2) Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane Had No Goals in the First Round
Wait...What?...
That can't possibly be right..
*checks stats*
*jaw drops*
Somehow, the two leading scorers for Chicago (Kane 32 goals, Toews 25) were held scoreless in the first round. I don't even know what to write about this. Just try to consume this information.
3) The Blackhawks Were Still Dominant
Somehow, without their two goalscoreres, Chicago was still the 4th highest scoring team in the first round. This just shows the depth Chicago has. Even without their two best players scoring, they still manage to win a series in five games. In fact, out of the 13 forwards they dressed in the first round, 11 of them had points.
This is a dangerous hockey squad.
4) They're Also Good on Defense
This team gets it done on defense also. In the five game series against the Wild, Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu combined for just one goal. With their powerfully deep offense and their brick wall defense, it's no wonder this team is the Presidents Trophy Winner.
5) Detroit Has Speed
One line that's opened eyes in these playoffs is the speedy, young line for the Red Wings. Gustav Nyquist, Damien Brunner, and Joakim Anderson have combined for some nice tallies for the Wings, including two OT goals. These guys are all fast and skilled and caused a lot of aggravation last round to the Anaheim blue line. Not only do they have a big advantage with their speed, but their young legs perhaps have an advantage in this shortened season. Look for them to continue their success.
6) Pavel Datsyuk is a Magician
Pavel Datsyuk continued his streak of impressing the hell out of me as he continued his tight stick work in the offensive zone. He was dancing around, putting the puck through people's legs, and getting quality chances for the Wings. He even had this nice dangle for a goal. Add a defensively perfect game and you have yourself one of the best players in the league.
Did I mention he can snipe also?
7) Captain Zetterberg Turns It On
Replacing Captain Nick Lidstrom was a tough task for Zetterberg to do but Zetterberg was the perfect captain for the job in game 6 for the Red Wings.
Facing elimination, the Wings had to win on home ice to force a game 7. Zetterberg scored in the third to take a 2-1 lead. However, the Wings lost hold of their lead and went into overtime tied at 3. Who else but their captain ended it.
Zetty would also go on to open up the scoring in game 7.
8) Kronwall Helps Replace Lidstrom Too
It wasn't mentioned that Kronwall was to fill the giant void left by Lidstrom's departure but that's what it seems like as Kronwall is on the ice for all the big moments for Detroit. We all know he can hit, but his defensive stability in this season has really been a help in replacing Lidstrom.
9) Howard Taking the Next Step
He's not Carey Price, or Tuukka Rask, or James Reimer, but Jimmy Howard has quietly proven himself to be one of the top young goalies in the league. We don't hear too much talk about this, but Howard has put together a very strong season and was great in the first round. He's flexible and well-positioned and has been very reliable for Detroit.
This series will be a big step for Howard's development. Can he beat this fierce Blackhawk opponent and take that giant leap into stardom or will he duck back down into irrelevancy.
Howard simply must continue his great play for the Wings to advance.
Prediction:
You can't keep guys like Toews and Kane off the board for that long. The Hawks have the depth, starpower, and defense to make a run for the cup and that's exactly what they're going to do. The Wings almost lost to tough Anaheim team and showed weaknesses in the first round, blowing two third period leads in the series. They'll come out fighting in this rivalry but it'll be the Hawks' sticks that'll get the job done.
Blackhawks in Six
5. Los Angeles Kings vs. 6. San Jose' Sharks
1) This is a Real Rivalry
It's not too known here on the east coast, but the Kings and the Sharks have a legitimate rivalry. Living in California, these teams have a history of intense physical games and now they have a whole playoff series to keep it going.
As a matter of fact, 6 of the last 10 games these teams played against each other have resulted in 1 goal games, four of those occurring in overtime.
So expect a close series.
2) The Brent Burns Experiment
After a tough few games, Sharks coach, Todd McLellan, decided to try Brent Burns, a career defenseman, as a forward. In his first two games, Burns actually scored twice.
Burns is still playing forward and he's helped out a lot. He adds size to his line and he's a skilled enough player to create chances. He has three points in the four game sweep and has looked fine doing it.
3) Logan Couture Is a Beast
We all knew Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton were the heavy lifters of the Sharks. Some of us knew the secret that Joe Pavelski was also one of their biggest weapons. But Logan Couture has emerged as one of their most electrifying skaters. In the first series, Couture was all over the ice, getting chances and shots. His 8 points in 4 games ties him with Pavelski for the team lead and he shows no signs of slowing down.
4) Drew Doughty Plays a Lot of Hockey
LA Defenseman, Drew Doughty, was on the ice for an average of about 29 minutes a game. Doughty's been a workhorse for the Kings for the past couple of seasons and was one of the reasons LA won it all last year. Well, he's back to his old game and is shutting down the opposition's top lines on a nightly basis. Expect him to be out there a lot again.
5) The Sharks are Doing the Opposite of Number 4
It's common to see teams overplay their top Dmen. The Rangers have McDonagh and Girardi out half the game. Zdeno Chara makes rare appearances on the bench. And we just mentioned how much Doughty plays.
Well the San Jose' Sharks have the opposite approach.
Not a single Sharks defenseman has over 23 minutes averaged time on ice. This way, the players are more energized and rested. In a league where it's not too common to see this, this strategy is a nice breath of fresh air.
6) Number 5 Is Actually Working
In their 4 game sweep of the Canucks, the Sharks rested defense has been mighty-fine. Two interesting stats:
a) the Sharks only trailed for a total of 20:38 in their series
b) the Sharks never were trailing entering a period
The Sharks seemed to figure out a way to get things done on defense and it's worked. If they can keep that up, they'll breeze through this round.
7) Jonathan with a "quick" Recovery
In game 1 this happened.
In game 2 this happened.
As a goaltender, I know how hard it is to come back from a tough loss.
Try coming back from two tough losses. In the NHL playoffs.
Impossible, right?
WRONG.
Jonathan Quick bounced back strong and won the 4 straight games to close out the series. He posted the second best GAA amongst starting goaltenders (1.58) and was sensational again. He'll look to keep rolling.
8) I'm Pro-Niemi
Let me get you in on a little something.
Antti Niemi is, perhaps, the best playoff goalie in today's NHL.
He built this up quietly but look at his stats.
He has a 29-19 playoff record and has won 7 out of his 9 playoff series, including a Stanley Cup win. Another stat, and most alarming, is his 11-2 playoff OT record.
Antti Niemi doesn't startle you with saves or performance. He just gets the job done.
9) The Los Angeles Kings Looked Like the Los Angeles Kings
In a close first round series (which I wrote about here), the Kings had to battle to get control of games. However, there were times that they would just, how do I say it, take over.
There were glimpses in that first round when the Kings showed the team that only lost 2 games in the first 3 rounds. Glimpses of the team that won it all and brought the Stanley Cup to LA. But whenever it showed, it would just die down, stopping at two goals. If the Kings want to beat their rivals, they MUST show this side more often.
Prediction:
It's all going to depend on what team we see out of the Kings. If we get the team that I described in number 9, they should win this series. If we see the underachieving 6 seed, the mighty San Jose' squad will win this one with ease. Quick will be on his game, I'm sure and I honestly think it's going to come down to which offense gets going.
And few have looked better than the Sharks
Sharks in Seven
1. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 7. Ottawa Senators
1) Cooke vs. Karlsson
It was one of the most controversial plays of the regular season, one that almost got a forensic investigation going. Matt Cooke's skate dug into the star defenseman's leg and 70% of his left Achilles tendon was sliced. Here's the horrific video of the incident (note: Karlsson on one foot is still a better skater than I am on two).
Well this series we'll see the two matched up against one another and we'll see if sparks fly.
2) Penguins Can Kinda Score at Will
There were times in the Islander series where the Penguins just seemed to be able to score whenever they wanted. They may have given up a goal and then they would come right back down the ice and score a minute later to tie things up. Whatever the case, it seemed they just got things done when they had to.
Now if only they had a goaltender who can keep the lead.
3) Vokoun to Save the Day
After Fleury's game 1 shutout, we all thought his playoff performance from a year ago was behind him. Well it wasn't.
Fleury was ultimately pulled and benched for game 5 and Tomas Vokoun came in and clinched the series for them.
Now the big question is if Fleury should start. Well in the past two postseasons, he's given up 40 goals in just 10 games. Therefore it seems clear that Vokoun will get the nod. Vokoun's career playoff stats? 5-8 with a solid .928 SV%.
4) The Senators are the Islanders. But Better
The Islanders gave the Penguins trouble for a few reasons.
They were fast. The Islanders had many forwards who could really push it.
They were physical. The Islanders are a team that loves to get in on the forecheck and throw their body around.
Well Ottawa has guys that do these also, effectively. Guys like Pageau, Zibanejad, and Silfverberg will be all over the ice. As for the hitting, guys like Chris Neil and Zack Smith can get that done.
The Senators need to take what the Islanders did and increase it.
5) Penguins Powerplay is Automatic
In overtime in game 3, right when the Islanders committed a penalty, I honestly shut off my TV because I KNEW that the Penguins were going to score. Pittsburgh had the best PP% in the first round and they were just deadly at creating and finishing their chances. Expect that to continue.
6) Ottawa Has to Stay Discipline Because of the Above
True, the amount of penalty minutes Ottawa had was because of the type of series they were in, but there's no way Ottawa will have a chance if they continue having about 32.4 penalty minutes a game. Pittsburgh's powerplay is way too good for you to take stupid penalties.
7) Craig Anderson Helps You Win Games
Not only was he the MVP for the Senators in the first round, but it was in the way he helped them win.
Two important stats for Anderson:
a) he gave up just 2 goals in the first period all series. That means that Ottawa was able to get on board first and get the ever important lead.
b) he gave up no goals in the third period. Nothing hurts a team more than giving up goals in the third period. Just ask Toronto.
8) Sid the Kid is Back
After missing games with his jaw injury, Sidney Crosby is back and he did not miss a beat. Even though he missed all those games at the end of the season, Crosby still managed to finish 4th in points. And in the 5 games he played against the Islanders last series, Crosby put up 9 points. Maybe the Senators should try to stop him.
9) Anderson is Their Only Hope
It's not really a secret but the Senators are going as far as Anderson takes them. I wrote about his game-stealing abilities in the playoff preview and nothing has changed. Anderson was unbeatable against the Habs and he can still beat the Penguins but he's got to be the best goalie out there.
Prediction:
The goaltending inconsistency for the Penguins and the speed of the Senators will make this a close series. The Senators benefited from the Habs falling on top of themselves. The Penguins offensive power is too strong and, with a strong defensive corps, won't be that easy to beat.
Penguins in Six
4. Boston Bruins vs. 6. New York Rangers
1) Emotional Win for City of Boston
If you're reading this, stop what you're doing and read this instead. I'll wait.
In what has to be the craziest finishes for the past few years, the Bruins came out on top as victors. This game showed the Bruins resiliency as a team and their mental toughness. This team isn't going to fold or choke in the big moments. The City of Boston, with what they've been going through, needs this team to keep moving and the team is dedicated to that cause.
2) Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi Are Good
McDonagh and Girardi were essentially on the ice everytime Caps forward Alex Ovechkin was, and then some. And the matchup worked to perfection. They held the Hart Finalist to just 1 goal in 7 games. Both Dmen finished in the top 15 for time on ice in the first round. The two gotta be tiring up but they still got a lot of game left in them.
3) Boston's Gotta Forecheck
The one thing that worked for the Capitals in games 1 and 2 when it seemed like they were going to cruise to a series win was the same thing the Devils did last year to beat the Rangers in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Maintain a healthy, physical, and quick forecheck.
It's not easy to do but the Capitals did so in games 1 and 2 but weren't able to keep it going the whole series. The Bruins have to do this, especially with their big and powerful forwards.
4) Untimely Injuries for Boston
Boston defensemen Andrew Ference and Dennis Seidenberg are both out (for now) with injuries. Injuries are tough to deal with in the post season but the timing for two of the Bruins' top defensemen is crushing for the B's. They need to find a way to overcome this.
5) Wade Redden vs. His Old Team
Until the middle of this season Wade Redden was on the Connecticut Whale, eating away at the Rangers payroll. This year, thanks to a new rule, he was bought out by the Rangers, finally freeing him from his AHL hell. After being picked up by the Blues and passed on to the Bruins, Redden put up 7 points in 29 games.
Redden has playoff experience from his days in Ottawa and, with the injuries to the Boston blueline, might be needed to help out in this series.
This might be a good storyline to follow.
6) Which Rask Are We Seeing
There's no question that Tuukka Rask is the man for the Bruins. He had an incredible season, finishing top 5 in SV% and GAA. He's been reliable and one of the best in the league, one of the reasons Boston is still around.
However, after the close call with the Maple Leafs last round, the question presents itself.
Is Tuukka Rask a playoff choker.
Need I remind you his collapse in 2010 with his Bruins up on the Flyers 3-0. Now, he almost repeated the collapse, just hanging on to a 3-1 series lead, winning it in game 7. If Boston gets a lead in this series, Rask HAS to be able to hold the fort.
7) Henrik Has to Be Perfect
It happened four times in the Washington series that the Rangers scored 1 goal or less. At times, it seemed the only way the Rangers were going to win was if their star goalie, Henrik Lundqvist, actually got a shutout.
The same feeling was present in game 6 and the Rangers just held on to a 1-0 victory.
The Rangers have to give Henrik support but, if they can't, Lundqvist is going to be relied upon for more shutouts.
8) Bruins Defensive Forwards
One issue with Washington was their lackluster defense for the forwards. Only one Washington forward was more than +1. Alex Ovechkin had plays like this. And Mike Ribiero was a -4 in game 7.
Now compare that to Boston's forwards and you see guys who are +11 and +9. Needless to say, the Rangers might have more trouble scoring this series. IF that's even possible.
9) Nash is Still Goalless
The Rangers got Rick Nash just so he can add to their scoring. However, through the first round of the playoffs, Nash went scoreless. He's stuck at one career playoff goal and, at this point, it seems his gripping his stick too hard. The Rangers HAVE to get Nash going if they want to win this series.
Prediction:
The Bruins just withstood a major test of willpower and, if it's possible, have more momentum than a team that just won a game 7 by the score of 5-0. The Bruins defensive awareness will make things harder for the snakebitten Ranger offense and I don't see Lundqvist keeping up his tremendous shutout streak. That being said, it's Henrik Lundqvist and a stingy Ranger team that blocked 161 shots in the first round. This is going to be an incredible series to watch.
Bruins in Seven
1. Chicago Blackhawks vs. 7. Detroit Red Wings
1) Say Goodbye
The Detroit-Chicago Rivalry has been a great one for the NHL. Always competitive, it's highly regarded as one of the best in the NHL. Well say goodbye to this rivalry because next year, due to conference realignment, the Red Wings will be a member of the Eastern Conference.
So not only is this the last time the Wings play the Hawks in the playoffs, it's also the last time the Wings are in the Western Conference. Expect fireworks in this one.
2) Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane Had No Goals in the First Round
Wait...What?...
That can't possibly be right..
*checks stats*
*jaw drops*
Somehow, the two leading scorers for Chicago (Kane 32 goals, Toews 25) were held scoreless in the first round. I don't even know what to write about this. Just try to consume this information.
3) The Blackhawks Were Still Dominant
Somehow, without their two goalscoreres, Chicago was still the 4th highest scoring team in the first round. This just shows the depth Chicago has. Even without their two best players scoring, they still manage to win a series in five games. In fact, out of the 13 forwards they dressed in the first round, 11 of them had points.
This is a dangerous hockey squad.
4) They're Also Good on Defense
This team gets it done on defense also. In the five game series against the Wild, Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu combined for just one goal. With their powerfully deep offense and their brick wall defense, it's no wonder this team is the Presidents Trophy Winner.
5) Detroit Has Speed
One line that's opened eyes in these playoffs is the speedy, young line for the Red Wings. Gustav Nyquist, Damien Brunner, and Joakim Anderson have combined for some nice tallies for the Wings, including two OT goals. These guys are all fast and skilled and caused a lot of aggravation last round to the Anaheim blue line. Not only do they have a big advantage with their speed, but their young legs perhaps have an advantage in this shortened season. Look for them to continue their success.
6) Pavel Datsyuk is a Magician
Pavel Datsyuk continued his streak of impressing the hell out of me as he continued his tight stick work in the offensive zone. He was dancing around, putting the puck through people's legs, and getting quality chances for the Wings. He even had this nice dangle for a goal. Add a defensively perfect game and you have yourself one of the best players in the league.
Did I mention he can snipe also?
7) Captain Zetterberg Turns It On
Replacing Captain Nick Lidstrom was a tough task for Zetterberg to do but Zetterberg was the perfect captain for the job in game 6 for the Red Wings.
Facing elimination, the Wings had to win on home ice to force a game 7. Zetterberg scored in the third to take a 2-1 lead. However, the Wings lost hold of their lead and went into overtime tied at 3. Who else but their captain ended it.
Zetty would also go on to open up the scoring in game 7.
8) Kronwall Helps Replace Lidstrom Too
It wasn't mentioned that Kronwall was to fill the giant void left by Lidstrom's departure but that's what it seems like as Kronwall is on the ice for all the big moments for Detroit. We all know he can hit, but his defensive stability in this season has really been a help in replacing Lidstrom.
9) Howard Taking the Next Step
He's not Carey Price, or Tuukka Rask, or James Reimer, but Jimmy Howard has quietly proven himself to be one of the top young goalies in the league. We don't hear too much talk about this, but Howard has put together a very strong season and was great in the first round. He's flexible and well-positioned and has been very reliable for Detroit.
This series will be a big step for Howard's development. Can he beat this fierce Blackhawk opponent and take that giant leap into stardom or will he duck back down into irrelevancy.
Howard simply must continue his great play for the Wings to advance.
Prediction:
You can't keep guys like Toews and Kane off the board for that long. The Hawks have the depth, starpower, and defense to make a run for the cup and that's exactly what they're going to do. The Wings almost lost to tough Anaheim team and showed weaknesses in the first round, blowing two third period leads in the series. They'll come out fighting in this rivalry but it'll be the Hawks' sticks that'll get the job done.
Blackhawks in Six
5. Los Angeles Kings vs. 6. San Jose' Sharks
1) This is a Real Rivalry
It's not too known here on the east coast, but the Kings and the Sharks have a legitimate rivalry. Living in California, these teams have a history of intense physical games and now they have a whole playoff series to keep it going.
As a matter of fact, 6 of the last 10 games these teams played against each other have resulted in 1 goal games, four of those occurring in overtime.
So expect a close series.
2) The Brent Burns Experiment
After a tough few games, Sharks coach, Todd McLellan, decided to try Brent Burns, a career defenseman, as a forward. In his first two games, Burns actually scored twice.
Burns is still playing forward and he's helped out a lot. He adds size to his line and he's a skilled enough player to create chances. He has three points in the four game sweep and has looked fine doing it.
3) Logan Couture Is a Beast
We all knew Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton were the heavy lifters of the Sharks. Some of us knew the secret that Joe Pavelski was also one of their biggest weapons. But Logan Couture has emerged as one of their most electrifying skaters. In the first series, Couture was all over the ice, getting chances and shots. His 8 points in 4 games ties him with Pavelski for the team lead and he shows no signs of slowing down.
4) Drew Doughty Plays a Lot of Hockey
LA Defenseman, Drew Doughty, was on the ice for an average of about 29 minutes a game. Doughty's been a workhorse for the Kings for the past couple of seasons and was one of the reasons LA won it all last year. Well, he's back to his old game and is shutting down the opposition's top lines on a nightly basis. Expect him to be out there a lot again.
5) The Sharks are Doing the Opposite of Number 4
It's common to see teams overplay their top Dmen. The Rangers have McDonagh and Girardi out half the game. Zdeno Chara makes rare appearances on the bench. And we just mentioned how much Doughty plays.
Well the San Jose' Sharks have the opposite approach.
Not a single Sharks defenseman has over 23 minutes averaged time on ice. This way, the players are more energized and rested. In a league where it's not too common to see this, this strategy is a nice breath of fresh air.
6) Number 5 Is Actually Working
In their 4 game sweep of the Canucks, the Sharks rested defense has been mighty-fine. Two interesting stats:
a) the Sharks only trailed for a total of 20:38 in their series
b) the Sharks never were trailing entering a period
The Sharks seemed to figure out a way to get things done on defense and it's worked. If they can keep that up, they'll breeze through this round.
7) Jonathan with a "quick" Recovery
In game 1 this happened.
In game 2 this happened.
As a goaltender, I know how hard it is to come back from a tough loss.
Try coming back from two tough losses. In the NHL playoffs.
Impossible, right?
WRONG.
Jonathan Quick bounced back strong and won the 4 straight games to close out the series. He posted the second best GAA amongst starting goaltenders (1.58) and was sensational again. He'll look to keep rolling.
8) I'm Pro-Niemi
Let me get you in on a little something.
Antti Niemi is, perhaps, the best playoff goalie in today's NHL.
He built this up quietly but look at his stats.
He has a 29-19 playoff record and has won 7 out of his 9 playoff series, including a Stanley Cup win. Another stat, and most alarming, is his 11-2 playoff OT record.
Antti Niemi doesn't startle you with saves or performance. He just gets the job done.
9) The Los Angeles Kings Looked Like the Los Angeles Kings
In a close first round series (which I wrote about here), the Kings had to battle to get control of games. However, there were times that they would just, how do I say it, take over.
There were glimpses in that first round when the Kings showed the team that only lost 2 games in the first 3 rounds. Glimpses of the team that won it all and brought the Stanley Cup to LA. But whenever it showed, it would just die down, stopping at two goals. If the Kings want to beat their rivals, they MUST show this side more often.
Prediction:
It's all going to depend on what team we see out of the Kings. If we get the team that I described in number 9, they should win this series. If we see the underachieving 6 seed, the mighty San Jose' squad will win this one with ease. Quick will be on his game, I'm sure and I honestly think it's going to come down to which offense gets going.
And few have looked better than the Sharks
Sharks in Seven
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