Coming off a night of three game sevens, we finally begin the second round action of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs tonight in Boston.
The #1 Bruins are coming off a series against the Red Wings which they only lost the first game, 1-0. Their opponents were the only team to sweep their series in the first round, the #3 Montreal Canadians. They did so, with the stellar goaltending of Carey Price.
Not to be out done, B’s goalie and Vezina Award finalist, Tuukka Rask has been nearly unstoppable, stopping 146 of 152 shots across five games. His season series against the Canadians; however, is not as pretty. Rask is 1-2-1 against the Habs this year, losing in close games, shootouts, and even got pulled in one of the losses.
There’s no doubt a ton of offensive talent on both sides of the ice. The first line on Montreal of Max Pacioretty, David Desharnais, and Thomas Vanek, is as deadly as a line can get.
Too count out Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Jarome Iginla, and the rest of the B’s offense is crazy.
This series will be lost on defense, which will result in poor goaltending. I don’t see how Andrei Markov, P.K. Subban, and the rest of the Habs defenseman stop the B’s offense.
Series Prediction – Bruins in 5
Staying out east we have the #1 Pittsburgh Penguins coming off their hard fought six game series with the Blue Jackets. They’ll have home ice advantage against game seven winners, the #2 New York Rangers.
This series has all the making to be an upset. It will all come down to one player, Marc-Andre Fleury. If Fleury Plays like he did against the Blue Jackets, and continues his carelessness it will be a quick series for the Penguins.
Have to stick with MAF though, not stepping away from my earlier prediction. I see the Rangers winning a couple games, but the question is can Henrik Lundquvist handle another long series?
If anyone could take out ‘King Henrik’ its Crosby, Malkin, and company.
Series Prediction – Penguins in 7
Heading out west, its a battle of Southern California. Only separated by 30 miles of the I-5, this “Freeway Series” is set to be a good one between the #1 Anaheim Ducks and the #3 Los Angeles Kings. The Kings avoided being swept, and came back in game seven to best the San Jose Sharks.
The Ducks on the other hand took care of the Dallas Stars in six closely contested games.
Jonathan Quick turned the series around, and gave the Kings offense the opportunity to come back and take the series. Quick is 33-24 lifetime with a 2.15 goals-against average, .927 save percentage and eight shutouts in the playoffs.
It’ll be tough for the high-octane Ducks offense to score on that, but through that grueling seven game series, Quick may be a hair slower than usual.
The Ducks have been off since Sunday, and should have the fresh legs and the home ice advantage.
Ryan Getzlaf should be good to go the entirety of the series, and expect Corey Perry, 7 pts, to stay hot.
If Nick Bonino, can continue to score, 3 goals on 12 shots, this series could be all Ducks. (Sauce dime for the assist)
Series Prediction – Ducks in 6
The final series out west took the #4 Minnesota Wild to overtime in game seven, before they advanced to the second round to meet the #3 Chicago Blackhawks.
This is an exact rematch of last seasons quarterfinal where the Blackhawks finished off the Wild in five games.
The Blackhawks dominate the Wild in every category; offense, defense, special teams, and goaltending.
Filled with household names; Toews, Kane, Sharp, and Hossa, there’s a lot of offensive fire power.
Add Norris Trophy finalist, Duncan Kieth, and his defensive crew and this has all the makings to be a short series.
The goalie controversy in Minnesota is one that you can’t have this late in the season.
Either Ilya Bryzgalov, Darcy Kuemper, or both will be fed to the wolves this series.
I’ll give the Wild one game, that’s about all they’ll get from Chicago.
Series Prediction – Blackhawks in 5
Side note: The Wild ruined my perfect bracket with that overtime winner last night.
