2011 Stanley Cup Playoff Predictions - Round Two

Allrighty folks…well, the first round is in the books and history has been made, they say.  I think I did pretty good on my predictions, getting 7 of 8 correct.  Of course, some of the lengths of the series were a little off, but still…..the only one I missed was Nashville  taking out Anaheim, but we all knew there was a chance that could happen.  Just didn’t have big enough balls to step up on it.

So, now onto the second round.  Let’s see how we do!

Vancouver Canucks

             Vs.

Nashville Predators

The Canucks had a pretty good scare in round one, which was one of the series’ lengths I did correctly guess.  It went the distance to seven games and then some, creeping into overtime.  I wasn’t sure they were actually going to pull it off, but in the end, Luongo played great and they grew A TON as a team, finally getting the Chicago monkey off their back and overcoming some adversity.  Their confidence has to be huge right now, along with their resolve.  I think they’re going to have a little bit easier times ahead after getting through that series.

Nashville did what everyone thought they could do, and that was bear down, play the system of employing very tight defense and ride outstanding goaltending to a series victory.  It was the first time in their history that the Preds have ever won a playoff series, so kudos to them.  And hey, Anaheim was no lame duck (pardon the pun) to beat.  In the end, though I think Nashville has come as far as they can on that system of theirs.  You need experience in the playoffs to learn how to beat the best teams, and Nashville will be better served next year after learning a lot this year.

Canucks in six

San Jose Sharks

            Vs.

Detroit Red Wings

This is actually a pretty tough series to call.  Big Daisy Thornton finally came through for his team with the series winning goal for round one, so that has to bode well for their chances.  Once he’s rolling, it could be a whole different team.  The expected names came up big with Clowe and Pavelski doing what they do and Niemi seems to holding the net down as well as he did last year on his way to winning a cup.  They have more grit and less spotlight than from years past, so I like the way San Jose can come through.

You must never discount the Detroit Red Wings, who are actually perennial favorites, reminded us of that with a quick and tidy dispatch of the Coyotes in the first round, sweeping them in four games.  Yikes.  This series is going to be all about skill and less about the physical aspects of the game.  I think that will ultimately favor the Sharks.  As skilled as Detroit is, they are getting a little long in the tooth.  Howard is still a goalie that I have a hard time believing can take a team all the way (mind you, I always thought that about Osgood, too).  At least for the western conference, this is the series to watch.

San Jose in seven

Philidelphia Flyers

          Vs

Boston Bruins

Now here’s an eastern series I think we can all get behind. A rematch form last year in which Philly became just the third team in history to come back from being down 3 games to zero.  A massive collapse by the Bruins, to be sure.  And I guarantee you they very well remember how it felt.  The Flyers shook off ridiculously poor goaltending in the first round to scrape by Buffalo by managing to outscore Buffalo’s weak offense.  Here in round two, they still have a shaky goalie situation and are facing much better forwards.

The Bruins took it all the way in round one also, with a game seven overtime win.  Although I believe Philly is deeper up front, Boston has Thomas looking after their net which is a monster advantage over what Philly will have back there.  Pronger is going to be a monster, no doubt…but let’s not forget Boston’s own defensive monster in Chara.  The truth is, I would love nothing more than pick the Flyers for this series…I think they’ve got a more than decent chance to take it.  But alas, at the beginning of the playoffs I chose Boston to make it all the way to the final, so I’m gonna ride that horse.

Boston in seven

Washington Capitals

              Vs

Tampa Bay Lightning

Washington made it through their first round matchup fairly handily against the Rangers, ousting them in five games (another series length I correctly predicted, by the way).  They’re well rested and have got to be firm believers in the system their coach has them playing within by now.  They’re getting it doen with offense, defense, goaltending and grit.  They actually look pretty darn good.  I do however, think that they have some more tests to pass before I’ll be taking them all the way to the Cup Final.

Tampa Bay fought a tough a series.  Tougher than I thought, in fact.  I thought their scoring depth would have zero problems overcoming the Crosby/ Malkin-less Pens, but Pitts burgh proved worthy opponents.  In any case, they made it into the second round and I think are a better team for it.  Too bad for them that they’re facing the Capitals now.  Any other team and I would actually give Tampa a pretty good fighting chance of moving forward again.  And who knows?  Maybe they’ll surprise us with how good they’ve become.  But unfortunately, I don’t think they’re quite at this level yet.

Washington in six