We have reached the second of four rounds of the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs and once again there looks to be some outstanding matchups awaiting fans. The first round saw the top two seeds in both conferences advance, but only one accomplished that easily (Pittsburgh). The other three - Montreal, San Jose, and Detroit - had to work hard to advance. The lower seeds won all four matchups in the bottom of the bracket as Philadelphia, New York, Colorado and Dallas all pulled upsets over favorites Washington, New Jersey, Minnesota, and defending champion Anaheim respectively.
Here is this dedicated observing fan's outlook for this round:
EAST
#1 Montreal Canadiens v #6 Philadelphia Flyers - The Habs were sorely tested by a scrappy Boston but put the Bruins away convincingly in game seven. Their firepower, power play, and overall speed on the ice will be enough to overcome the Flyers who upset Washington in the opening round. Philadelphia does not match up as well with the Canadiens, particularly when Montreal is on offense, and the Habs have a definitive advantage in goal. Look for the .....CANADIENS 4-2
#2 Pittsburgh Penguins v #3 New York Rangers - This series promises probably the best second round matchup this postseason. Both teams are loaded with talent and can score often seemingly at will. New York has the edge in goal, but Pittsburgh probably has the better defense. Both teams won rather easily in the opening round, but this series will probably go the distance and be quite entertaining. I will take the upset......RANGERS 4-3
WEST
#1 Detroit Redwings v #6 Colorado Avalanche - The finest and most intense rivalry of the 1990s and very early this decade is renewed with largely a new cast of players on both clubs but a few older players who remember and experienced the heated series that led to five Stanley Cups in seven years between these two organizations. Detroit roared for much of the regular season, but struggled to outlast Nashville in the first round despite evident superiority in all aspects of the game over the Predators. Colorado bested Minnesota in the opening round in a tightly played low scoring physical series. Once again, Detroit seems to have the edge in virtually all the matchups between these two clubs, but the intangibles favor Colorado. The Avalanche will reach back and upend the Wings.....AVALANCHE 4-3
#2 San Jose Sharks v #5 Dallas Stars - The Sharks seriously struggled to outlast a plainly comparatively inferior Calgary Flames squad that not much was expected from, while Dallas clearly exceeded expectations and firmly outplayed the favored Anaheim Dicks in round one. The Sharks are among the most talented and deepest clubs in the league and have yet to meet their promise and potential. Dallas was struggling for the last part of the regular season but stepped it up against the Ducks. The speed and depth of the Sharks will be too much for Dallas to repeat their first round upset, and San Jose also has the edge in goal and defense, but the Sharks won't have it easy.....SHARKS 4-2
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All games but game 1 of the Montreal/Philadelphia series and game 3 of the San Jose/Dallas series will be televised, primarily on Versus with Saturday and Sunday afternoon games on NBC. Wednesday 7 May is latest this round can go to.
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