Half-assed Second round playoff predictions

Eastern Conference

Penguins vs. Canadiens
Congrats GB. While you don't get your dream Crosby-Ovi Eastern Conference final, you're almost assured of Sid the Kid in the Stanley Cup final for a third year running. If Crosby & co.'s play in the first round is any indicator, Pittsburgh has shown that they're ridiculously talented up front, good (but not great) in their own end and able to slack a team three goals and still win. Very impressive. But the first round also showed us that Habs have great goaltending/team defence and an intestinal fortitude that they haven't shown all season. Hal Gill and Josh Gorges would be covered in bruises from all the shot that they blocked (if they were human). It also showed that Marc-Andre Fleury more often then not needs his teammates to bail him out from his far too frequent poor outings. The Pens should take this series, but it won't be a cakewalk.

Penguins in seven


Bruins vs. Flyers
Don Cherry must be proud. The big, bad Bruins are back. The B's were able to pound the Sabres into submission for the better part of six games and have been rewarded with home ice in the second round. But their opponents from Philadelphia know a thing or two about physical play. With the physicality aspect largely neutralized, this series will come down to two factors: goaltending and the health of Marc Savard. I'm still not sold on Brian Boucher as a real starter in the NHL. The Devils weren't the test that I thought they'd be, whereas Boston should give us a better since of Boucher. In contrast, I'm all in on Boucher counterpart in Boston, Tukka Rask. Rask has been solid when asked to start for the Bruins this season and was strong against Buffalo in the first round. With regards to Marc Savard, he's returning from a concussion not a broken bone. If he isn't 100%, the Bruins medical staff should be stripped of their right to practice medicine. Since I believe that they're not complete fools, it's logical to suggest that Savard will be (if nothing else) a huge inspiration push for Boston. And of should step back in as a first line centre.

Bruins in six


Western Conference

Sharks vs. Red Wings
I'm cheating a bit here since San Jose already has a 1-0 lead in this series, but I've been saying San Jose will make the conference finals since the beginning of the post-season. And last night's game helps to prove this belief. Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley finally got their names on the game sheet with a sweet passing play to put the Sharks up 2-0. If they can keep it up and the second line of Pavelski, Setoguchi and Clowe continues its very strong play, San Jose has a chance to shed their reputation of choking dogs in the post-season. But it won't be easy. As evidenced by last night's game, no lead (even a 3-0 lead) is safe against Detroit. The Red Wing are the most battle-tested, veteran laden team in this entire playoff. The core of this squad has won two cups and been to the finals three times. They won't lay down for anyone, especially not a team that has a history of failing in the clutch. But, but, but. If San Jose's top two lines play like they're capable of, I think that Sharks can end that awful run of post-season brain-farts.

Sharks in seven


Black Hawks vs. Canucks
I called the Canucks to fall in previous round. That they won has done nothing to deter me from my belief that they're the most overrated team left. They need Roberto Luongo to play at his best. If he doesn't, there's nothing that their skaters can do. The Canucks are not strong enough defensively to win without a strong performance from Luongo. As for the Hawks, they're the best team left. On offence and defence, they have the best personnel on paper. I know (as do the Washington Capitals) that Stanley Cups aren't won on paper. But the second half of their series against Nashville, the talent clicked to produce some gutty, intense performances. Heck, they were able to tie up game five on a 5-on-5, net's empty situation, finish the PK in the opening minutes of overtime and win it later in the extra period (the irony isn't lost that it was Marian Hossa, the player that was in the box for the end of regulation/beginning of OT). The Hawks are a better team than they were last year when they beat Vancouver without home-ice advantage. It's happening again this year.

Black Hawks in five