NHL Playoffs – 2nd Round

Montreal vs Boston I rooted for Boston but knew Montreal was going to win.  What I didn’t know was that it would be a fantastic seven game series and the Bruins would look like a team who could do some post season damage in the next year or so.  Even though my Bruins lost, I’m really pleased with the fight they put up.  Game six was the best hockey game I’ve watched in a very long time.

Pittsburgh vs Ottawa was a no brainer.  Ottawa made the playoffs based on their fantastic start to the season, but they were suckville at the end and Pittsburgh destroyed them.  That’s two I picked correctly.

Washington vs Philadelphia I got wrong.  I picked the Caps based on their unreal stretch drive, but they just couldn’t keep it going long enough to get past Philly. 

New Jersey vs New York.  I hate the fucking Rangers almost as much as I hate the fucking Canadians.  That makes me 2-2 in the East.

Detroit vs Nashville.  Nashville, like Boston, put up a good fight.  They had no business being in that series with the Red Wings, but they managed to grab a couple of games and put the fear of the Hockey Gods into Detroit.  Still, there was no way Detroit would lose this in the end… just like Montreal.

San Jose vs Calgary.  Hey Sharks, can we just play the way we’re supposed to play for a change and use all those great players and just blow the hell out of the weaker teams?  Can you please stop with the whole letting the other team stay close thing?  I mean, thanks for winning and all.  The last time I picked you in a series you lost.  At least this time I can put you in the correct prediction column.  I still think you can win it all this year.

Minnesota vs Colorado, can I pick the upset or what?  Okay, so I was wrong a couple of times picking non-upsets, but the one upset I went with came to be.  Thanks Avs.

Anaheim vs Dallas.  This one surprised me.  I thought the Ducks would take this easily but Dallas kicked their ass.  I guess repeating really is the hardest thing to do.

So lets tally the results for round one.  Five right and three wrong.  I’m still on the plus side of 50%, but that’s still not terribly good.  Over the last couple of years I’ve done really well in the first round and really, really bad in the second round.  (two years ago I think I went 0 for 4.)

Which brings me (finally) to the second round:

Montreal vs Philadelphia:  Montreal again.  I feel disgusting saying that.  I think I’ll go wash my mouth out with soap.  I hate Philly too, but I’ll be rooting for them this time.  They are just too slow to hold off the Canadians.  The only chance they have is to get to Carey Price, and judging by the way he performed in game seven against Boston I’d say there’s little real chance of that.

Pittsburgh vs New York:  The Penguins all the way… and not just because I hate the fucking Rangers, but because Pittsburgh is probably the best team left.  I will say I’m interested to see how they do against an opponent who actually shows up to the games, unlike Ottawa.  The Rangers will be more of a challenge, but I don’t think they have a prayer against the Penguins.

Detroit vs Colorado:  I can’t wait to see if Roy and Osgood have another center ice goalie fight for the ages.  Will Claude Lemieux get what’s coming to him after that Draper incident?  Oh wait… it’s 2008… sorry for living in the past.  Still, these teams have a history of really hating each other’s guts and there have been some epic games between them over the years.  I think I’m sticking with my underdogs in this one.  Detroit and San Jose have both developed a reputation for choking after round one, and even though I am sure Detroit will dismantle Colorado, I am going to pick the Avalanche again. 

San Jose vs Dallas:  I am nervous.  I picked San Jose to go all the way again and now we come to the second round… the round they’ve choked in each of the last two seasons.  And they get to play Dallas who looked really good spanking the reigning champs around.  Not to mention the amount of trouble the Sharks had with the Flames…  I’m nervous… But I’m sticking with my team and picking the Sharks to win this one. 

So there are my 2nd round pics.  I feel another 0 for 4 coming on!  YEAH!