The NHL kinda got what it wanted when it changed the playoff format to this whole division-based thing. Three of the four conference semifinal series are between rivals, one of which is the longest rivalry in the game (Boston-Montreal) and another of which is the first-ever playoff meeting in a budding rivalry between two teams that share a city (Kings-Ducks). And I will give them that. We're gonna have some fun watching these four series over the next two weeks.
Bruins-Canadiens: Another chapter in this classic rivalry. And you know these two were getting antsy to play after both sitting around for a week (then proceeding to go into double overtime in Game 1). They were also, by far, the two most impressive teams of any in the first round. The winner here probably goes to the finals.
I can see this one going the distance. Two good teams that hate each other meeting in the playoffs. I hope it goes seven. The differences are very slight, but important. Boston is arguably the best team in hockey. Carey Price led the Canadians to an Olympic gold medal, and he might be the key for the Canadiens in the playoffs. I'm not sure Montreal has the offense to outscore Boston four times. Which means they're going to need Price to steal at least one. Game 1 might've been that game, but I highly doubt that'll be the only time the road team wins in this series. If we get to Game 7, though, it'll be the home team that comes out on top. Bruins in seven.
Penguins-Rangers: Here's the thing about this series: If Pittsburgh were going against any other team, it would be a slam-dunk call to predict a Penguins victory. But against the Rangers? Different story. The Rangers went 2-1-1 against the Penguins this season and are not at all intimidated by Pittsburgh. They know they can skate with them.
There's one other area that always needs to be taken into consideration when talking about the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs, as well. Marc-Andre Fleury isn't a good goalie. They're not going to win the Cup with him in net. The Penguins may have Malkin and Crosby and all those great scorers, but at the most important position, the Rangers have the clear advantage. And we saw that Penguin offense completely disappear last season against the Bruins in the conference finals. If that happens again and the Rangers get just enough offense, Lundqvist will take care of the rest.
With all that being said, though, I do think Pittsburgh will win the series. The Rangers don't know how to make life easy on themselves in the playoffs. For some reason, they really like seven-game series. That can have quite an impact on you, especially as the playoffs wear on. And the big difference with this series is that Game 7 won't be at Madison Square Garden. Even with a terrible goalie and an overrated offense, that extra couple days of rest and home ice advantage will make a difference. Pittsburgh will win a dogfight. Penguins in six.
Blackhawks-Wild: Clearly that No. 3 seed in the division made no difference to Chicago. The Blackhawks are a playoff-tested team and rose to the occasion against St. Louis. My expectation was that Chicago would win that series, then knock off whoever came out of that Avalanche-Wild series. Chicago's simply the best team in the Central Division. That hasn't changed.
Great job by Minnesota to win four of the last five against Colorado. I have no idea who the Wild's starting goalie is, but evidently that doesn't matter. It will against the Blackhawks, though. Chicago is a better offensive team than Colorado. Fortunately, Minnesota's a good enough offensive team to hang with them. Not enough to win the series, but the Wild are definitely a team on the rise. Blackhawks in six.
Ducks-Kings: How long until the Sharks fire Ron Wilson? Nothing against the Kings, but the Sharks are a much better team, and LA didn't win that series because of anything Jonathan Quick did. San Jose simply fell apart. Someone has to take the blame for San Jose's breakdown (the latest in a long line of playoff failures), and I think it's got to be the coach.
Anyway, moving on to the playoff series all eight hockey fans in Southern California have been waiting 15 years for. I think the Kings' playoff experience over the last two years had a lot to do with their comeback over San Jose (not as much as the Sharks falling apart, but that's a different story). They already beat one team that's more talented than they are, and it wouldn't be a complete surprise to see them do it again. Except I don't think that's going to happen. The Ducks have been on a mission ever since losing in seven to the Red Wings last season. They're the better team, but, as we saw in the Kings-Sharks series, that isn't necessarily the most relevant fact. What is relevant, however, is that the Ducks ain't letting themselves lose to the Kings. This isn't just to advance in the playoffs. This is for SoCal supremacy. Ducks in five.
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