Well, I've got to say, the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs were a bit of a surprise. They were a surprise in that there wasn't a single upset. Seven of the eight teams with home ice ended up winning the series, with Tampa Bay, Winnipeg and Vegas doing so in dominant fashion.
It means we're in store for a pretty good second round, as well. I'm not sure many people knew how good Winnipeg is. But the Jets are the last Canadian team left standing, and they're going to give the Predators all they can handle. The Golden Knights and Sharks both got sweeps in those Pacific Division series that I think we all expected to be more competitive. Now they've both had a week off. Meanwhile, you've got possibly the two best teams in the league facing off in Rangers South vs. Boston. And, will this be the year Washington finally beats Pittsburgh?
Lightning vs. Bruins: This could be the series that determines who wins the Cup. Because I really do think these are the two best teams. Rangers South is a far superior team to the Devils, and they played like it. They looked every bit like the Cup contenders in the first round. But so did the Bruins. Yes, they needed seven games in their Original Six matchup with Toronto. But if their offense clicks the way it did in Games 2 and 7, they're going to be very tough to beat.
On paper Tampa Bay is the better team. But for them to win, it's going to come down to defense. That's the one area where they have the clear advantage. If they end up in a shootout, though, the advantage swings Boston's way. We've seen how deep the Bruins are offensively. And when it comes to goaltending, I trust Tuukka Rask a little more than Andrei Vasilevskiy. That's where I give the slight edge to Boston. And that's why I think they win the series. Bruins in six.
Capitals vs. Penguins: So they meet again. For the third straight year, it's Washington-Pittsburgh in the second round. The Penguins won each of the first two en route to hoisting the Cup. This despite the Capitals having home ice each time. Last year it went seven, when Pittsburgh won in a shutout. In DC. Although, the Penguins' goalie in that game is now playing in Las Vegas.
All of this is really starting to wear on the Capitals. Although, I think this year might actually be their chance to finally do it. Why? Because no one expects them to. The Capitals felt the pressure of being the favorites and were burdened by it. The cloud of getting Ovechkin past the second round lingered over them. Pittsburgh felt no such pressure. The Penguins just went out and played. That's what the Capitals need to do. Don't put pressure on yourselves. Just go out and play. And, until they beat the Penguins, Ovechkin will have to keep listening about his playoff failures. For some reason, I have a hunch that stops. It'll be a great series. Will the outcome finally be different? I think so. Capitals in seven.
Predators vs. Jets: Nashville looked every bit the President's Trophy winners in that series against Colorado. Yes, the Predators needed six games to get it done. But that shutout in Denver to clinch it was vintage Preds. Winnipeg, meanwhile, took it to a pretty good Minnesota team. I don't think that says anything about the Wild. It simply says how good the Jets are. Patrick Laine is impossible to stop, and that arena full of white shirts is crazy intimidating.
We've got a sensational goalie matchup here. Pekka Rinne vs. Connor Hellebuyk. If one of them gets hot, it could be the difference in the series. Either way, there's going to be at least one game that's decided by one of these guys standing on his head. Especially in a one-goal game, of which I see a few. The Jets are going to be tough to beat in Winnipeg. The Predators are going to be tough to beat in Nashville. It's a good thing for them that they've got home ice, then. Because if this baby goes the distance, that catfish-throwing crowd will pull them through. Predators in seven.
Golden Knights vs. Sharks: I was surprised by what happened in the two Pacific Division first round series. Not that the Knights and Sharks won. But by how much they dominated. Vegas held the Kings to just three goals in four games, although I'm not sure how much of that was Fleury and how much of it was LA's anemic offense. San Jose, meanwhile, looked like world beaters against the Ducks. They dominated Anaheim (who, in fairness, only showed up for about four of the 12 periods played in the series) in every facet of the game and looked very much like the team that made the Final two years ago.
After those sweeps, they've both had plenty of time off, so they're well-rested to say the least. Vegas has been on a magical ride all season, including a four-game sweep in its first-ever playoff series. But these Sharks are a very different opponent than the Kings. San Jose will give the Knights all they can handle and then some. Vegas won three of the four regular season contests, but two games went to overtime and three were decided by one goal. So, basically, there's not much difference between the two. Except for playoff experience. Which the Sharks have. I don't know why, but I think the run ends here. The Knights hit on 15 and bust. Sharks in six.
For the first time in a long time, every team remaining in the second round has a legitimate Cup case to make. This won't be like the first round. No one's overmatched here. Both Eastern Conference series could easily go either way. And I wouldn't be surprised at all to see either Winnipeg or Vegas in the West Final.
What I do know is that we've got four good series on our hands. And all four of them look like they'll be close. Because there isn't much separating these eight teams. That's why they're the only ones left.
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