The full predictions from last time are a bit too long to repost, so I'm just going to extract the important parts for this 2nd round playoff prediction review.
The Montreal Canadiens' magical run continues. Game 7 started badly for the Pittsburgh Penguins and didn't get much better. The Penguins looked like a tired and worn-down group, as if the last 24 months of non-stop hockey might have finally caught up to them. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin received the Ovechkin treatment and were completely shut down by a committed Habs "D"; Marc-Andre Fleury looked shaky at the best of times, and downright terrible at the worst. Montreal wins in 7.
2. Boston vs. Philadelphia: Injuries will be a factor: Philly's key contributors Simon Gagne and Jeff Carter are still on the injury list, while Marc Savard makes his triumphant return to the Boston lineup after taking a brutal blind-side hit from Matt Cooke on March 7th. This is going to be a tough, tough series. Look for Milan Lucic and the entire Flyers team to fight each other at least twice. Boston must get to Boucher early. If they can produce as much offence as they did in round 1, and have Tuukka Rask continue to play sublimely, then they should be able to handle Philly. Boston in 6.
The Boston Bruins decided that making their fans suffer through a blown 3-0 series lead was not quite enough, so they subjected the Bruins faithful to further torture by squandering a 3-0 game 7 lead as well, making history in the process. Game 7 for the Bruins was a microcosm of their entire series - in the beginning, they received timely offence from their role players, but in the end, they failed to finish off a desperate Philly team who was down-and-out. Simon Gagne, who scored the OT winner in game 4 to keep the Flyers alive, notched a resounding series winner with 7:48 left to go in the 3rd period of game 7, crushing the hearts of Bruins fans everywhere and totally messing up my 2nd round prediction count. Philadelphia wins in 7.
3. Detroit vs. San Jose: the Sharks will get blown out of the water if they continue to rely on secondary scoring from Joe Pavelski and get as little production as they did from Heatley, Thornton, and Marleau against Colorado. Detroit displayed their veteran resiliency and skill last round, and I think they're going to be able to maintain that same heart and ability to perform in big moments. The simple fact is, Detroit's superstars can show up while San Jose's can't. Nevertheless, it's going to be close. Detroit in 7.
So...I was a little off on this one *cough*. San Jose's superstars finally decided to appear, and not just appear halfheartedly but with energetic, committed play. All of Joe Thornton's annual no-show playoff performances were (just about) forgotten with his series winning goal in game 5. Pavelski-itis must be contagious. The Red Wings seemed tired, like a team who had made one long playoff run too many. Time for some well-deserved rest. San Jose wins in 5.
4. Vancouver vs. Chicago: Sorry Van fans, this is going to be a close one, but the Hawks play Vancouver as well as anyone in the League. Chicago's quick and skilled young forwards will ultimately get the better of a shaky Vancouver defense. Keys to Vancouver eking this one out: (1) Luongo outduels Niemi to the point of total pwnage, and (2) the Canucks continue to get consistent all-around scoring from three lines. The defence you can't do anything about. I want to be proven wrong on this one, but: Chicago in 6.
As Roberto Luongo goes, so too do the Canucks, and his moments of mediocrity far outweighed his moments of brilliance. The Chicago Blackhawks were better in almost every facet of the game. Their forecheck was relentless and Jonathan Toews was uncontainable. They were patient when they had to be. Antti Niemi didn't have to be spectacular, just solid. Thus ends another chapter in the Vancouver Canucks' underachieving and unremarkable history. Chicago wins in 6.
In other news, a fan tries to sell the "sulking, belligerent, and grossly over-rated" Roberto Luongo on craigslist.com. For how much? That depends. Can you outbid payments of $64 million over 12 years?
So I went a stellar 1/4 this round. I take solace in the fact that Bob McKenzie went 0-4. Now we're getting down to the nitty gritty. Can Montreal keep their miracle season alive? Can San Jose finally redeem themselves after years of underachievement? Will we get to see more of Patrick Kane's mullet? And will we ever, ever see a second round playoffs like we just have?
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