2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round Picks

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #5 Tampa Bay Lightning

Unlike Round 1, the Capitals face a team that has the guns to match their scoring ability.  Alexander Ovechkin didn't dominate the Rangers and needs to step up his game if he wants to lead his team to the next level.  The old vet Dwayne Roloson is playing well in net for Tampa, and combine his production with young Steven Stamkos', the Lightning will be a very tough out.  I like the Caps a little more, but this should be a fun series.

Prediction: Capitals in 7

#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #3 Boston Bruins

Another exciting series, this is as gritty as it gets.  Each team's identity is built on its toughness.  Expect the gloves to drop early and often.  In terms of who actually wins the series, I like the Flyers' goal scorers a lot more than Boston's, but I like Philly's goaltender situation a lot less.  The Flyers were my Eastern Conference pick going into the playoffs so I won't pick against them now, but an upset is all to easy to imagine.

Prediction: Flyers in 6

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #4 Nashville Predators

The Canucks already cleared their toughest hurdle en route to the Western Conference Finals.  By beating their playoff rival Chicago Blackhawks, the tension should let up a little in Vancouver, and the Canucks should dispatch Nashville with ease.  I'm still asking myself, "How did the Predators make the playoffs?"  Earning the #4 seed is a whole other mind boggler.

Prediction: Canucks in 5

#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #3 Detroit Red Wings

The Sharks didn't blow me away like they did last season, whereas the Red Wings have constantly surprised.  Detroit is playing very well right now and was the only team to sweep its first round series.  I'm going with Hockeytown.

Prediction: Red Wings in 5

--from Eric

2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: First Round Picks

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 New York Rangers

This recent group of Washington Capitals, despite how successful they typically are during the regular season, consistently struggles in the playoffs.  Maintaining defensive intensity has always been the Caps' Achilles heel and will likely be their undoing again this postseason.  The other issue I'd like to bring up though is Alexander Ovechkin.  When a team is built around one player, like the Caps are with Ovechkin, they become much easier to stop over a seven game series—when a defense can gameplan and really focus on shutting down that one player—than in the regular season when they are just one game on the schedule.  Now, even though I'm not high on the Capitals' chances the rest of these Stanley Cup Playoffs, I don't think the Rangers have enough firepower to pull off the upset just yet.

Prediction: Capitals in 5

#2 Philadelphia Flyers vs. #7 Buffalo Sabres

The Flyers are probably my pick for Eastern Conference champions, so I say they get the train rolling here with a quick sweep.

Prediction: Flyers in 4

#3 Boston Bruins vs. #6 Montreal Canadiens

Goals should be tough to come by in this series as both teams are top-10 in the NHL in goals against.  I give the edge to Boston who has a better group of goal scorers than does Montreal.  Plus, Tim Thomas led all goalies this season in both goals against average and save percentage.

Prediction: Bruins in 6

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Tampa Bay Lightning

Even though they will be without Sidney Crosby this series, I'm going to go with playoff experience and pick the Penguins to beat the Lightning. 

Prediction: Penguins in 7

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Chicago Blackhawks

This is the same Canucks team that lost to the Blackhawks in each of the past two postseasons, but these aren't the same Blackhawks that won the Stanley Cup last year and went to the Western Conference Finals the year before that.  If the Canucks do choke again this year, it won't be in the first round.

Prediction: Canucks in 6

#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #7 Los Angeles Kings

Speaking of choke artists...

Prediction: Kings in 6

#3 Detroit Red Wings vs. #6 Phoenix Coyotes

This is a rematch of the most exciting matchup from last year's first round, which the Red Wings won in seven.  I expect good hockey once more, but I don't think the results will be much different.

Prediction: Red Wings in 6

#4 Anaheim Ducks vs. #5 Nashville Predators

If that last matchup was the most exciting, this one might be the least.  Only in the Capitals-Rangers matchup did two opposing playoff teams score fewer goals this season.  (The Capitals and Rangers combined for 457 while the Ducks and Predators combined for 458.)  I have no idea who'll win, but I gotta pick somebody.

Prediction: Predators in 7

--from Eric

Notes from Lord Stanley

After a thrilling six-game series, the Chicago Blackhawks have won the Stanley Cup by overpowering their undermatched opponents, the Philadelphia Flyers.

Stanley Cup Final Preview

We've been going at these playoffs for a month and half (or forever) and we're finally here. Lord Stanley's Cup. And what a matchup: Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers

the hardware