Second Round Predictions

Before we get to my Stanley Cup Semifinals predictions, let's do a little revisiting with my first-round Stanley Cup Predictions:

Boston in five over Montreal (Boston swept 4-0)
Caps in six over Rangers (went seven)
Carolina in six over the Devils (also went seven)
Flyers in seven over Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh won the series)

Sharks in five over the Ducks (Ducks won and Sharks choked)
Red Wings in five over Columbus (Detroit rolled over the Jackets)
Canucks in five over the Blues (whooped up on them too)
Calgary in six over the Blackhawks (Chicago advances)

So, what does this prove? Not a whole heck of a lot. Many of the other alleged experts have similar won-loss records in this fickle prediction game. Last year I surprised myself at how well I did because usually I am about at the 50% level.

If you're Gary Bettman this morning, you're pretty happy. The matchup between the Ovies and The Genos (or Crosbies if you like) is the greatest matchup that they could have hoped for in the second round. Those faint cheers you hear are coming from Stamford, CT at the studio used for the great NHL on VERSUS studio show. What a perfect matchup to showcase the tedium and sheer lack of excitement from Bill Patrick and Company.

Actually, with Brian Engblom as part of the cast, you have no choice to be as bland as hot ham water. I don't think they need to panic on a "let's hire Dennis Miller to be on Monday Night Football"-kind of way, but they do need to liven it up. Even Keith Jones, who always seems like he want to be more fun, shrinks like a little man in cold water sitting next to he Human Cliché Machine.

Anyway, back to the predictions for Round Two...

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Bruins (1) vs. Hurricanes (6)--A classic Whalers-Bruins series? Hardly. The Bruins have been waiting forever to find out who they'd be playing so expect some rust in the first game or two. Still, I see the Bruins going on to the conference finals. Bruins in six.

Capitals (2) vs. Penguins (4)--I guess the first thing to consider is that we are really going to find out if the makeup between Ovechkin and Malkin was real or just for photographic purposes.

The Capitals were disappointing while getting by the Rangers. Were they bored? Were they thinking too much of themselves? Or did the Rangers find something they could exploit to slow down the Washington offense?

Penguins in seven. I want this to go seven games. Pittsburgh has been playing a much better team game since Dan (Interim no more) Bylsma became the coach.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Red Wings (2) vs. Ducks (8)--This one tricks me like none if the others. The Ducks just knocked off the Sharks and now no one will ever want Joe Thornton to do anything after mid-April again. Seriously. If he buys lottery tickets, he may as well stop once April hits because he ain't winning anything.

The Red Wings are the Red Wings. The Ducks are surprising this spring after underachieving this past regular season. Is Osgood better than Jonas Hiller? I'm not so sure. Ozzie fought the puck all season and he's been facing questions all year.

The first impulse is to go with the experience...and the Wings have it...but then again, the Ducks won the Stanley Cup just a couple of years ago. Ah, hell: Detroit in seven.

Canucks (3) vs. Hawks (4)--Heart says Chicago and Patrick "Nobody dates my sisters" Kane. Head says Vancouver. Wildly inconsistent Khabibulin vs. Pretty darn good Roberto Luongo. That settles it: Canucks in six.