“Whoa!!! We’re half-way there!!!”
And the Sharks, Canucks, Bruins, and Lightning are all livin’ on a prayer. The four teams are eight short wins away from hoisting the Cup in a few weeks. All four possibilities for the finals are very interesting. After all, we could have a chance for Vancouver to avenge Calgary’s loss from seven years ago, Thornton vs. the Bruins, an EA Sports Simulated Vancouver-Boston finals, or the first all Sun Belt showdown. But before we get there, we’ve got some interesting hockey to witness.
Gaining one point for Boston’s win, and two for correctly calling Vancouver six game struggle, bringing his total to 9 (and all but clinching last place) is the owner of this blog, Glen!
Glen Says: After the first three games of the second round, I was rather disappointed. I mean, we had just came off of the best 1st round that I can remember, and the 2nd round in the last two years has been stellar. Yet, here we were with the Lightning shocking the Capitals out in four games, and the Bruins redeeming themselves against the Flyers, while the Sharks sat up 3-0 against the Red Wings (again) and the Canucks were sitting pretty with a 3-1 lead and building momentum. But just when you get comfortable you can always count on the Western Conference to shake things up, the Wings and Preds really turned things up and it made for some compelling games with a huge amount of intrigue. Granted, they both lost, but they at least made it entertaining
Next up is the man that gained 3 points for the exact same predictions is the Afghani Awesomnicity, Troy!
Troy Says: Well that was an interesting round wasn’t it? After the first 4 four games in each series there appeared to be a decent chance that 3 of the 4 series would be sweeps and the other would only go 5. Fortunately though Nashville put up some fight against Vancouver and San Jose did what they do in the playoffs and gave us a series. I have to admit I was pulling for Detroit in game 7 for no other reason than to laugh. So in summary a second round that started out as a big yawn ended up rather intriguing. Hopefully this round will have us on the edge of our seats the whole way through. Lets bring on round 3!
Stop the presses! Jeff went 1-4! Only predicting Vancouver’s 6 game win correctly, bringing his total to 12.
Jeff Says: Well….I hope everyone elses 2 round picks went better then mine lol…..what a gongshow…..not only did my picks turn out terrible…but it spelled then end for my run at winning the $150 playoff hockey pool at work…..so close…but so far away…..one more round with phili and washington and i had a great shot at it….especially with vancouver also moving on…so sad….but oh well…that is playoff hockey…i bet on the wrong horse (washington and phili) again…..but sweeps?? really??? just brutal…..anyways….Vancouver made me proud and avoided the heart wrenching game 7 stuff which was nice…..hopefully a rest will have them ready to go against a tough team next round…..
And next up is the one that went 2-4, and was the only one who predicted Tampa and San Jose to move on. He nearly looked like a genius predicting the Sharks sweep as well! With a total of 12 points and 10 correct series predictions is…THE COIN!!!!!
EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
Glen Says: While this is far from the sexiest match-up it is certainly interesting. Both of these teams struggled in the early goings of the first round but have since kicked it up into high gear and come into this series on fire. The Lightning have won 7 in a row, and the Bruins have taken 8 of their last 9 games. Both of these teams have great forwards, solid defense, fantastic coaches, and stellar, aging goaltenders. I expect this to be tight series in every sense of the word. As much as I love the way Tampa is playing right now, I think that the Bruins won’t be denied.
Boston in 6
Troy Says: Well this is definitely not a conference final anyone expected. The fact that Boston is here is no surprise but who the hell saw Tampa coming? They grinded out a tough 7 game series with a deep Pittsburgh team and then simply destroyed the Capitals in 4 in the second round. I definitely did not see that coming but then again it is the Caps. Is Tampa this year’s cinderella team? My guess is no. Boston took a few games to get going against Montreal but since then they have been almost unstoppable and I believe this could be their year. Their depth has really come into play and the big guy is carrying them. Timmy Thomas has been excellent and because of that I believe the Bruins will still be playing in June.
Bruins in 5.
Jeff Says: I don’t even know how to pick this one…..Tampa is playing way above their heads right now…and the strength of Roloson…..well….obviously the scoring is doing well…but, Rolo is giving them a chance every game……Boston has Timmie T and a host of hard nosed players….i tend to put my money on hard nosed….as that is playoff hockey…..and Boston has Chara who will no doubt see duty against St.Louis and co., so I think i am giving my edge to Boston here in this one. I like tampa’s players but, also would rather see a non southern states team not in the finals. Even though I am torn….
Boston wins in 6
Coin Says: Tampa in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks
Glen Says: Weird stats favour both of these teams. Since 2007, every Cup winning team made it at least to the Conference Finals the year before; San Jose is the only team still playing that made it this far last year. Montreal hosted the Olympics in ‘76, the Habs won the Cup in ‘77, Calgary hosted the Olympics in ‘88, won the Cup in ‘89. Vancouver hosted the Olympics in ‘10….think about it.
Unlike the East, both of these teams seem like they sort of fell into the Conference Finals. The Sharks were a few bounces away from replacing last years Bruins as the biggest chokers ever, while the Canucks are here thanks to Ryan Kesler and nobody else. The Sedins have been invisible since Game 3 of the Chicago series, and Loungo has been good, but he hasn’t really stolen any games. Both of these teams have big reputations for chocking and really want to shake that. I like this match-up for Vancouver, especially once their forwards wake-up. Because really, how embarrassing would it be for Daniel and Henrik to be out performed by Thornton and Marleau in the playoffs?
Vancouver in 6
Troy Says: Well I have to say that so far I have been rather underwhelmed by both Vancouver and San Jose. San Jose barely squeaked by a good Detroit team but no matter what they do I am never impressed with the Sharks in the playoffs. I won’t be impressed with the Sharks until they win it all. As for Vancouver, as Glen quite correctly points out Vancouver is where they are because of Kesler and no one else. The Sedins have been pretty much invisible and Luongo has been adequate at best. This is not a team that is firing on all cylinders and since these playoffs started I just didn’t feel that Vancouver had testicular fortitude to make it all the way. If they were playing any team other than San Jose I would be picking them to lose but fortunately for them they are playing a team which has become synonymous with choking so for me it’s a tough call. At least San Jose has been to the 3rd round in the last 7 years whereas Vancouver hasn’t been this far since they lost game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in 1994. I’m going to go with my heart, and against my better judgement, and pick Vancouver in this one. I think Vancouver’s best players are better suited to pick it up this round.
Vancouver in 7
Jeff Says: Kesler!!! Wow, what can I say…the guy is awesome….and to think years ago Phili almost had him via an offer sheet…..what a move it was to match that salary…Kesler was young and had not been fully developed…in fact, i remember thinking, who is this guy….now I see why they kept him…..easily the MVP right now for Vancouver….in fact….there is no other choice……he is playing so well that now teams will be putting their shut down group against him…instead of the Sedin’s…..which works out well for them….San Jose is a great team, but still needs to prove they can get over that hump. I think Vancouver can out play them….but this series could go either way and I really want either of these two teams to take it all. Still though….gotta go with the Canucks…..Sedin’s are gonna get going in this one…I can feel it.
Vancouver wins in 6
Coin Says: San Jose in 5
Let’s see how this all goes now!!!
Until next time,
G
Tags: Hockey, Laying it on the line, Stanley Cup
