2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs Round 2

            So far, so good. The only real shocker from the first round was Ottawa’s dismantling of the Canadiens in five. Games get tougher to call as you travel deeper into the wilderness that is the Stanley Cup playoffs.

            And with that, we cease the yappin’ and get down to the slappin’.

Eastern Conference

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS (1) VS. OTTAWA SENATORS (7)

Well I totally struck out on the Canadiens squeaking by Ottawa; hell, it wasn’t even close. After watching how confident Ottawa looked defensively and how easy it was to dominate a team that was built to be a bruising, rough draw, one has to wonder if they don’t actually have what it takes to frustrate the Pens into getting out of their game and being vulnerable too.

Yeah but no, Cinderellas are named such not because they look pretty in their sparkly getups but because the clock does eventually strike midnight and everything turns into pumpkins and mules. The Penguins are just too strong and are probably going to the finals; it would take an epic collapse for that not to happen. Or their goaltending to fail. So far, Vokoun has stepped in for the struggling Fleury and has been the hot hand but making a deep cup run without a sure thing in goal is a tall order. Even then, I still don’t know if the Sens have the firepower to keep up with Pittsburgh on the scoreboard. They’d need Craig Anderson to continue being a stud in goal for one as Pitts’ most notable strength is their ability to put the puck in the net from any line at any time. The Sens could benefit from using the Karlsson injury (at the skates of Matt Cooke, of course) to their mental advantage.

Pittsburgh are older, sluggish and have a questionable goaltending situation but their veteran gamesmanship, elite talent and depth should be enough to get to the next level.

Penguins in 6

BOSTON BRUINS (4) VS. NEW YORK RANGERS (6)

Instant classic. New York vs. Boston. Original Six. Haven’t battled in the postseason since 1973. Blue-collar, fresh-off grueling seven gamers, they get to get all up close and cozy here. The Rangers demolished the Caps in their clincher, an indicator that a) the edge they had going in (their grit and grind and epic goaltender) is going to be their calling card and b) that their offense might be waking up again as they try for a second straight Conference Finals appearance. While the Rangers ran away with it late in the series, the Bruins needed a total Leafs meltdown and a blown 4-1 lead in game seven to advance after losing both games five and six. They won’t pull that sort of comeback on Lundqvist who right now is likely the best keeper in the playoffs. And he’s on fire – two straight clean sheets. It also doesn’t help Boston that New York is getting some of its scoring done on its third and fourth lines and if their studs were to get untracked, it could get messy for Rask.

To their credit, the Bruins are tougher defensively and while Rask is shaky in goal in comparison to the dude across the pond, he might be stout enough to where he frustrates a Ranger attack that, at times this season, just couldn’t get the light to go on despite all their scoring talent. Nash still hasn’t gotten on the board, Richards has only a goal and Callahan barely got his first contribution in game seven. It isn’t for lack of effort as the shots have been there but it has been other guys stepping up. If the big horses wake up, watch out.

Rangers in 6

Western Conference

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (1) VS. DETROIT RED WINGS (7)

Oh this is every Hawks and Wings fan’s wet dream. We live for this rivalry so don’t let the seeding fool you; as deep, balanced and talented as the Blackhawks are, the Red Wings are going to show up to play. They were able to get past second seeded Anaheim by working hard up and down the lines and showing resolve in weathering several storms when it seemed the ice had completely tilted in favor of Anaheim. I may be a homer with this pick but make no mistake, the only way the Wings come out of this one is Howard must be huge in net (which he was against the Ducks for most of the series save a couple of defensive meltdowns in front of him that led to flurries of scores late in periods), they’re going to need the same balanced effort from all four lines in staying active and skating hard, and they’re going to need their studs Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Franzen to continue to be amazing.

That may be too much to ask. The Blackhawks top line is possibly the best in the NHL and they have more talented depth behind them than the Wings do. Crawford was kinda tested by Minnesota but their offensive firepower was not enough to really challenge him. Truthfully neither really is Detroit’s who are hardly the goal-scoring juggernaut we’re used to seeing but they do have at least two lines that can score at an elite level.

That may still be too much to ask. The Hawks owned the Wings this season in four head to head matches, winning all four albeit three of them in OT (two on shootouts). All three of the OTL’s were tightly contested and exciting games so it isn’t as though the Blackhawks have dominated them in the actual play on the ice (although the fourth loss was a 7-1 drubbing at home). My brain is telling me Chicago has this one locked up. But there’s no way I’m picking against my boys.

Red Wings in 7

LOS ANGELES KINGS (5)VS. SAN JOSE SHARKS (6)

The battle for the Golden State begins tonight. Anybody who’s been in California long enough, originally or transplanted, knows that for all intents and purposes Northern California and Southern California are separate entities politically, culturally and topographically. It is also no secret that each respective region’s populations have a disdain for the other in all matters sports-related. In other words, expect the Shark Tank to be bellowing the age-old warcry “BEAT LA!” every time the action calls for it.

As for the hockey itself, look for the Sharks who breezed through the first round to continue to revel in the first post-season in a long time where they are not saddled with the pressure of being favorites or contenders. This time around, in a shortened season that saw a transformation in their offensive identity after years of shot expectations, the Sharks made the playoffs at a modest six seeding and quietly dispatched of the Canucks in no time. The Canucks are a total wreck but the Sharks have to like this new role they find themselves in. On the other hand, the Kings are very squarely on the radar unlike last year when they shocked the world. The Kings and Sharks split the four head to head games this year with the home team always coming out on top meaning the Kings getting the head start in LA is huge and might dictate the pace of the series even if it goes the distance which I expect it to. The Kings are faster, more physical and will look to take advantage of San Jose’s history of folding when pushed around. However, San Jose is the tougher team defensively and is hard to beat at home. Both Quick and Niemi are going to be beast in net.

It'll come down to a couple of things. The Sharks are historically a team that when physically punked, get frustrated and don’t dig deep enough and as a result have never made it to the finals. The Kings are the champs and know how to push those kinds of buttons but have to be concerned about their own vulnerability in special teams situations and the matter of having only scored 12 goals against the Blues in a six gamer. The cup window is closing for some of San Jose's premier guys. Look for them to play with the urgency that'll give them the edge here.

Sharks in 7

DIG IT.