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I’m not entirely sure how you could
have possibly topped the first round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It had a
little bit of everything. We had players getting suspended for being
undisciplined. We had coaches getting suspended for being undisciplined. We
had four game sweeps. We had seventh heaven (or hell). On a personal note, it
would have been nice to see my favorite team in the mix, win or lose – but as
nerve wracking as it was for those who were cheering for a team now eliminated,
at least now we all can sit back and enjoy the rest of the playoffs – or not.
We are all afforded the right to sit back and not watch too, but you’re missing
out - really.
For the hockey enthusiast, or even the
most diehard of fans, it doesn’t get much better than this – we’re now down to
eight teams, and this is where we’ll continue to separate the men from the boys,
the contenders from the pretenders, and, well, you know. Throw in any cliché
you like – these are the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where anything can happen and
usually does. The longer I continue to analyze this game, the more I realize I
really know nothing – so let’s just roll with it!
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Boston Bruins vs #6 Carolina Hurricanes
I’m still reeling over Game 7 between
Carolina and New Jersey. How on earth did Jussi Jokinen get so open for the
back door play? How did Eric Staal manage to score with 31.7 seconds left
before overtime? As Paul Maurice put it “definitely the right player was on the
ice”. I guess the biggest question is this – traditionally New Jersey has
always had a defense first ask questions later attitude towards the game – and
to a certain extent, they still do – how did they allow a game like this to slip
away so suddenly and without conviction? I’m sure these will be the questions
fans and team brass alike will be asking as we evaluate the season from a New
Jersey standpoint. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, will be just happy to
still be playing. I know of a few people in my office hockey pool who are
breathing a sigh of relief right about now. I, unfortunately, am not one of
them.
It’s only the fourth playoff series
lifetime between these two if you count the Hartford years, and the Bruins have
won the three previous meetings. As I said in round one, Boston is icing their
best team in years, maybe not as good as the teams who faced the Whalers in 1990
and 91, but definitely as tough. The one rub against Carolina is they
historically haven’t fared well when they get down in a series, a trend which,
ironically enough, changed with the last series against New Jersey. It was only
their third seventh game victory in their franchise history, and now they are up
against a much stronger opponent. I’m not led to believe the way the Bruins
have rolled along all season they’d allow this team back into a series too
easily. Then again, if conventional wisdom translated into reality, the
Hurricanes wouldn’t be here either, would they?!
Why Boston should win: Make no
mistake, with all due respect to Montreal, the Boston Bruins have barely
worked up a sweat, while the Hurricanes had to battle 7 tough grueling games
with the New Jersey Devils, in a series that wasn’t decided until the dying
seconds of Game 7, with most games decided by one goal, and most of them decided
late. While New Jersey had Martin Brodeur between the pipes, they did not have
a defenseman who could be considered a real shut down player, which has really
been their Achille’s Heel since Ken Daneyko and Scott Stevens retired and Brian
Rafalski ended up in Detroit. The Bruins have two such players – Zdeno Chara
and Aaron Ward. The little bit of experience Zdeno brings to the table is made
up by Ward’s 3 Stanley Cup rings. You can bet Carolina’s game breaker Eric
Staal will be seeing a lot of the Big Z in the coming nights. One luxury coach
Claude Julien has is he can roll four lines, without having to worry about who
is on the ice. Of the 13 forwards who dressed in round 1, 12 of them found the
scoreboard, led by Michael Ryder and Phil Kessel. I do worry a little bit about
Boston’s ability to play disciplined, which for the most part they were able to
do, but we can’t have another incident like the one Milan Lucic was suspended
one game for. With the games becoming ever more important, nobody needs the
Boston Bruins living and dying on every penalty. Goalie Tim Thomas wasn’t
called upon to be sensational against Montreal, but depending on which direction
this series goes, he will have to be more aware of who’s at the other end of the
ice – 2006 Conn Smythe winner Cam Ward.
How Carolina could win: Do exactly
what they did in Round 1, get the timely scoring from Staal, Ray Whitney and
even Jussi Jokinen. Never give up – proof of this was getting the game tying
and series winning goals with seconds left. In Game 4 against New Jersey, as
controversial as it was, they scored a goal with 2 seconds left in regulation to
tie the series. Paul Maurice was able to match his lines up well against the
Devils, and he’ll have to do it again against a stronger Bruins team if the
Hurricanes have any hope of advancing. A couple of timely fluke goals does not
a Stanley Cup make – they will not be so lucky as to be so wide open late in
games against this team – Boston plays the perfect shut down game, and Carolina
needs to be ready for it.
Regardless of how this one turns out,
prepare for another long one…
Prediction: Bruins in 7
#2 Washington Capitals vs #4 Pittsburgh Penguins
The conspiracy theories have already
started, but make no mistake, the NHL now has the dream matchup they’ve been
waiting for since Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby were drafted. The comparisons
between the two have bordered on nauseating at times – one is the supposed
poster child of the quote unquote New NHL, and the other is the most exciting
player to put on skates since Wayne Gretzky. News flash, in case anybody missed
it, let me clarify – we are almost five years removed from the lockout – we can
hardly call this the New NHL anymore.
Needless to say, regardless whether you’re in the Crosby or Ovechkin camp, or neither,
this series will be a dandy. And with all due respect to the New Jersey Devils
and their fans, did you really want to see a Washington-New Jersey best of 7?
Well, apparently the NHL would like to think not. Personally, after what we saw
between the Devils and Hurricanes I would have said bring it on, but what do I
know?
Why Pittsburgh should win: One word –
depth. I thought the Philadelphia Flyers had more of it, but apparently the
Penguins decided this year was time to build on their experience from last
spring, not regress to the level of, ahem, Calgary. Sidney Crosby, say what you
will, but he willed his team to victory. Evgeni Malkin will continue to get his
points, and will probably shadow Alex Ovechkin. Bill Guerin hasn’t has this
good a playoff in years, and we’re just getting started. How silly was I to
think a less than 100% Philadelphia Flyers would beat this team? Sergei Gonchar
clinched the last series – when was the last time he looked so good (and
healthy!)?
How Washington could win: Use home ice
advantage to their advantage. They fell behind 2-0 to the Rangers in round one,
at home, and had to eventually battle back from down 3-1. Thankfully, 2 of the
last 3 games were at Verizon Center, but the Capitals can ill afford to let
themselves get into a hole against a stronger, faster and more powerful scoring
Pittsburgh team. Personally, I think Henrik Lundqvist was the better
goaltender, but Marc Andre Fleury has actually played like it. Simeon Varlamov,
regardless of how he wants me to pronounce his name, he will need to continue to
stand on his head, because he will be tested and tested often. Washington will
need score and score often. Don’t wait until the dying minutes of the third to
feed the puck to Sergei Fedorov. Against this team, by then it will be too
late. Alex Ovechkin has to be better than 3 goals in 7 games, and enough
skipping practice, OK young man? I can’t really ask more of his play on the
ice, but those pucks have to start going in. The Penguins will not be as
forgiving as the Rangers were – and let’s be honest, the Rangers were distracted
by a number of different things. The Penguins don’t seem to get phased by any
of the mind games both coaching staffs will play. As for Bruce Boudreau, quit
with the smart ass quips about how “the circus is in town”. While it may be
true, it might be time to take the high road, as you never know what might fire
up your opponent. Don’t you know, them’s fighting words!?
Easier said than done – at least
Boudreau was right. This will be a circus from start to finish. If you thought
this matchup got intense during the regular season, just you wait.
Prediction: Penguins in 6
WESTERN CONFERENCE
#2 Detroit Red Wings vs #8 Anaheim Ducks
So, let me just clarify this – it was
inconceivable to think the Columbus Blue Jackets could knock off the defending
Stanley Cup Champions, yet, not so inconceivable to believe the Anaheim Ducks
could knock off the President’s Trophy winners and Stanley Cup favorites? OK,
whatever. Here I go again basing predictions on conventional wisdom. I mean,
it was Detroit’s turn to choke in the first round, wasn’t it? Win 2 straight
Cups, lose in round 2, lose in round 1 two years in a row, win a cup, make the
semi-finals, lose in the first round 2 more years in a row, win a cup? Isn’t
that how it works?
I
guess Detroit has finally figured out
how to win after going all the way. How silly was I again to think they
couldn’t defend their title when they practically have the same team as last
year, plus Marian Hossa? Why couldn’t I have picked the ultimate upset? Oh
well.
Why Detroit should win: For all of the
aforementioned reasons – until the Champs are knocked out, I’m not betting
against them. And let’s face it, they’re just a damn good hockey team, so good,
they’ll put you to sleep at times.
How Anaheim can keep their Cinderella season rolling:
Keep everybody on the same page, keep the top line of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf
and Bobby Ryan together and scoring points. Keep the Niedermayer brothers
happy, keep Chris Pronger happy. Most importantly, stay disciplined. The
Ducks know what it takes to win at this time of year, but I worry about them if
they get into a long series against the one team who can grind it out with the
best of them. Furthermore, I worry if they get into penalty trouble.
San Jose was shooting blanks in round 1. Detroit, quite frankly, did not,
and will not.
Prediction: Red Wings in 7
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs #4 Chicago Blackhawks
They say the time for Roberto Luongo is now.
I’m not so sure he’ll need to take his Canucks team all the way to the promised
land to earn his spot here next February for Team Canada, but if he can at least
backstop his team to the final four it will go a long way to making the decision
easier for whoever chooses the team.
The Vancouver Canucks are in uncharted waters. Until this year, they had
never led a playoff series 3-0, let alone sweep. What’s even more remarkable is
the team they swept – the upstart St. Louis Blues, who looked unstoppable down
the stretch, and looked to make it a long series against Vancouver. Now, if the
Canucks can get past this series, it will only be their third time getting out
of the third round in franchise history. While I like what they’ve done so far,
I see two glaring holes in their lineup – a marquee defenseman, and four solid
lines.
Why Chicago should win: The only player in a defensive position on
Vancouver’s roster I’ve heard mentioned in the same breath as Duncan Keith and
Brent Seabrook is goalie Luongo. Speaking of Team Canada, the team brass are
taking notice to what Seabrook has done in round 1. As for Vancouver, they
will go as far as Luongo will take them, period. They’ve had a long
rest, sure, but they still don’t have the caliber of defenseman as even one of
the aforementioned. They don’t strike as fast in the offensive zone as
Chicago’s front end can, and their goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin has been equal
to the task. Scoring is plentiful with Martin Havlat, Jonathan Toews, Patrick
Kane and Kris Versteeg all finding the net, but, when your energy line, led by
Dustin Byfuglien is scoring, I just can’t see how the Canucks can compete,
unless…
How Vancouver could win: Aside from
the obvious Luongo stealing a game or two, get everybody scoring. Taylor Pyatt
will return to the team after a leave of absence to tend to the untimely death
of his fiancée, but he hasn’t played in almost two months. While we can’t even
begin to imagine what Taylor must be going through, the team is also remembering
one of their own in Luc Bourdon. Witness the celebration by Alex Burrows on the
series winning overtime goal in round one, and it’s easy to see the memory of
Luc is keeping this team together. If the Sedin twins can keep up their torrid
pace, and if they can ever get Mats Sundin going, this could spell trouble for
Chicago. Sundin was brought here for the playoffs – now it’s time for him to
prove he belongs. We will need to also see a lot from Burrows, Ryan Kesler and
company.
After what I’ve seen from Chicago so
far, I think Vancouver will have a long way to go to match their intensity,
speed, and depth. The long layoff after their first round sweep may have helped
on the injury front, but it will take at least half a game for the Canucks to
get their legs back. By then it could already be too late.
Prediction: Blackhawks in 6
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