2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second round predictions

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Pittsburgh Penguins [1] vs. Ottawa Senators [7]
The Pittsburgh Penguins were expected to breeze through the opening round of the playoffs against the New York Islanders. Many expected a four game sweep, with some critics even joking they'd win in three. But the Islanders pushed the Penguins hard, and it took six games for the Penguins to eliminate the Islanders. Ottawa easily supplanted Montréal in five games, largely due to the return of Erik Karlsson. The Senators are hoping for a return from Jason Spezza to increase the likelihood of advancing beyond the second round. Whether or not the Senators can shut down the offensive firepower of the Penguins remains to be seen, however.
Prediction: Pittsburgh in seven games.

Boston Bruins [4] vs. New York Rangers [6]
Boston are hot off of a miraculous comeback in the seventh game of their first round matchup against Toronto. The Bruins were down 4-2 with less than a minute and a half to go in the third period before scoring two goals to put the game in overtime, where they won the game and the series. The Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals in the playoffs for the second straight season (last season, they eliminated the Capitals in the second round as opposed to the first). The Bruins and Rangers face each other in the playoffs for the first time since 1972-73, when the Rangers in five games in the quarterfinals.
Prediction: Boston in six games.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Chicago Blackhawks [1] vs. Detroit Red Wings [7]
Detroit advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in three years following an upset of the Anaheim Ducks in the opening round. They face the regular season's top team, the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round. This will likely be the last time Chicago and Detroit play each other in many years, due to the NHL's realignment that will start during the 2013-14 NHL season.
Prediction: Chicago in five games.

Los Angeles Kings [5] vs. San Jose Sharks [6]
Two California based teams go head to head for the second time in three years. In 2011, the Sharks won against the Kings in the opening round of the playoffs. Both teams have a starting goaltender with a Stanley Cup win. Sharks goaltender Antti Niemi won the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks. Last season, Los Angeles goaltender Jonathan Quick helped the Kings win their first Stanley Cup ever.
Prediction: San Jose in seven games.

Oops. Made my predictions in the other thread...

I also posted in the other thread.

To summarize:

Sharks in 6
Hawks in 5
Penguins in 7
Rangers in 4

Sens @ Pens is already on. 3-1 Pittsburgh after two periods.

Glad to see the confidence you guys have in the Hawks but I have to give the Wings two wins.
I think the Pens do it in 6 too, Crosby is back.
Rangers in 6. Boston depends on their goalie too much.

Hawks lead the Wings 1-0, Bruins lead the Rangers 1-0. Kings are up 2-0 against the Sharks. A tough loss for the Sharks in the second game. Vlasic shoots the puck over the glass two minutes before the end of the game and a 3-2 lead turns into a 3-4 loss.

Penguins are up 1-0 against the Sens and game two starts in about 3,5 hours.

RIght now it looks to be building up to a Pens & Bruins East final and Blackhawks & Kings West final. Coincidentally those four teams are also the winners of the last four Stanley Cups.

Lari wrote:

I also posted in the other thread.

To summarize:

Sharks in 6
Hawks in 5
Penguins in 7
Rangers in 4

Sens @ Pens is already on. 3-1 Pittsburgh after two periods.

GO SHARKS!!!! GO BRUINS!!!

Flippin' Hawks. Man I hate the Wings.

Wow. Ottawa just scored with less than a half a minute to go to force overtime in Game 3!

Dark Horseman wrote:

Man I hate the Wings.

amen

What a gutsy performance by Anderson and the Sens. I'm telling you...Malkin is the best player I've seen in a decade. He does amazing things almost every time he's out there. Lucic = STUD!!

Required Fields wrote:

Wow. Ottawa just scored with less than a half a minute to go to force overtime in Game 3!

Yeah.....that was a kick in the gut. Better luck for the Pens on Wednesday.

SHARKS TIE IT UP!

T-Roy wrote:

SHARKS TIE IT UP!

I actually picked them in 6, I believe. Didn't look too good at the beginning but now ... we'll see.

What got into Boston?

Pittsburgh advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals tonight after defeating the Ottawa Senators 6-2 in the fifth game of the series!

Nice job by the Pens. Took care of business and now onto the next round against the Bruins, more than likely.


2 more big games today with the Bruins/Rangers and Blackhawks/Red Wings (who are surprising everybody by dominating Chicago).

I'm not really surprised, Detroit does this to the 'hawks in the playoffs.

Boston eliminates the Rangers and this sets up a delicious Eastern conference final series between the Bruins and the Penguins.

It's the two best teams in the East, also the last two cup champions to come out of east. They have the underlying season-long arms race between the two teams, the "confirmed" Iginla to Boston deal, , the "traitor" Jaromir Jagr... should be great hockey, too. I can't wait.

In the West, the Hawks are on the ropes but pull out a nice win tonight to make it 2-3 against Detroit. I like the Hawks' odds in a possible game seven, so I think the next game is the deciding one.

Iffy call in that 'hawks Wings game? Seems to be how the series is going.

Dark Horseman wrote:

Iffy call in that 'hawks Wings game? Seems to be how the series is going.

I didn't see the play in question but have been reading a lot of complaining about it. The only thing I can say about it is block the penalty shot and the call is out the window. Regardless, this has been a great series between the rivals.

It has, and technically I think they made the right call. Detroit is kind of whiny.

Nothing iffy about that penalty shot. Frolik was clear of the D, only a blatant slash to the fingers prevented him from getting a shot off.

If anything, the refs not calling interference helped the Wings a lot. With regular season rules, the Hawks should have had about 17 minutes of PP in that first period alone. It was constant and intentional.

Both series' in the West are going the distance. The California teams duke it out tonight, and tomorrow night it's the epic Original Six Midwest rivalry battle to end all battles!

L.A. is a Wings fan tonight. Can't win on the road.

What a strange seventh game that was in the Chicago/Detroit series.

The worst call in the history of NHL hockey as Hjalmarsson scores the game winning goal for Chicago, but it gets waived off because Detroit's Kyle Quincey roughs up Chicago's Brandon Saad by the player benches. Absolute bullshit.

Luckily hockey gods show some mercy and the Hawks win in OT. Dave Bolland with a big hit sets up Brent Seabrook and he moves up to win it for Chicago.

Now I can die.