Round 2 Predictions (West)

Anaheim Vs.  Detroit

I am highly biased in favor of the Wings, but I will do my best to be neutral in this one.  Anaheim’s got a hot goalie going into this round.  Hiller has played well agaisnt a powerful Sharks offence, the questions is can he keep this up against the Wings.  While the Sharks were a deep team, the Wings are deeper.  As brought out on Tsn last night Hudler and Holmstrom are two of the highest scoring players for their amount of ice time (16 Mins).  In the first round the elite players from the wings Datsyuk (2Pts), Zetterberg (4Pts), and Hossa (4Pts) barely shown what they could accomplish, watch for an emergence in this round.  On the back end Stuart and Kronwall have been playing like first tandum defensemen, while Lindstrom and Rafalski need to step it up.  The wild card in all this is Osgood, can he keep up the play that he has shown against Columbus or not.

Anaheim has spoiled Detroits playoff party in the past to avoid this , the ducks the trio of Getzlaf, Ryan, and Perry have been on fire and are going to have to be contained by the Wings.  Home ice advantage is key as Babcock can put Selke winner and nominee Datsyuk against the top line or go with Selke Nominee Zetterberg’s line.  Either way the Ducks will have to rely heavily on the presence of Pronger (If he could play disciplined) and Niedermayer.  It is also unfair to underestimate the importance of Beauchemain, and Whitney in this series.  Whitney was aquired for Kunitz at the trade deadline and needs to step up his game to show he was worth it.

Prediction Wings in 6. The Wings look too good and are too dominant to lose this series, I took them all the way to the cup so we will see how this plays out.

Chicago Vs. Vancouver

Lets not forget the history these two teams have.  A end of the season brawl in march  between these two teams saw over 80 minutes of penalties given out in one minute.  Leading the way was a good tilt between Bieksa and Eager.

People say that their is no fighting in the playoffs, well this year they are wrong.  This year the playoffs have had everything and don’t expect that to stop tonight when the puck drops in this series.

Vancover’s Luongo has had a stellar series against the Blues, but this series looks to be tougher with all of Chicagos line’s firing it will be a close goaltending battle between him and the Bulin Wall.  The Wall has the experiance and a ring so don’t put him behind Luongo in this series.  The forwards from the Canucks got off the first round easy.  The Sedins haven’t stepped up to this level yet so they need to be even better this round, also where have Sundin and Demitra been.  Sundin was  brought in halfway through the season and hasn’t done much, Demitra started off the season hot but has slowed down.  These two need to pick it up to win this round.  Seabrook and Keith have been the best defensive paring in these playoffs, Bieksa, Ohlund, and Salo will have to work hard to shut down all of the Blackhawks lines

I give the edge to Chicago in this one they will take it in 6. This series will be the most physical of the second round, expect fireworks

Eastern Conferance preview tommorow