Well my predictions sure do suck, huh? I had picks for the Western Final and the Eastern Final as well as two darkhorses from each conference. Half of my picks were wrong. Now I'll make my predictions for the semifinal rounds in each conference! Let's hope I fair better than I did last time.
Penguins vs Senators
I have the Penguins going to the Eastern Final and I won't change that. The Pens have some serious fire power and they'll be able to score goal for goal with any team in the league.The Senators have been a beneficiary of solid play throughout their lineup, but the Pens lineup is way too good. If both teams get 100% from their players, the Pens will still will convincingly. If the Senators win, all fingers in Pittsburgh will point to goaltending. The Penguins goaltending was good enough to beat the Isles, but that's really all you can say about it. Marc Andre Fleury was absolutely pitiful in net at times, and for the amount of talent he has, he'll have to get going for the Pens to make the run that they should be fully capable of making.
Bruins vs Rangers
This series is definitely a toss up. I pick the Bruins for a couple of reasons. The Bruins are a team built for the playoffs, but it took a little while to show it. They've got size and skill throughout, and they've got guys like Brad Marchand that can play with an edge that is very helpful come this time of year. I give New York the goaltending advantage, but the Rangers seem streaky to me. They also have a very talented team, but I have trouble believing that they can sustain a high level of play long enough to hold of the Bruins. This series could easily go to the Rangers, but I think that the comeback that Boston just pulled off in game seven is going to have them feeling like they can do anything. That kind of confidence can take you a long way in the playoffs.
Blackhawks vs Redwings
I have to pick the Blackhawks in this one. You could take into account that the Hawks swept the season series with Detroit, but I won't do that, because that kind of thing doesn't matter in the postseason. I'm picking the Hawks because they've been waiting for a chance to beat Detroit in the postseason. The Hawks were vocal about how upset they were with their level of intensity in the first round, and a battle with detroit is exactly what they need to push them the "next level" that they've been talking about since they beat Minnesota. Detroit has all four lines buzzing, but the Hawks do as well. Crawford has been stellar so far, and Dave Bolland returning to the lineup is something that you can't overlook. Bolland is a playoff performer that makes it his mission to frustrate the other teams offensive guns, and he's very good at it. Detroit is going to bring it physically, but I give this series to the hawks.
Sharks vs Kings
Th Sharks have been incredible thus far in the playoffs. They're getting contributions up and down the lineup and they're physical game is rolling. The Kings aren't going to be intimidated, however. L.A. has a serious edge to their game, and it showed in the first round. They probably endured the most physical series of the playoffs and came out on top. They've got guys that can shoot on every line, and the same can be said for guys that can hit. The Sharks ran away with their first series, but I don't see them pulling that off this time around. The Kings haven't reached their best game yet and the Sharks will draw that desire out of them. I think the physicality that L.A. went through in the first series has put them in a spot to be ready for just about anything the rest of the playoffs. I don't see the Sharks being able to keep up with what the Kings will be bringing to the table.
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