First round is in the books in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. We started with sixteen teams, now were down to eight. Every series in the opening round went at least five games. Both the Kings and Blackhawks were bounced in the opening round, meaning we will have a new Stanley Cup Champion in 2016. The Rangers fail to get out of the first round for the first time since 2011, while the Islanders won their first playoff series since 1993 and in as dramatic a fashion as possible. St. Louis finally got over the hump in the first round, getting revenge against the Blackhawks from two years ago. This marks the first series win for the Blues since 2012. But now the 2nd round is set and we are ready to go.
First up is the Atlantic matchup as the wild card New York Islanders head back to Florida to take on the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay is coming of a five game series win in the opening round against the Detroit Red Wings. This marks the 2nd year in a row the Lightning advanced to the second round after beating the Red Wings in the opening round. Tampa Bay is now 10-7 lifetime in playoff series and are looking to get back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2nd year in a row. As for the Islanders, this marks the 1st time since 1993 that they have won a playoff series. They defeated the Florida Panthers in six games. The Islanders are looking to get back to the Conference Finals for the first time since 1993 and are now 168-110 lifetime in the playoffs. This is the second playoff meeting for these teams; their only previous series was in the 2004 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, which Tampa Bay won in five games. New York won two of the three games in this year's regular season series.
Here's the dates and times for every game in this series:
April 27 New York Islanders 7:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena
April 30 New York Islanders 3:00 p.m. Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena
May 3 Tampa Bay Lightning 7:00 p.m. New York Islanders Barclays Center
May 6 Tampa Bay Lightning 7:00 p.m. New York Islanders Barclays Center
May 8 New York Islanders TBD Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena
May 10 Tampa Bay Lightning TBD New York Islanders Barclays Center
May 12 New York Islanders TBD Tampa Bay Lightning Amalie Arena
One of the big questions you have to ask yourself if your the Islanders is, do you stick with Thomas Greiss or go back to Jaroslav Halak when he comes back? I say stick with Griess in this series until he can't go anymore. But Greiss has played out of his mind this post season, one of the big reasons why the Islanders have finally one a playoff series. He never gave up a bad goal in that Panthers series and had to stand on his head a few times to keep the Islanders around in that series. Another HUGE reason why the Islanders are where they are right now is captain John Tavares, the 2nd leading scorer in the playoffs at this point. Him and linemates Frans Nielsen and Kyle Okposo had been the best line in that Florida series (hell Tavares is going to be the best offensive player on both teams in this series). But what could hurt the Islanders in this series is lack of scoring depth. Because outside the top line nobody else really produced against the Panthers.
With the Bolts, yes they are going to be without Steven Stamkos and without Anton Stralman, but Tampa has plenty of scoring depth. They have shown that they can play without Steven Stamkos (who by the way will be a free agent at the end of the season). Enter the line of Alex Killorn, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov. They dominated in the first round against the Detroit Red Wings, scoring 10 of Tampa Bay's 12 goals in that series. Yes that line is back to clicking again just like they did last year in the playoffs. Jonathan Drouin and Ondrej Palat on the second line have also provided backup scoring punch for this Lightning team which is going to make them a tough team to beat. Ben Bishop is better than Thomas Greiss (as good has Greiss has been). Sure Tavares has been carrying the Isles, but I'm not sure they have enough depth to be able to hang with a more battle tested and experienced Lightning team.
Pick: Lightning in 7
Next up is the Presidents Trophy Winning Washington Capitals playing the Metro Division rival the Pittsburgh Penguins. Washington comes in after disposing of the Philadelphia Flyers in six games in the opening round, making this the 2nd straight year the Capitals have gotten to the 2nd round. Here is where Washington struggles, as the Capitals haven't gotten past this round since 1998. Washington is now 15-25 lifetime in playoff series. As for Pittsburgh, they come in having disposed of the New York Rangers in five games, making this the 2nd time in three years that the Pens have gotten past round one. Pittsburgh is looking to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2013. Pittsburgh is now 168-148 lifetime in the playoffs. This is the ninth playoff meeting for these teams, with Pittsburgh having won seven of the eight previous series. Their most recent meeting was in the 2009 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which Pittsburgh won in seven games. Pittsburgh won three of the five games in this year's regular season series.
Here's the dates and times for every game in this series:
April 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 8:00 p.m. Washington Capitals Verizon Center
April 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 8:00 p.m. Washington Capitals Verizon Center
May 2 Washington Capitals 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center
May 4 Washington Capitals 8:00 p.m. Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center
May 7 Pittsburgh Penguins TBD Washington Capitals Verizon Center
May 10 Washington Capitals TBD Pittsburgh Penguins Consol Energy Center
May 12 Pittsburgh Penguins TBD Washington Capitals Verizon Center
Here we go again. For the 2nd time in their history Crosby and Ovechkin will battle in the playoffs. What surprised me in the first round was how Washington played over the final three games against the Flyers. They had scored twelve goals over the first three games, but held to just four goals over the final three. They still pulled out the win but it still does leave one to scratch your head just a little bit. Philadelphia wasn't very aggressive in that opening round series, where as the Penguins are going to be. Washington is going to be tested in this series. Brooks Orpik, Matt Niskanen John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov and Nate Schmidt are in for a test in this round dealing with that Penguins attack. Washington does have a high powered attack, but at the same time they were held in check in the final two games of the series, only scoring three goals. They need to get it in gear again if they want to have a chance in the series.
Pittsburgh came through big against the Rangers, getting a balanced attack to complement their big guns in Malkin and Crosby. Kessel had a good series as did young guns like Nick Bonino, Carl Hagelin Matt Cullen, and Bryan Rust all had an impact in the series and all in a good way.Pittsburgh is a very fast team and they're a very deep team which is something that the Capitals may have trouble contending with. Pittsburgh has been outstanding, winning three in a row and 18 of their past 21. But I trust Holtby in net right now more than I do the guys in Pittsburgh, even if it is Marc-Andre Fleury. Pittsburgh has had their moments and are a very hot hockey team, but this is the year that Washington finally finds a way to break through in the 2nd round.
Pick: Capitals in 7
Moving over to the Western Conference we have the Dallas Stars taking on the St. Louis Blues. Dallas got here by knocking off the Minnesota Wild in six games. This marks the first time since 2008 that Dallas has made the 2nd round and also the first time for Dallas trying to get to the conference finals since that same year. Dallas post season record now stands at 80-73. As for the Blues, they got here by knocking off the defending cup champions the Chicago Blackhawks in seven games. This marks the first time since 2012 the Blues are playing in the 2nd round and St. Louis is trying to get to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2001. St Louis is now 184-168 lifetime in the post season. This is the thirteenth playoff meeting for these teams; the two teams have split the twelve previous series. They last met in the 2001 Western Conference Semifinals, which St. Louis won in a four-game sweep. St. Louis won four of the five games in this year's regular season series.
Here's the dates and times for every game in this series:
April 29 St. Louis Blues 8:00 p.m. Dallas Stars American Airlines Center
May 1 St. Louis Blues 3:00 p.m. Dallas Stars American Airlines Center
May 3 Dallas Stars 8:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
May 5 Dallas Stars 8:00 p.m. St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
May 7 St. Louis Blues TBD Dallas Stars American Airlines Center
May 9 Dallas Stars TBD St. Louis Blues Scottrade Center
May 11 St. Louis Blues TBD Dallas Stars American Airlines Center
This series is going to be fun to watch, St. Louis was on the heels of the Stars most of the year. Dallas was tihe best offense in the league all year, and they kept that going in round one. Yes they scored four or more goals three times in that series with the Wild, oh by the way that was with Tyler Seguin playing only one game in that series due to injury. Still, Dallas showed they can come out flying and hang with the best in the league and dominate. Jamie Benn is the 2nd leading scorer in all of the playoffs, and he's getting help from guys like Cody Eakin, Patrick Sharp, Patrick Sharp and Jason Spezza.
St. Louis does have a lot going for it though. They just got the monkey off their back and beat the defending Stanley Cup Champions in a tough seven game series. I have a lot more confidence in the Blues goaltending then I do Dallas. Brian Elliott and Jake Allen were able to hold down the balanced Hawks attack and come out a winner in their seven game series. Sure Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi looked good in their six game win over Minnesota, but they looked a little shaky at times in games four and five. I trust Elliott and Allen a lot more right now then I do those two guys in Big D. In fact Elliott started every game and posted better numbers then both of the Dallas goalies. I'm calling the upset again here. Yes, St. Louis did finish behind the Stars in the regular season, but Dallas and its goaltending is the biggest flaw in this series. The club is good enough to outscore the defensive problems but not good enough to beat a good Blues team that way.
Pick: Blues in 7
Here are the dates and times for every game in this series:
April 29 Nashville Predators 10:30 p.m. San Jose Sharks SAP Center
May 1 Nashville Predators 8:00 p.m. San Jose Sharks SAP Center
May 3 San Jose Sharks 9:00 p.m. Nashville Predators Bridgestone Arena
May 5 San Jose Sharks 9:00 p.m. Nashville Predators Bridgestone Arena
May 7 Nashville Predators TBD San Jose Sharks SAP Center
May 9 San Jose Sharks TBD Nashville Predators Bridgestone Arena
May 12 Nashville Predators TBD San Jose Sharks SAP Center
Nashville is coming off a very hard fought series against the Ducks and now have to travel back out to the west coast to face San Jose, which isn't going to be an easy task. Nashville got fantastic goaltending from Pekka Rinne (again) in this series against Anaheim and if Nashville wants to be able to pull it out in this series, he's going to have to outplay Martin Jones. On paper at least that shouldn't be so hard to do. Nahsville has the top pair in Shea Weber and Roman Josi that can shut down the Sharks best line of Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski and Tomas Hertl.
Rest is going to be a factor in this series. San Jose has had a couple days off since beating the Kings, while Nashville has had about a day to rest and prep after finishing their series with the Ducks. San Jose didn't quite score at will against the Kings, but there were plenty of goals and many great looks available to the Sharks in that series. Also Martin Jones wasn't really that tested by the Kings, because he defense did a great job of collecting the rebounds away from him. Nashville likes to press the attack so San Jose will have to be on their toes in their own end against this Preds offense. Never count out the pesky Preds, who just knocked off the best team in the Pacific Division. But I think going seven against Anaheim and still having to make those long flights back out to California is going to be taking a tole on Nashville. This series is going to go the limit, but I think depth may win out over the goaltending.
Pick: Sharks in 7
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