2nd Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Set to Go!

The 2nd Round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are set to go. So here is the breakdown of the upcoming series including Series schedules and predictions. We start off with the West.














Vancouver and Nashville will get us started. Here is the schedule for this series:

April 28 Nashville at Vancouver, 9:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
April 30 Nashville at Vancouver, 9:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
May 3 Vancouver at Nashville, 9:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
May 5 Vancouver at Nashville, TBD CBC, VERSUS
May 7 Nashville at Vancouver, 8:00 p.m. CBC, VERSUS
May 9 Vancouver at Nashville, TBD CBC, VERSUS
May 11 Nashville at Vancouver, TBD CBC, VERSUS

Now for this series, it will surely be an interesting one. This is the 1st ever meeting between these two clubs in the playoffs. Nashville is coming in off the high of winning their first ever playoffs series. Vancouver just finished a tough hard-fought 7 game series with the Hawks. Nashville may jump on Vancouver in the first game or two but the Canucks are going to be too much for the Predators I will take the Canucks in 6 games.


Now for the other Western Conference matchup which is:









Yes its the Sharks and Red Wings once again in the post season, which is starting to turn into a nice little rivlary. Here is the schedule for this series:

April 29 Detroit at San Jose, 10:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
May 1 Detroit at San Jose, 3:00 p.m. NBC, TSN
May 4 San Jose at Detroit, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
May 6 San Jose at Detroit, 7:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
May 8 Detroit at San Jose, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
May 10 San Jose at Detroit, TBD VERSUS, TSN
May 12 Detroit at San Jose, TBD VERSUS, TSN

These two teams have met 3 times before in the post season with San Jose winning 2 of the 3. Detroit may have a little bit of rink rust on them since they have had the longest time off after their sweep of the Coyotes. This series is going to go 7 games easy. Red Wings put up a good fight but I think San Jose is going to be too much for Jimmy Howard Sharks win this one in 7 Games.


Now then moving on to the Eastern Conference. Here is how we start things off.











Yes it's the 1-5 match between the Washington Capitals and Tampa Bay Lightning. Heres the schedule for this series:
April 29 Tampa Bay at Washington, 7:00 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
May 1 Tampa Bay at Washington, 7:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC
May 3 Washington at Tampa Bay, 6:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
May 4 Washington at Tampa Bay, 7:00 p.m. TSN
May 7 Tampa Bay at Washington, 12:30 p.m. NBC, TSN
May 9 Washington at Tampa Bay, TBD VERSUS, TSN
May 11 tampa Bay at Washington, TBD VERSUS, TSN



Now as far as playoff history is concerned these two teams have met only once before with Tampa Bay winning that series in 6 games back in 2003. As for the here and now this will be a very high scoring series. Tampa will be a little banged up after playing that 7 game series with the Pens, and Washington has had time off after beating the Rangers in 5. So who knows what will happen in the 1st game. But for the series as a whole I'm taking the Capitals in 6 games. Here's why. Yes Dwayne Roloson has done a great job in goal for the Lightning but I think the Caps are going to be too much and I say Caps in 6.


Now for the final matchup of the 2nd round.












Yeah it's a rematch of last years second round between the Flyers and Bruins. Here is a look at the series:

April 30 Boston at Philadelphia, 3:00 p.m. NBC, CBC
May 2 Boston at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m. VERSUS, TSN
May 4 Philadelphia at Boston, 7:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC
May 6 Philadelphia at Boston, 8:00 p.m. VERSUS, CBC
May 8 Boston at Philadelphia, 3:00 p.m. NBC, CBC
May 10 Philadelphia at Boston, TBD VERSUS, CBC
May 12 Boston at Philadelphia, TBD VERSUS, CBC


Now these two teams have met 4 times in the playoffs all time with each team winning 2 series. And of course most of us remember what happened when these two teams hooked it up in the 2nd round last year. Both teams are battle tested having going 7 games in the last round, and both teams know each other after last season. This may be the toughest series of them all to pick. Again because these two teams are evenly matched it will take 7 games to decide it but I go with the Bruins in 7. The reason is because this is somewhat similar to the first round series between the Flyers and Sabres. But the difference is Boston has a bit more scoring punch then Buffalo. The Sabres took a lot out of Philly and Boston will finish the job Bruins in 7!