NHL Playoff Schedule 2012: Predicting Final Teams for Round 2

The 2012 NHL playoffs have been as good as advertised, and there are still three series that have yet to be decided in the first round.

All three are heading into Game 7 after hard-fought efforts by both teams. It's win or go home, and the action will be fast-paced and ferocious.

Here are my predictions for the winners of all three series.

Ottawa Senators (8) vs New York Rangers (1)

This series has gone back and forth now for six games. If the current trend holds, the Rangers should win the final game.

Game 7s rarely end the way you think, though. Anything can happen out there on the ice, and players who've shined all year long can suddenly seem to forget how to play the game.

The game is in New York, but the Rangers haven't exactly been dominant at home this year, finishing the regular season with a record of 27-12-2. Ottawa has managed to win in New York twice already during this series, and there is a chance we're in for a major upset when the final buzzer sounds.

I'm counting on Henrik Lundqvist to come through in a major way for the Rangers in this final game, though. He has been stellar all year long, handling a high volume of shots and still managing to allow under two goals per game.

Prediction: Rangers win 3-1

Boston Bruins (2) vs. Washington Capitals (7)

This series has gone down exactly the same way. The lower seeds have threatened to take the series in six games only to have the high seeded-teams come back to take it to a seventh game on their home ice.

So far, the star of the series for the Caps has been their goalie, Braden Holtby. He's holding the normally high-powered Bruins offense to just over two goals per game.

Hot goalkeepers win championships. 

The Bruins will fire away, but in the end, it will all be for naught.

Prediction: Capitals win 2-1

New Jersey Devils (6) vs. Florida Panthers (3)

Another see-saw battle—the Panthers have withstood the challenge of their low-scoring ways to take this series to Game 7.

The Devils have already taken one game on the Panthers' home ice, and I expect them to do the same in the final game if this brutal series.

Travis Zajac will continue his hot play and will lead the offensive attack. 

Martin Brodeur will keep playing well and hold the Panthers in check.

Prediction: Devils win 4-1

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