2011 NHL Playoffs: Complete Playoff Predictions for Every 2nd-Round Series

I made predictions for the first round in an earlier article, and while I was a perfect four for four in the East, I was only right in two of the four Western series. 

I had picked the Kings to upset the Sharks, but they blew that 4-0 lead in Game 3 and never recovered.

I also picked the Ducks to take down the Predators, but that was hinging on the Ducks getting some decent goaltending, which didn't happen. (Not that Pekka Rinne covered himself in glory either, but he did get the wins for the Predators)

Now I'll make my predictions for the second round. Hopefully my accuracy is better than the 75 percent it was in the first round.

Of course, if you disagree (and I'm sure many will), feel free to post your predictions in the comments.

Western Conference: Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Nashville Predators (5)

Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 29: Alexandre Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a goal on Pekka Rinne #35 of the Nashville Predators on March 29, 2011 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)

The Canucks have home-ice advantage, they have more firepower up front and better special teams. Roberto Luongo and Pekka Rinne were both finalists for the Vezina Trophy.

That was expected after the regular season.

What wasn't expected was the Canucks would be the most aggressive and physical team in the playoffs—a card the Canucks didn't play until the opening shift of Game 1 against the 'Hawks.

The Canucks currently lead the NHL in hits and takeaways by a large margin, including almost doubling the Predators for total hits.

Being the gritty, physical team was supposed to be the calling card of the Predators, but if the Canucks can match (or surpass) them in that department, the Predators don't have a real advantage in the series other than their excellent defensive system and team mentality.

But that isn't a big enough advantage to win more than a couple games if the Canucks don't have a mental breakdown like they did in Games 4 and 5 against the Blackhawks.

Prediction: Canucks in Six

*For more information, I've also written a more comprehensive analysis of the Canucks/Predators series.

Western Conference: San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (3)

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

SAN JOSE, CA - MARCH 3: Johan Franzen #93 of the Detroit Red Wings takes a swing at Marc-Edouard Vlasic #44 of the San Jose Sharks and both get a four-minute roughing penalty in the first period of an NHL hockey game at the HP Pavilion on March 3, 2011 in

I'll be honest—I didn't think the Sharks would make it out of the first round, mainly because their top-paid players (Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau) tend to choke in the playoffs. 

But I'll give credit where it is due: They got it done against the Kings, showing more resiliency than I thought they had, battling back from a 4-0 deficit to win the pivotal Game 3, as well as Thornton scoring in OT to clinch the series in Game 6.

However, now they go up against a rested, experienced and hungry Detroit Red Wings led by Pavel Datsyuk, who is the most complete player in the playoffs.

The Wings swept the Coyotes without Henrik Zetterberg, and Johan Franzen also missed Game 4. But they are both healthy and ready to go for the second round, which isn't good news for the Sharks. 

As I said in an earlier article, you just don't bet against the Red Wings in the playoffs.

Prediction: Red Wings in Six

Eastern Conference: Washington Capitals (1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (5)

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 26: Nicklas Backstrom #19 of the Washington Capitals battles for the puck with Martin St Louis #26 of the Tampa Bay Lightning at the Verizon Center on November 26, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Both teams have excellent firepower and multiple star forwards who can be game-changers. 

This is also the only series that doesn't feature either a Vezina Trophy or Norris Trophy candidate.

Expect it to be a high-scoring affair.

I'm betting that the Lightning pull off another upset, as the core of the Lightning (Martin St. Louis, Vinny Lecavalier, Simon Gagne and Steven Stamkos) knows how to win.

Whether it is the World Junior Championships, Olympic gold medals or Stanley Cups, they have guys who know how to win.

They also have other players (Ryan Malone and Dwayne Roloson) who have extensive playoff experience and who have been to the Stanley Cup Finals, albeit on the losing side.

A side note is that Roloson has now won seven elimination games in a row, which proves to me that he can get it done in the playoffs.

The Capitals, on the other hand, don't have a lot of big-game winners in their lineup.

In fact, their key stars have a reputation of coming up short in big games, whether it is Ovechkin and Semin being embarrassed with Team Russia on multiple occasions, or the Capitals as a whole choking on a 3-1 series lead against Montreal last year.

I'm betting on this experience and general knowing how to win being the difference in this close series.

Prediction: Lightning in Seven

Eastern Conference: Philadelphia Flyers (2) vs. Boston Bruins (3)

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 13: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins stops a shot by Claude Giroux #28 of the Philadelphia Flyers on January 11, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Flyers and Bruins are very similar.

Both teams are big and physical, taking plenty of penalties and liberties with opposing players.

Both are led by titanic All-Star defencemen in Zedno Chara and Chris Pronger.

Both teams have a balanced attack.

Both stumbled a bit in the first round but eventually prevailed in seven games.

But the similarities stop in goal. 

The Flyers rely on a bullpen approach, using three different starting goalies in their first-round series.

The Bruins on the other hand have Tim Thomas, who is nominated for the Vezina after shattering modern goaltending records this season.

Goaltending, or lack thereof in the case of the Flyers, will be the difference in this physical series.

Prediction: Bruins in Six