2011 NHL Playoffs: A Red Wings Sweep and 10 Bold Predictions for the 2nd Round
The 2011 NHL Playoffs have been very exciting so far, with four seven-game series already been played.
There are many interesting matchups in the conference semifinals, including a rematch of the most exciting series of the 2010 playoffs, Bruins versus Flyers.
The Flyers erased a 3-0 series deficit to beat the Bruins last season en route to a Stanley Cup appearance.
With the Vancouver Canucks finally overcoming their playoff nemesis, the defending Stanley Cup-winning Chicago Blackhawks, we are ensured a new champion will be crowned this June.
The second round is sure to be filled with exciting hockey, so let's look at 10 bold predictions for the conference semifinals.
Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins Featured Columnist, follow him on Twitter.
The Bruins Will Avenge Their 2010 Playoff Collapse vs. the Flyers
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After a grueling seven-game series versus their hated rivals, the Boston Bruins triumphed over the Montreal Canadiens in overtime of Game 7 to meet the Philadelphia Flyers for the second straight season in the Eastern conference semifinals.
The Bruins blew a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers last season, allowing the Flyers to force a Game 7. Philadelphia went on to win game 4-3, despite Boston jumping out to an early three-goal lead.
This year the Bruins have a deeper offense and several players who are healthy that missed all or some of the Flyers series last year.
Bruins forward David Krejci and defenseman Dennis Seidenberg both missed significant time against the Flyers last postseason, but both are healthy in 2011.
The Flyers have goaltending issues that will cost them the series against a Bruins offense that is hitting its stride.
Boston has Vezina Trophy finalist Tim Thomas and last year's sensation Tuukka Rask available in goal, both of whom are better than any Flyers goaltender.
The Bruins are healthy and motivated. They will defeat the Flyers in six games.
Roberto Luongo Will Shutout the Nashville Predators Twice
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Roberto Luongo had a first-round to forget, despite helping the Canucks advance past the defending champion Chicago Blackhawks in seven games after holding a 3-0 series lead.
Luongo will fare better against a Nashville Predators team that is not as gifted offensively as Chicago.
Luongo’s play in net will help the Canucks advance to the Western Conference Finals.
The Detroit Red Wings Will Sweep the San Jose Sharks
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The San Jose Sharks defeated the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs at this stage last season, but the outcome this year will be quite different.
The Red Wings are a deep, experienced team who are healthy and playing in top form. After a sweep of the Phoenix Coyotes, the Red Wings were able to get some nice rest to prepare for San Jose.
Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk and goalie Jimmy Howard have played very well this postseason, and both are among the most underrated players in the NHL.
The Red Wings came into the Sharks series very tired last season, playing Game 1 just two days after their seven-game triumph over Phoenix.
Red Wings forward Henrik Zetterberg will likely be ready for Game 1 after getting some nice rest during the first-round sweep.
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The Bruins Will Score at Least 5 Power Play Goals Against the Flyers
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In their seven-game series win over the Montreal Canadiens, the Boston Bruins became the first team ever to win a seven-game series without scoring a single power play goal.
Boston was 0-21 on the power play in the series.
The Flyers allowed seven power play goals in their seven-game series with Buffalo, and their goaltending situation is shaky with three different goalies making starts in that series.
The Bruins' offense got rolling in the last few games of the Canadiens series, and their power play will come to life against a Flyers penalty kill that hasn’t looked good so far in the playoffs.
Brian Boucher Will Take over the Starting Job for Good in Philadelphia
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Brian Boucher has been the Flyers' best choice in net this postseason, and he also played very well against the Bruins last season in the playoffs.
Boucher played in six of the seven games in the first-round series against Buffalo, with four wins and one loss. He has a goals against average of 2.10 and a 93.4 save percentage.
Steven Stamkos Will Shine Offensively for the Lightning vs. the Capitals
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Steven Stamkos scored two goals and tallied two assists in the first round versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It wasn’t an awful stat line, but it wasn’t what you’d expect from a 45-goal scorer, either.
Against a weaker defensive team in the Capitals, Stamkos will thrive. He started to find his groove late in the Penguins series, scoring two goals in an 8-2 victory in Game 6.
This is Stamkos’ first ever postseason, and he is looking more comfortable with each game.
The Tampa Bay Lightning Will Defeat the Washington Capitals in 7 Games
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The Tampa Bay Lightning battled from a 3-1 series deficit in Round 1 against the Penguins to win the series in seven games.
Against the East’s No. 1 seed, the Washington Capitals, the Lightning will endure another seven-game series.
The Lightning are loaded offensively, and Dwayne Roloson is providing solid play, bringing a veteran presence to the team.
The Capitals have huge expectations riding on them and will wilt under pressure.
Their goaltending is still not playoff proven, and the team as a whole was not tested very much in Round 1 against the New York Rangers.
Milan Lucic Will Play Well in the 2nd Round for Boston
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Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic had a terrible first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, scoring no goals and dishing out just one assist.
Lucic was also ejected in Game 6 for a five-minute major boarding penalty on Jaroslav Spacek.
In last year’s Eastern Semifinals versus the Flyers, Lucic played very well and scored twice in the Game 7 loss.
Against the Flyers this season, Lucic will step up his game and ignite a Boston first line, which other than Nathan Horton, did little offensively in the first round.
Vancouver Will Beat the Nashville Predators in 5 Games
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The Vancouver Canucks will beat the Nashville Predators in a brief, five-game series to move a step closer to the franchise’s first Stanley Cup appearance since 1994.
The Canucks are a great all-around team and their offense, with players such as Henrik and Daniel Sedin and Ryan Kesler, will make life difficult for the Predators.
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo will be facing a much less offensively talented team in Nashville than he faced in the first round versus the Chicago Blackhawks.
Nashville has its own Vezina Trophy finalist in Pekka Rinne, but the Predators don’t have enough offense to hang with Vancouver.
The first round is often the hardest in the NHL playoffs, and with the Canucks having one series under their belt, they should have the confidence to overcome the Predators.
Capitals Superstar Alexander Ovechkin Will Not Score More Than 4 Goals
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Despite playing a seven-game series, the Lightning appear pretty fresh heading into the second round after beating an undermanned Pittsburgh team.
Lightning goalie Dwayne Roloson is playing very well for Tampa Bay and has the experience of having played in the Stanley Cup Finals before.
Ovechkin scored three goals in the five-game series victory against the New York Rangers.
Ovi was good in the Rangers series, but he often goes all out in cases where he shouldn’t and diminishes his energy late in a series.
After numerous playoff failures in the past, the pressure is squarely on Ovechkin’s shoulders to lead Washington to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Against a great offensive team, Ovechkin will have to produce much more than he did in Round 1.
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