I'm screaming it from the fucking roof tops. The NHL Playoffs are the best thing you can watch in sports. What we just witnessed in the last two weeks was the most insane first round of hockey I've ever seen. Every single top seed is now gone. Calgary, Tampa, Washington and Nashville are toast. The Wild Card teams now reign supreme.
Last night I watched the defending champs get taken down in double overtime by the Carolina Hurricanes. I'll repeat that. The Washington Capitals were eliminated by the Carolina fucking Hurricanes.
Even though most of my first round predictions were trash, I'm going to make second round predictions anyway.
Boston Bruins vs. The Columbus Blue Jackets
I was all ready for a Boston vs. Tampa rematch. If there was one first round series I thought was a lock it was the Blue Jackets and Tampa series. Shockingly the Blue Jackets steam rolled Tampa Bay and proved to the world that they were a soft, gutless team.
This series isn't going to be easy for Boston. The Blue Jackets loaded up at the deadline. Matt Duchene and Artemi Panarin are leading a powerful Columbus offense. The goaltender, Sergei Bobrovsky is kind of an enigma. At times he looks like the best goalie in the world and at other times he looks like a wet fart. His performance in this series could be the difference maker for the Jackets.
On the other side you have a Bruins team who is just two days removed from their game seven victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Tuukka Rask was lights out in that game, proving once again that I am right about him. The 4th line is rolling with Sean Kuraly back in the lineup and Charlie Coyle has been an absolute force on the 3rd line. The Bruins have depth scoring right when they need it.
What is making me nervous is the disappearance of David Pastrnak. Has anyone seen him? He was a non factor in round one. If the Bruins are going to win they're going to need him to return to his old ways. The same goes for Bergeron who just didn't look right in that series. Part of me wonders if he is nursing an injury. I sure hope not.
I'm going to be optimistic again.
Bruins in six.
New York Islanders vs. Carolina Hurricanes
If you said before the playoffs started that these two teams would be facing in the second round you were either joking or could see the future.
I thought the Islanders could beat the Penguins. I did not think they would dummy them in four games the way they did. The Islanders are just feeling it right now. Robin Lehner has stood on his head in goal. Their star forward, Matt Barzal is proving to everyone why the Bruins should have drafted him in 2015. He's elite.
The Islanders and their fans can now rub it in Tavares' face that he is going golfing and they're on their way to the conference semi-finals.
On the other side you have the Carolina Hurricanes who came back against the defending champs in game 7 to win in double OT. Their captain, Justin Williams, has won three Stanley Cups, including one with the Hurricanes in 2006. I think it makes a big difference to have a guy like that in their locker room.
I really feel like this series could go either way and I also feel like it's going to be a long one. I might take this thing to 7 games.
Islanders in seven.
Colorado Avalanche vs. San Jose Sharks
The Avalanche are another team that surprised me. I really thought Calgary would get the better of them. The Aves do have one of the best top lines in hockey, but the Flames just seemed like a more complete team. Whatever. I don't know anything.
A lot of people are saying the Knights were robbed in game 7. The crosscheck on Pavelski should have been a 2 minute minor in my opinion but Vegas needs to take some responsibility for that loss. Vegas left winger, Jonathan Marchessault said after the game that it was "embarrassing" that the refs called a 5 minute major on that play. It's also embarrassing to give up three goals in one powerplay and lose in overtime. It's also embarrassing to give up a 3-1 series leads and lose in game 7. It was a terrible call, but it's not the reason the Sharks won the series.
As far as the Sharks and Avalanche go I really think the Sharks will get the better of them. Jumbo Joe is the last real guy left that needs a cup. Ovechkin was on that list up until last season. I think the Sharks are still flying high after that amazing game 7 and I think it will carry over into this series.
Sharks in six.
Dallas Stars vs. St. Louis Blues
It's going to be St. Louis. I'm calling it right now. The team that was in last place just four months ago is now going to win in round two. I really thought that Dallas would lose to Nashville. Nashville is supposed to have the best defensive core in hockey. Welp. They didn't
I have to admit I haven't watched a ton of Dallas or Blues hockey this year but just based off what St. Louis has been doing recently I can't bet against them.
I thought the Jets would be in the cup this year. I was wrong. They were taken out by a much more determined St. Louis team. They have been good for a while and this year they have something to prove.
St. Louis in seven.
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