The playoffs continue to be anything but quiet. Even if you don’t like hockey, they’re destined to catch your attention. We’ve got stereotypical upsets, crazy goals, penalties, injuries and so much more! Round two in the race to the Stanley Cup has been just as exciting, if not more, than the first one. Let’s take a quick peek into each series...
No. 1 Blackhawks vs. No. 7 Red Wings
While I’ve never been shy about my love for the Chicago Blackhawks, and I’m by no means a fair weather fan (I’m a Cubs fan for pete’s sake!), I’m genuinely a little embarrassed by this series. I know I’ve been praising left and right how the Red Wings are a miracle Cup team so it’s would be no surprise if it were a closely matched series despite being a one and seven seed. However it’s not close; at all. After the first game, the Blackhawks basically haven’t shown up to play. Game 1 started out very slow, by everyone involved, was closely matched through the second period and then in the third period the Blackhawks just blew the Red Wings out of the water. They played arguably their best game in the playoffs thus far and won 4-1. Games 2 and 3 have basically been all Detroit. They’re currently winning the series 2-1.
The Red Wings are scoring some nice goals and skating quick. The Blackhawks on the other hand are skating uncharacteristically slow and can’t seem to score. In Game 3 they at least made a comeback but not a big enough one. If the Blackhawks plan to get back into this series, which I seriously hope, they’re going to need to start crashing the net hard and figure out a way to get into the Detroit zone. Plain and simple, they need goals.
No. 5 Kings vs. No. 6 Sharks
This matchup between two of the league’s shakiest teams all season is not surprisingly tied 2-2. They’re pretty evenly matched. For the first time in 21 years, Los Angeles opened a series at home, and won game 1 by blanking the Sharks. Sadly the Sharks even outshot the Kings, significantly. Besides losing the game, the Sharks also lost a key player in Raffi Torres. He was assessed a charging penalty, for what I’d consider a clean hockey hit, but after further review the NHL decided to suspend him for the rest of the semifinal series. To add insult to injury, GM Doug Wilson released a statement stating his opinion on the suspension and noting that the club stood behind Torres and the team was fined $100,000.
Game 2, the Kings came out big but gave up a 2-0 lead in the second period. The rest of the game was pretty equally fought with the Sharks pulling ahead midway through the third. With just 2:41 left however, Brad Stuart got called for tripping and just 22 seconds later, the Sharks got a second penalty for delay of game. The Kings were able to come back and score two power play goals to win. Both games 3 and 4 however went to the Sharks. Game 5 Thursday night will be back in LA and that’s going to be huge. The Sharks are pretty good on the road but will need to prove themselves most definitely; a win in LA could make the series for them.
No. 1 Penguins vs. No. 7 Senators
Unlike the Blackhawks series, this seven seed team is not beating up on the first seed. If anyone has been watching this series, they’ll agree, this has been the Penguins show. I know people call them the “Pesky Sens” but I haven’t seen much pesky in this series. Game 1 the Penguins dominated the ice and won 4-1. In game 2 the Senators at least put some good effort in but with Sidney Crosby pulling out a hat trick they were pretty doomed. As can be seen, and was even verified by the coach, the Senators are not good at catch up hockey.
The Senators had their best game of the series in 3. Team captain and all time leading scorer, Daniel Alfredsson, scored a shorthanded goal with under 30 seconds left in the game to tie it up. Overtime was a hero race but the Sens finally pulled out the win in the second overtime. It looked they were finally back in the series but Wednesday’s game 4 shut down that thought process real fast. The Penguins won 7-3. Nothing more needs to be said about that.
No. 4 Bruins vs. No. 6 Rangers
I’m torn between the last series and this one as to which has been more of a blow out. The Bruins are leading the Rangers 3-0, but people sort of expected that. It’s no secret that goalie Henrik Lundqvist has been carrying the team most of the season and entirely throughout the playoffs. In the first game it was a pretty even match and the Rangers gave a good effort but lost in overtime 3-2. Game 2 was also close for awhile but the Bruins came out with a lot more speed than the Rangers. Boston kept that up the whole game though and in the third out raced the Rangers, scoring twice to put a nice gap in there.
As game 3 started, it looked like it might finally be the Rangers’ game as they scored first. Unfortunately, even Lundqvist with his 32 saves couldn’t save the team and they fell to the Bruins, again, 2-1. Thursday night brings another game 4 in the semifinals and for the Bruins it’s all they need. If they win, they’ll pull off a sweep of the Rangers and have a nice little break until round 3. On the other hand, a win right now by the Rangers would be miraculous. Not sure they’re capable at this point, they’re pretty far behind, but it would be nice to see for the Rangers fans.