It's time to drop the puck on the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs after a thrilling first round came to a conclusion on Wednesday with three Game 7s.
Flyers insider Tim Panaccio and Sarah Baicker posted even records of 3-1 with their Eastern Conference predictions (see story), while Panaccio had a 2-2 mark over Baicker's 1-3 spot in the Western Conference (see story).
With that said, CSNPhilly.com’s two hockey writers move on to make their best guesses about what will transpire in Round 2.
Eastern Conference
Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins
Tim: No one gives the Bruins more fits in the East than Les Canadiens. This series has "l-o-n-g" and "upset" written all over it, but I feel the Bruins are still the Beast of the East.
Prediction: Bruins in seven.
NHL
Sarah: Tim said it: For whatever reason, the Canadiens can be a thorn in the Bruins’ sides. It was the Habs, after all, who ended the Bruins’ 12-game winning streak earlier this year during which they seemed entirely unbeatable. But that said, in this seven-game series, the Bruins’ size and strength will win out. Doesn’t mean it won’t be fun to watch, though.
Prediction: Bruins in six.
New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Tim: How fortunate for the Penguins that they did not draw the Flyers, the one team in the East who outright owns them. The Rangers had very little edge on the Flyers in their series. They won’t have much against the Penguins.
Prediction: Penguins in six.
Sarah: The quick turnaround and crazy schedule of this series will not help the Rangers. After playing three games in four days against the Flyers, they’ll play the Pens three times in four days starting Friday. In my opinion, this is the biggest advantage the Penguins have over the Rangers in this series. Marc-Andre Fleury is still a headcase in the playoffs, and the Pens came too close to losing to the Columbus Blue Jackets for me to have much faith in them. The Rangers play a similar style to the Jackets -- but better.
Prediction: Rangers in six.
Western Conference
Los Angeles Kings vs. Anaheim Ducks
Tim: The battle for Southern California. Should be the best of any series going, and despite the Ducks' strengths, someone has awakened the Kings. Like a couple of years ago, they seem Cup hungry. Can you see Mike Richards and Jeff Carter with two rings?
Prediction: Kings in six.
Sarah: The Kings have all the momentum in the world right now, after coming back from a three-games-to-none deficit to win their first-round series. This series will be a tougher one, though, physical and fast. And I think it will go the full seven. Let’s make this interesting.
Prediction: Ducks in seven.
Minnesota Wild vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Tim: Didn’t think the Wild had it in them to take Colorado the distance and win -- but they did. Chicago surprised me as well, coming to life against St. Louis. The Wild got lucky one round but not two.
Prediction: Blackhawks in six.
Sarah: How good are the Blackhawks in the playoffs? No matter their level of success in the regular season, they’re perennial postseason performers, and that showed in their relatively easy defeat of the St. Louis Blues in the first round. The Wild, as Tim says, won’t get lucky again. Not against the Hawks.
Prediction: Blackhawks in five.