After having some good success with first-round predictions, it all went out the window with my second-round choices.
Los Angeles proved its victory over Vancouver was no fluke, dispatching the St. Louis Blues to the golf course in four games. Phoenix continued to ride the goalie pads of Mike Smith to a dominating five-game win over Nashville.
Martin Brodeur proved once again why there is a spot already chosen for him the Hockey Hall of Fame. As he turned 40 during the series with Philadelphia, he also turned away enough shots for the New Jersey Devils to send the Flyers packing.
And, the other Eastern series turned into a classic seven-game struggle,
One of the big highlights in the series was Thunder Bay's Marc Staal's overtime winner in Game 5.
On to predictions in the final-four phase of the post-season.
Although it would be great to see Taylor Pyatt bring the Cup back here, I think the L.A Kings are going to burst that bubble in Phoenix. Mike Quick is showing why he is a Vezina nominee, and Kenora's Mike Richards is showing the Flyers made a big mistake trading him last summer. I like the Kings in six.
In the East, the question is will the Rangers start showing some fatigue after back-to-back seven-game marathons. They have the depth and solid netminding, but will have another tough opponent in the New Jersey Devils. I like the Rangers in six, setting up an East-West coast battle for the Stanley Cup.
