By Kat
Readers of this blog will remember my predictions for Round One of the NHL playoffs, and are probably shaking their heads as I am with how the 2012 quarterfinals have played out thus far. Over the course of last week, teams that many pundits predicted to go deep into the playoffs now find themselves packing their lockers or staring elimination in the face.
Kings crown the Canucks in 5 games
While nobody expected the LA Kings to roll over in Round One after squeaking into the playoffs, few likely predicted this series to conclude as quickly as it did, and fewer still with those victories going to the Kings. The Canucks never seemed to find their offensive rhythm until they’d dug themselves a 0-3 series hole; the return of top scorer Daniel Sedin was simply too little too late. Vancouver’s offense only managed 8 goals in 5 games, a number so anemic that for them to have possibly won they required shutouts every night from Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo. It’s certainly a shame that the best goaltending tandem the franchise has ever had is let down in this fashion, and it’s highly likely that one of the two will be departing the West Coast this summer. After coming so close last season, management will surely be looking at this club from all angles after such an early exit this year. What are some areas that you think need to be addressed?
Full credit has to be given to the LA Kings: their offence was opportunistic, their defence seemingly inpenetrable and Jonathan Quick had the answer for almost everything the Sedins and Canucks could throw at him. The team finally seems to be clicking after big changes in the off-season, and will likely give #2 seed St. Louis all they can handle in round 2.
Penguins, Red Wings eliminated
While many predicted a bloodbath between the Pennsylvania rivals, who could’ve seen the Flyers and Penguins scoring 54 goals in six games? Games got nasty, defence and goaltending were largely non-existent, and ratings went through the roof. This series was about as wild as it could get and more, and contrary to their reputation, the Flyers ended up bullying the Pens not so much with their fists as with skill and a potent offence. It was the Penguins who unraveled at the seams, starting with a blown 3-0 lead in Game 1 and utter meltdowns from key players in Game 3. From goaltending to the defence to the forwards, there will be a lot of soul-searching in Pittsburgh this summer.
A hallmark of the Detroit Red Wings has been their consistency (fact: they haven’t missed the playoffs in over twenty years), but it appears that the days where they were the perennial favorite to win may be waning. Their loss to the Predators in Round One was not unexpected – the Preds are younger and deeper – but most would have expected the Wings to pull off more than just the one win, especially with their excellent home record. Future Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom may have played his last game in the NHL, and with core forwards Tomas Holmstrom, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk creeping past their prime the window for the Red Wings to win may be narrowing.
Ottawa, Florida poised to advance
Two teams that few picked to even make the playoffs are just one win away from advancing to the second round. The Senators have been full value against the Rangers, limiting New York’s scoring chances and battling harder through five games played. Momentum is clearly on the Senators’ side and they get captain Daniel Alfredsson back tonight as his team attempts to close out the series at home.
Despite most picking their series as a relatively fortuitous one for the Devils, the Panthers find themselves up 3-2 in the series. Might Sunrise be the home of the next Cinderella story to grace the Stanley Cup playoffs?
What are your picks for the remaining quarterfinals series? What series are you looking forward to in the second round?
No matter what team you in the 2012 NHL playoffs, you can get tickets for all four rounds with ShowTimeTickets.com, even if it’s sold out. Don’t miss out on the big game!