April 24, 2003
Previewing Stanley Cup Round Two
Part of me is having a tough time saying goodbye to the first round of this year's playoffs. It's simply been the most exciting first round we've seen in a number of years, and I'm afraid that the series in the second round won't be nearly as competitive. In a way, with Detroit and Colorado gone, it's safe to say that on its face, the second round seems a whole lot less compelling.
New Jersey - Tampa Bay: Martin St. Louis, meet John Madden, one of the best defensive forwards the league has to offer. He'll be following you a lot over the next week or so. You'll be seeing him at even strength, but also when you're on the power play. Be careful, he has a nasty habit of shutting down talented offensive players (Joe Thornton), and managing to score timely shorthanded goals. And he does all this while being grossly underpaid.
When Mr. Madden is finished with you, I'd like you to meet Scott Stevens. I don't know if you've heard, but Mr. Stevens tends to hit a lot harder than just about anyone you met on the Capitals in the last round. He's been around the league so long, many are convinced that the term, "mean streak," was first used to help describe the way Mr. Stevens plays ice hockey. And, if you somehow managed to get by him, there's always Martin Brodeur as a last resort. He tends to play well in the post season, and has a pair of Stanley Cup rings to prove it.
I hope you've enjoyed your stay at the 2003 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Mr. St. Louis. The exit is right this way. Please note the concierge has already made a reservation for you at Doral. But don't worry, with the Caps cutting salary, your team and the Thrashers will be battling for the Southeast Division title, and the third seed in the playoffs, for many years to come. Your time will come, just not this year.
Pick: Devils in 5.
Ottawa - Philadelphia: One season ago, the Senators knocked the Flyers from the playoffs in the first round in five games. The problem: goal scoring. The Flyers only managed five goals all series long -- something that drove goalie Roman Chechmanek a little nuts by Game Five last season. In any case, the strangulation job the Senators pulled off led to all sorts of changes -- most significantly the replacement of head coach Bill Barber with ex-Stars head man Ken Hitchcock. And despite the fact that the Senators had the league's best record, it's important to note that the Flyers finished a mere six points behind them in the regular season. Owing to fatigue from their first round series with the Leafs alone, I expect the Flyers to drop Game One in Ottawa tomorrow night. Then again, I expect them to bounce back pretty quickly in Game Two. Expect this series to go to the limit.
Pick: Philadelphia in 7.
Dallas - Anaheim: In his rookie season, Dallas head coach Dave Tippet must be thanking the Hockey Gods for his good fortune. Though there was a hiccup or two, the Stars managed to get by a determined Oilers team in the first round without suffering any major injuries -- be they physical or psychological. As a bonus, free agent winger Bill Guerin is expected back for the series with Anaheim, so the Stars will be back at full strength. Even better, his toughest conference rivals, Detroit and Colorado, flamed out in round one to decidedly inferior opposition. Sure, the team Dallas is facing in this round has little in common with the paper-thin squads Paul Kariya is used to fronting. But it still won't be enough to displace this Dallas squad, which won't be seriously challenged again until the conference finals.
Pick: Dallas in 6.
Vancouver - Minnesota: Welcome to the playoff series that's a television ratings nightmare. You've got a city from Western Canada taking on a faceless team from the Midwest -- a formula that will make for awkward start times, as well as a few late nights. For starters, we're probably looking at least one multi-OT game in Vancouver -- so count on getting very little sleep if you intend to watch this series.
Bottom line here: the Wild are gritty and gutty, but so are the Canucks. Sorry, but talent, and a far deeper corps of blueliners are going to shut down Minnesota's ride right here -- just not without a fight.
Pick: Vancouver in 6.
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02:03 PM