Straight from the gut on the second-round matchups after the Canucks got 'er done with a 4-1 win over Dallas in The Decider (although if that Mike Modano one-timer that rang the post with four minutes left is a couple inches to the left, they would still be playing):
WESTERN CONFERENCE
SHARKS vs. RED WINGS: The Sharks are more rested and won the season series 3-1, with two of the wins by wide margins (although Chris Chelios didn't play in the last game, a 9-4 wipeout in early January). The recent parallel might be the Red Wings' second-round loss to the Flames three years ago, when they got banged around by a physical team and went out in six games. Detroit's stronger in goal than it was in 2004, but the '07 Sharks have more scoring and depth to balance that out. So.... San Jose in 7.
CANUCKS vs. DUCKS: Vancouver might be able to steal Wednesday's Game 1 on pure fumes and Roberto Luongo. People want to see the Canadian team get through, but how are the Canucks supposed to go through a back line with Chris Pronger, Scott Niedermayer and Francis Beauchemin after making such a task of getting through Dallas' defence? (The Stars are a good defensive team, but are a more no-name crew.) Anaheim would have to really go in the tank... Anaheim in 5.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
RANGERS vs. SABRES: Probably the toughest series to pick -- give it to Buffalo on their secondary scoring and Ryan Miller over Henrik Lundqvist in goal. New York also had way too easy a time sweeping Atlanta... Buffalo in 6.
DEVILS vs. SENATORS: The easy answer here is that the puck usually bounces for the team with the better goaltender. It could be Buffalo in 2006 all over again -- the Senators in every game but lacking the breakout performance from a secondary scorer. New Jersey in seven.
That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.
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