2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Round 2

So here are my thoughts going into the second round and what’s happened so far.

Eastern Conference

(1-5) Washington-Tampa Bay: Who could’ve predicted a sweep?  I choose Neuvirth as a goalie in my playoff pool so I certainly didn’t predict that shit.  I thought going in that these two teams were evenly matched and that it would probably go to seven.  So if I selected either Roloson or Neuvirth, then I could probably get at least three wins out of my goalie.

Such was my flawed reasoning.  I understand now where I screwed up.  All year I have avoided Tampa Bay like the plague.  The reason is that I am fairly new to hockey fantasy pools and I haven’t yet learned enough of the intricacies of the sport.  While I have been not too shabby at guessing other teams in the regular season, the one team that has always stumped me is Tampa Bay.  They usually surprise me for better or worse – huge question mark.  Obviously come playoffs, I’ve tried to avoid them because I just don’t frickin understand them.  Honestly, I’ve essentially given up on my pool now that the Caps got swept and Neuvirth earned me a great big goose egg.

Pools aside, I felt sorry for the Caps.  I tend to feel sorry for most teams that get swept but I was rooting for the Caps slightly more on this one for the simple reason that they have yet to get a Stanley Cup and Tampa got one not too long ago in 2004.  Simple reasoning but whatever.

Nevertheless, I do like this Tampa team.  I like Stamkos on the regular and St. Louis is just precious.  But what has really stood out for me the first two rounds is the Bergenheim-Moore-Downie line.  Seriously, these guys are just lighting it up right now.  Tampa Bay plays some really exciting games unlike another snoozefest I could mention (I’m looking at you, Vancouver) and (now) I’m hoping they go to the finals.

(2-3) Philadelphia-Boston: Ok, so Boston got better against Montreal as the series advanced but I didn’t expect them to be this dominant against Philly.  That first game was ridiculous and Philly should just be ashamed.  As I mentioned earlier, given the way they played for most of the year, I expected more from Philly.  Yeah, their season didn’t end so well but I thought that come playoffs they would take it up the necessary notch (silly me).  In my opinion, Philly on their best day is better than Boston on theirs.

And the Philly goaltending – all you can do is laugh at that hot mess.  I’m not going to bother counting how many times they changed goaltenders (midway or between games) because that numbers just likely to change – either once more in tonight’s game or even more if they manage to win a couple.  Going in, I wanted Philly to sweep the Bruins for so many reasons not the least of which was that it could possibly turn them into headcases like the Canucks.  Now, I would settle for Philly taking the series in the same manner they did last year (which, to my delight, could also turn them into headcases).  But given the way the Flyers have been playing and given the revolving door of goaltenders they’ve been working with – I can safely say the Flyers have a snowball’s chance in hell.

Western Conference

(1-5) Vancouver-Nashville: This series sucks.  You’d think I’d care as Vancouver is the team I’d like to see win it all but I just can muster any more excitement.  Some of the most boring shit I’ve ever seen although it got better with last night’s game (barely).  Shea Weber 2011 Playoff Beard Watch is the only thing this series is good for.  Just end it and be done with it.

Anyways, I’m noticing a pattern with the scorelines.  So far, the team that won had 1, 2, 3 and 4 goals in games 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.  Will it take 5 goals to win the next game?

(2-3) San Jose-Detroit: This series has been interesting and very nice to watch.  It’s a bit of a tossup who I root for.  On one hand, I think the Wings have enough cups already, thank you very much.  On the other hand, I really like Nick Lidstrom and I would like to see him go a bit further in what could be his final year.  As it stands now, I clearly prefer the Wings to win a few more games and have the series to go to seven (more hockey, duh).

Buuuuut I doubt it.  The Sharks have been playing really well, I’m unbelievably impressed with Setoguchi and Couture is quickly climbing the ranks of players I like.  If Vancouver and San Jose meet in the third round then the Sedins better step it up.  If they don’t, the series will likely go to San Jose (perish the thought)!

Final thought.  Please don’t let Philly be swept by Boston and for pity’s sake can Vancouver score a bit more?