Reflections on Round #2 of the NHL Playoffs

Though I have not been watching the NHL playoffs as much as I would like, I have a few reflections to share on those teams that have advanced to round 2.

• Nashville Predators - they are not a very exciting team to watch, and their most-talented skaters (eg. Radulov & Kostitsyn) and tempermental, coaching headaches. However, you have to respect and appreciate a team in a small market that has had the same coach and the same General Manager since the franchise started in 1998. Obviously, their organization had a plan, stuck with it, and are now reaping the dividends.
  NOTE: This was written before Radulov & Kostitsyn were suspended by the team for game #3 and the Preds got their first series win! Gotta love the fact that "talent" does not supercede the team expectations!
• Phoenix Coyotes - Its nice to see some really classy guys - Shane Doan and Ray Whitney - be rewarded with success after years without it in a market and on a team that has had its share of off-ice drama. It would be easier to watch if they didn't have a few Calgary Flames "cast offs" (Daymond Langkow and Derek Morris) having success too!
• Los Angeles Kings - Again, with former Flames coach Darryl Sutter now the Kings' bench boss, its hard not to be envious. They have some talented players - Richards, Kopitar, Carter, Penner and Doughty - as well as a goaltender who seems to be in the zone, and they may be the team to beat in the West. Oh yeah, and they knocked off Vancouver, so how can you not cheer for them.
• St. Louis Blues - I just finished a quick visit with Tony Shostal, a former students who is also the biggest Blues fan I know (there's not many in Western Canada) and they have developed into a very strong team under Ken Hitchcock.
• New York Rangers - A good talent and a pretty good coach with solid playoff winning experience. They are also very solid in goal and should be the favorite, esp as the #1 seed, in the East.
• Philadelphia Flyers - After knocking off Pittsburgh, they have proven they are a force with an amazing offensive arsenal. They could challenge New York, but will have to get at least some goaltending from someone because Bryzgalov continues to look shaky (at best).
• Washington Capitals - Nice to see Dale Hunter (coach) have success, yet I don't think they'll be able to match NYR in a seven game series.
• New Jersey Devils - Amazing to see Martin Brodeur still providing stellar goaltending, though they're little known defence appears porous, not tough or offensive, and so Philly may really beat them up.