[Laura Cartwright]

I just can't believe how we have 3 games going to game 7 and maybe Boston Montreal goes there as well if Montreal wins tonight that is.

You forgot about pity/tampa. Four series went to game 7. The first time since 1996.

[NIloufar Emporio]

Directed at Vancouver fans: Is there any room left on that bandwagon, or is it getting pretty crowded?

Sedin's might be the softest players I have ever seen... And their defensive-zone responsibilities are kind of a joke... I'd take a 80 point Datsyuk over a 100 point Sedin any day, especially in the playoffs when it becomes a whole different game which apparently the Sedins softness just can't handle. There is no excuse for being that dominate in the season to being invisible in the playoffs when your best players should be at their best and I hope people wake up to see that their beloved Sedins are not the immortal god-like players the world seems to think they are.

[D LOpez]

It's pretty sad that Pittsburgh's power play is 0 for 3 in the game and 1 for 33 in the series. To add insult to injury, Pittsburgh is shelling Tampa Bay and not scoring and the Lightning made it look so easy on their first goal. Tampa Bay is definitely the better team, but I can hope Pittsburgh will get lucky.

[Alexander Horton]

GO BRUINS

[Ladymorphine]

Oh my, this Montreal/Bruins game will have an exciting finish. Boston may not be happy at the call that led to the tying Montreal goal, but replays show Boston's goal was scored in part thanks to a stick infraction on Hamrlik. So it evens out in my mind. Boston's still carried the pressure almost all period and would be worthy of the win.

[An Lor]

Oh my, this Montreal/Bruins game will have an exciting finish. Boston may not be happy at the call that led to the tying Montreal goal, but replays show Boston's goal was scored in part thanks to a stick infraction on Hamrlik. So it evens out in my mind. Boston's still carried the pressure almost all period and would be worthy of the win.

Yeah, even though I was hoping for the canadian win, the Bruins played a better game. It was pretty close in overtime though, definitely a gg.

[..xX Vin Xx..]

Pittsburgh had multiple opportunities to win that game, and they failed.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Chicago Blackhawks - Canucks win series 4-3
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Los Angeles Kings - Sharks win series 4-2
(3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Phoenix Coyotes - Red Wings win series 4-0
(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Predators win series 4-2

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (8) New York Rangers - Capitals win series 4-1
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (7) Buffalo Sabres - Flyers win series 4-3
(3) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens - Bruins win series 4-3
(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Lightning wins series 4-3

[Benjamin Holz]

Make your second-round picks:

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Canucks
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings - Red Wings

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Capitals
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins - Bruins

[Siidney]

What stick infraction on Hamrlik? Even if there had been an infraction (more than Bergeron's which didn't make contact but caused the Montreal player to flick their head back in agony) Hamrlik should have relied on the ref to make the call, get up and play defense, instead of whine, not get up, and let his opponent get a juicy rebound to score. Anyway, I think things turned out right in the end, and the Bruins were able to overcome a lack of discipline and some questionable calls. Price played a pretty darn good game.

[J.P loves]

Make your second-round picks:

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Canucks
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings - Red Wings

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Capitals
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins - Bruins

I'm going to agree with you on all accounts. They all seem like the likely winners here.

[Mimi BC]

What stick infraction on Hamrlik? Even if there had been an infraction (more than Bergeron's which didn't make contact but caused the Montreal player to flick their head back in agony) Hamrlik should have relied on the ref to make the call, get up and play defense, instead of whine, not get up, and let his opponent get a juicy rebound to score. Anyway, I think things turned out right in the end, and the Bruins were able to overcome a lack of discipline and some questionable calls. Price played a pretty darn good game.

Price was great, it didn't look like he even got a look at Horton's winner. I was pretty nervous the Bruins were going to choke away another game 7, glad they pulled it out.

Time to take down the Flyers!

[Cassie Boyle]

Make your second-round picks:

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Canucks in 5
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings - Red Wings in 6

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Capitals in 5
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins - Bruins in 7

Agree on all, though I hope the Preds take out the Canucks.

EDIT: Added games.

[Marine x]

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Canucks 4
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings - Red Wings 6

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Capitals 6
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins - Bruins 7

I cant wait for the Flyers/Bruins games. I have a feeling they are going to get nasty.

[Cesar Gomez]

Bwahaha no more Penguins and Habs. I'm poised for revenge against the Sharks for sure. I hope the two eastern conference semifinal series' are better than it looks on paper.

[Cheryl Rice]

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Chicago Blackhawks - Canucks in 6 (7)
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Los Angeles Kings - Sharks in 6
(3) Detroit Red Wings vs. (6) Phoenix Coyotes - Coyotes in 7
(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Ducks in 6

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (8) New York Rangers - Capitals in 5
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (7) Buffalo Sabres - Flyers in 5 (7)
(3) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Montreal Canadiens - Bruins in 6 (7)
(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Lightning in 7

Not too bad of predictions in the first round, except for that pesky Western conference.

[W E I R D]

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Canucks
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings - Red Wings

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Tampa Bay
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins - Bruins

As much as I love my Flyers I think the Bruins will be the toughest team to beat in the East.It should still be the most interesting out of all these series.

[joannARRGH]

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Canucks in 6
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings - Sharks in 7

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning - Washington in 6
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins - Bruins in 7

I really don't feel very strongly about any of my predictions...I think the matchups are pretty solid all round. If the Flayers goaltending continues to be bad then the Bruins have a chance, assuming they get some powerplay goals. Otherwise, I'd have to take the Flyers.

[jodie]

I'm somewhat baffled as to why the Red Wings/Sharks series is Friday and not Thursday. Vancouver's series just ended a couple days ago. Both the Wings and Sharks respective series' ended before that.

[Timara White]

Who knows what goes on inside the NHL HQ... :shrug:

[Dominic Vaughan]

I'm pulling for Vancouver to win this series against Nashville that starts tonight, but I'm somewhat skeptical given how little rest they've got and how physically draining a series against Nashville is to most teams.

[Maria Garcia]

Who knows what goes on inside the NHL HQ... :shrug:

All the games are planned out in september. Playing bck to back games is part of the sport.

[natalie mccormick]

All the games are planned out in september. Playing bck to back games is part of the sport.

The dates of playoff games are not. The only plans are for the Cup Finals and that happens around March or April. This playoff series couldn't have been predicted to go 7 in September 2010 and rest assured to keep ahead of the NBA they wouldn't give every team a week off like the Red Wings if all teams had advanced. The scheduling for playoff series in this case is baffling and a joke, especially given the Red Wings got one day off after Phoenix before taking on a well rested San Jose Sharks.

[Nick Jase Mason]

Western Conference
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (5) Nashville Predators - Canucks lead 1-0
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Detroit Red Wings -

Eastern Conference
(1) Washington Capitals vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning -
(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (3) Boston Bruins -

[Chris Johnston]

Nashville didn't feel like showing up it seems.

[Sabrina garzotto]

The dates of playoff games are not. The only plans are for the Cup Finals and that happens around March or April. This playoff series couldn't have been predicted to go 7 in September 2010 and rest assured to keep ahead of the NBA they wouldn't give every team a week off like the Red Wings if all teams had advanced. The scheduling for playoff series in this case is baffling and a joke, especially given the Red Wings got one day off after Phoenix before taking on a well rested San Jose Sharks.

They plan out all 7 games, even though some of the games wont be played. And the week of rest is part of the game for better teams. And come on I don't think there hasn't been a round 1 without a game 7 series in it. Last time they the Canucks got close to the cup they where slaughtered cause all of their series went to game 7.
And I think your a bit confused, Detroit is pretty well rested.