Round 2 Wrap Around

Round 2 Wrap Around

Eastern Conference

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

7. Ottawa Senators

Penguins win in 5

Pittsburgh continues to dominate the playoffs, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals by ripping through Ottawa in five games. The Pens dynamic offense was on display when the series was closing out, outscoring Ottawa 13 – 5 in Games 4 and 5.

What a story Tomas Vokoun has become during Pittsburgh's run! After being the backup during the regular season, Vokoun relieved a struggling Marc-Andre Fleury in Game 5 against the New York Islanders. Since, then he has posted a 6 – 1 – 1 record, 1.85 GAA, .941 save percentage, and one shutout.

Three Penguins are in the top five for playoff goals scored: Sidney Crosby, Pascal Dupuis with 7, James Neal with 6.

Goal-tending is arguably the most important piece of a championship team. If Vokoun can keep up his superior play, and with the Penguins offensive power, they can find themselves back in the Stanley Cup Final for the third time in six years.

After losing the 2008 Stanely Cup to Detroit 4 games to 2, the Penguins found themselves in a rematch in 2009. This time, they hoisted the trophy, defeating the Wings 4 games to 3.

Pittsburgh is set to take on Boston in the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals.

Game 1 is in Pittsburgh, June 1 @ 8 P.M.

4. Boston Bruins

6. New York Rangers

Bruins win in 5

The Boston Bruins made quick work of the New York Rangers, defeating them in five games. They went up 3 games to none and never looked back. Boston plays a gritty style of play and have a tremendous amount of size, which was no match for the Rangers.

Bruins rookie defense-man, Torey Krug was dynamic in the series, scoring four times and registering one assist.

David Krejci leads the playoffs in points with 17. Nathan Horton is fifth with 12 points. Tuukka Rask was a stone wall in net for Boston, posting a 1.86 GAA and a .936 save percentage.

Boston looks to return to the Cup Finals for the second time in three years. They won the 2011 Stanley Cup, beating Vancouver 4 games to 3.

Western Conference

1. Chicago Blackhawks

7. Detroit Red Wings

Blackhawks win in 7

The most successful team in the regular season had quite a scare in round two! After going down 3 games to 1, the Chicago Blackhawks turned the series around and won three straight to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

With the offensive power in Patrick Shark, Marian Hossa, and Patrick Kane, the 'Hawks found a way to survive. Corey Crawford played well in net, anchoring Chicago's defense.

Brent Seabrook's wrist shot 3 minutes and 35 seconds into overtime in Game 7 sent the 'Hawks to the Western Conference Finals.

Chicago hopes to make it back to the Cup Finals for the second time in four years. They captured the 2010 Stanley Cup after defeating Philadelphia, 4 games to 2.

Chicago hosts Los Angeles in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals, June 1 @ 5 P.M.

5. Los Angeles Kings

6. San Jose Sharks

Kings win in 7

The Los Angeles Kings continues to prove why they are the defending Stanley Cup Champions in their series with San Jose. Great teams find ways to win important games and that is exactly what LA did in Game 7, eking out a 2 – 1 victory.

Jonathan Quick has been unreal in between the pipes for the Kings, posting a 1.5 GAA, .948 save percentage and three shutouts! All three of those statistics are ranked 1^st for playoff goaltenders! As stated previously, great goal-tending is vital in the playoffs, and with Quick, the Kings are looking really good to make it back to the Finals!

San Jose gave the defending Champs all they could handle, bouncing back from a 2 – 0 hole to tie the series at 2 and then tying the series at 3 in Game 6.

A low scoring series throughout, four of the seven games finished with a 2 – 1 score.

If the Kings defeat Chicago it will be the first time a defending champion made it back to the Cup Finals since 2009, where the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins played for the Cup in a rematch of the 2008 Finals.

The Kings also look to be the first team since the 1998 Detroit Red Wings to win back to back Stanley Cups.

If any team can do it, it will be this team, as they possess the mold of a repeat champion!

Sources:

nhl.com