NHL Playoffs

May is here and we are in full swing with NHL and NBA playoffs.  Both sports have seen some of the best first round playoff series in recent memory, but the NHL never fails to impress; with three game 7’s in the first round and an epic comeback by the Los Angeles Kings, who were down 3-0 to San Jose and looked as if they were done.  

Boston Bruins Vs. Montreal Canadiens-series: 1-0 MTL

Game 1 of this series proved that the Bruins/Canadiens rivalry is still one of the best in all of sports. A hard fought game that went into 2 overtimes only ended when P.K. Subban scored his second goal of the night and gave Montreal a 1-0 series lead. Despite the loss, the Bruins showed during the second half of the season why they have been in the Stanley Cup Finals 2 out of the last 3 years.  Zdeno Chara and Tuukka Rask will prove to be too much for the young Canadiens and Boston will finish out the series in 6 games.

Pittsburgh Penguins Vs. New York Rangers-series: 1-0 NYR

This series should be an interesting one to watch. The Penguins barely made it out of the first round with Marc Andre-Fleury nearly having a monumental collapse. Although it will be a fun series to watch, the Rangers will be in control the entire time. Although the Rangers had their struggles during the regular season they are coming together at the perfect time behind veteran goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. With Fleury's playoff woes continuing the Rangers will win this series in 5.

Chicago Blackhawks Vs. Minnesota Wild-series: 1-0 CHI

Next we have our first Western Conference matchup: The Chicago Blackhawks had their moments in a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild Friday night but will need to be more consistent if they want to make it to the next round. The Blackhawks are a team that always seem to turn it on during the playoffs, however they will be tested by a Minnesota team that has some fire power, which we saw in their first round matchup against Colorado. This series could go both ways, but if Chicago jumps out of the gates early this series could be over sooner than expected.

*Because I am a die hard Ducks fan, there will be a longer piece on the Kings/Ducks series before tonight's game 1. Stay Tuned.
-Derick Riggs