Bruins DieHard: A Look Around The NHL Playoffs
BOSTON (CBS) - Because I have no life, I probably watch entirely too much hockey, especially at playoff time.
But really, if you are a sports fan, there really is nothing better than watching playoff hockey and seeing the upsets and the upsets in the making.
And now with social media, you can witness all kinds of entertainment from fans of the cities involved with Facebook and Twitter.
CANUCKS-KINGS
First, we take a look at the Presidents Trophy winners, the Vancouver Canucks, who now find themselves down two games to none to the eighth seeded Los Angeles Kings and heading south for the next two. Last year's runner-ups are in dire straits and as usual, there is talk of possibly a goalie change for Game 3. That would give Corey Schneider his first ever playoff start.
But of course, coach Alain Vigneault has refused to name his starter for Game 3. As a result, the Vancouver natives are very restless and should they get down three games, oh what fun it will be in British Columbia.
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FLYERS-PENGUINS
The Philadelphia Flyers have a habit of getting behind by two or three goals lately, but that has not prevented them from coming back and winning the first two games of their series against the favored Pittsburgh Penguins in dramatic fashion.
In Game 1, the Penguins shot out to a 3-0 lead only to have the Flyers, led by Claude Giroux, come back to tie and then win the game in overtime.
In Game 2, the same thing happened. Sidney Crosby scored 15 seconds into the game. They then forged into a 3-1 lead only to have the Flyers tie it, go ahead, go behind and finally blow away the Pens by an 8-5 score.
This one is far from over, but Pittsburgh MUST win Game 3.
RANGERS-SENATORS
Who knew that the New York Rangers and the Ottawa Senators would show so much hatred for one another?
The Rangers blew out the Sens in the first game 4-1 and it wasn't really that close.
Game 2 began with game misconducts to New York's Brandon Dubinsky and Ottawa's Terry Carkner, as he checked Brian Boyle and then began to pummel Boyle into the ground. Dubinsky came to Boyle's rescue and got the game for third man in.
New York took liberties with Ottawa in Game 1 and Sens coach Paul MacLean decided to put in a little grit to stem the tide. Hockey nastiness ensued but in overtime, another tough guy scored the winner and now that series is tied heading up to Canada's Capital!
RED WINGS-PREDATORS
Detroit & Nashville head to the Joe Louis Arena for Game 3 tied at one game a piece, and although the Red Wings came back to tie that series at one, make no mistake about it, the Predators will give them a fight in the theatre where the Winged Wheel won an NHL Record 23 straight during the year.
Todd Bertuzzi, probably the pugilistic guy on the Wings, sent a message to Shea Weber and the rest of the Predators that bashing his teammates heads into the glass or any other shenanigans will not be tolerated.
PANTHERS-DEVILS
What should we make of the Florida Panthers? I'm not sure, as they played their first playoff game in a dozen years and yet there wasn't anyone there to see it. There were lots of people disguised as empty seats in Game 1.
The team didn't show up in the first period either, as the New Jersey Devils quickly stormed to a 3-0 lead and relied on their future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur to hold onto a 3-2 win and Brodeur's 100th NHL Playoff victory.
BLUES-SHARKS
The St. Louis Blues and the San Jose Sharks is another series knotted up at one game a piece and heading to the Northern California. These are two pretty evenly matched teams who have played two pretty spirited games.
Goaltending, though, is still the key in this series. Jaroslav Halak was knocked out of Game 2 by his own man. Of course, it's the dreaded upper body injury and from the way it looked, Halak probably got concussed.
There's still no nastiness yet, but that should change as it rolls along!
BLACKHAWKS-COYOTES
Here's yet another series that has been pretty exciting and tied at one. Chicago rallied in the third period of both games to tie the games and send them into overtime. Phoenix won Game 1 & Chicago won Game 2 after sending it to OT with 5 seconds left in the third.
Games Three & Four head to the United Center in Chicago. I still think Mike Smith will out-duel Corey Crawford and take this series. Stay tuned.
Ric Duarte has covered hockey and the Bruins for various media outlets since 1986. You can follow Ric at BruinsDieHard.com and at twitter @bruins_diehard.
