NHL roundup: Crosby-Ovechkin rivalry takes center stage

[Forkboy]

Even with all the exciting young talent the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals possess, you know this series is going to be heralded as the ultimate showdown of "Sid the Kid" and "AO."

And with good reason. For the four seasons they have been in the NHL, the media has put the hype machine on overdrive to create a Sidney Crosby-Alexander Ovechkin rivalry. But this season, the two players finally began to stir the pot themselves, as evidenced by their back-and-forth exchange following the third regular-season meeting. You'll read these quotes over and over again in the coming days…

"What I can say about him? He is a good player, but he talks too much."

-- Ovechkin on Crosby

"Like it or lump it, that's what he does. Some people like it, some people don't. Personally, I don't like it."

-- Crosby on Ovechkin's goal celebrations

(I don't like it either, Sidney)

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420648&navid=DL|NHL|Home

Bruins are well rested for battle with Hurricanes

The Boston Bruins are reaping the benefits of being the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the first round, the Bruins drew an injured and troubled Montreal Canadiens team, sweeping aside their traditional rivals. Now, because of re-seeding, the Bruins draw the sixth-seeded Carolina Hurricanes, the lowest-remaining seed in the East, in the second round.

But the Bruins better be careful about what they wish for. Carolina is a dangerous team that has an air of magic about it after escaping the first round, despite trailing 3-2 in the series against New Jersey and 3-2 with 1:20 left in Game 7. Goalie Cam Ward is a Stanley Cup-winning goalie who showed his never-say-die attitude throughout the Devils series, outplaying Marty Brodeur across seven back-and-forth games.

Still, the Bruins know they have the tools to handle Carolina. After all, Boston won all four games in the regular-season series and has its own pretty good goalie in Tim Thomas, a Vezina Trophy candidate. Plus, Boston can use monstrous Zdeno Chara in an attempt to neutralize top center Eric Staal. The Devils had no such player and Staal proved to the series-changer in the first round.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420624


Wings present a stern test for surprising Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks might have been the last team that the Detroit Red Wings expected to play in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After all, few thought the Ducks, the No. 8 seed, would get past the Presidents' Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks. But Anaheim did just that, dispatching the tournament's top seed in six surprisingly easy games.

The Ducks used the same formula they employed in winning the 2007 Stanley Cup -- clutch goaltending, timely scoring and deploying one of the NHL’s deepest and most diverse blue lines in flawless fashion to neutralize the top threats from the Sharks.

Now, however, the Ducks must find a way to neutralize the defending Cup champion, a team that seems to be hitting its stride after looking for traction for stretches in the regular season. The Wings dispatched a game Columbus Blue Jackets club in the first round with a stunning display of overall team efficiency and good goaltending from the heretofore struggling Chris Osgood.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420522

Can Canucks' defense stop Hawks' offense?

The Vancouver Canucks taking on the Chicago Blackhawks will be all about strength vs. strength. Whichever team buckles first will likely be tasked with figuring out went wrong in two weeks' time.

For Vancouver, the Northwest Division champion, the key is defense -- specifically goalie Roberto Luongo, who allowed only six goals in a four-game sweep against St. Louis in the first round. Only three teams in the West allowed fewer goals in the regular season than the 220 Vancouver gave up, a number that is inflated by Luongo's long-term absence with a groin injury.

For Chicago, it is about offense. As soon as the Hawks got past the shock of being in the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002 -- and only the second time since 1997 -- the team's young guns set about strafing a veteran Calgary team. Chicago outscored the Flames 21-14, including a 9-2 margin in the final two games. The young trio of Kris Versteeg, a Calder Trophy candidate, Pat Kane and Jonathan Toews combined for 17 points in the six games, showing no fear of the game's biggest stage.

Now, however, it is a question of what that trio -- and the rest of the Hawks -- can do against Luongo, the best goalie in the first round, and the defensive-minded Canucks.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=420554

[inthebrain]

1. I gotta take Chicago over Vancouver

I don't think Vancouver has the horses to take on Chicago. I think Chicago has the better D. I'm thinking Chicago in five or six. I think Vancouver might be a little easier for them to handle than Calgary.

Pittsburgh VS Washington?

I think Washington comes into this series a little gassed and banged up. Pittsburgh could also be rusty a little rusty but I gotta take Pittsburgh. I think Washington is a little better on D but the long first round series is gonna have it's effect.

Detroit over Anaheim. Detroit is just too deep.

Boston VS Carolina?

Gotta go with Boston. Too big and too fast. Very tough combination. Not a big fan of Boston's lack of Defensive depth but everyone pitches in on that team. Also, for the reasons stated above with Washington.

Gotta get those first round series over quick.

[MrPerson]

2. Semin is the guy we need to stop.