Sens Beat "Cindy" and the Pens, Face Devils in Round 2

It's been a long while since I last updated my blog and I've been told that I have to do a better job of doing so. So, let's talk Playoff Hockey! :)

First let's address the "whiner" label Sidney "Cindy" Crosby has inherited recently. I consider him to be one of the best young players in the world today. He plays hard, gives it 100% on every shift and also won the Art Ross Trophy for Top Scorer in the NHL (the youngest player to do so - ever), all while averaging 20 mins per game. Martin St Louis is the top ice time forward and averaged 24 mins per game and finished with 102 points (18 less then Crosby). All that to say, he's lives up to the "phenom" label as well.

However, when he get's hit anywhere near or around his face, his head whips back like he got hit by a truck and acts like he went to the Dominic Hasek school of acting (next for Crosby would be the helmet flying off for good measure). As a result of these theatrics, Crosby doesn't, and didn't in the series against Ottawa, draw as many penalties as he could since the Officials believe he's "diving", of sorts.

That aside, kudos to Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov of the Sens for being the shut down pair they were expected to be. Not only did they only allow Crosby to collect 5 points in his first ever playoff series, but they also restricted Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal to 4 and 3 points each, respectively (Malkin had zero goals).

And of course, Ray Emery, who collected a well deserved shutout in Game 5 to close out the series against the Penguins. He played pretty good hockey throughout the five games, but he'll have to play better against their next opponents: The New Jersey Devils.

With Martin Brodeur backstopping his team to 3 Stanley Cup Championships as well as being second on the all-time playoff games win list with 93 (second to none other then Patrick Roy), the Sens have their work cut out for them. They'll need all four lines rolling and producing offence if they hope to beat 'The Trap', and then their best defence: Brodeur.

However, if the Sens can produce the same type of 60 minute effort they did in games 1 and 5 against the Penguins, then I'm confident the Sens can succeed. I predict a 6 game series with the Sens advancing to the Conference Finals against...

My other Playoff Predictions:
Sabres vs Rangers: Sabres in 7 - This will be a high scoring series with both teams well known for their offence and their goaltending and not so well known for their defence (or lack thereof).

Red Wings vs Sharks: San Jose in 6 - The Sharks have more offence and a comparable defence to the Red Wings, however if Hasek can keep up his great playing the Red Wings might be able to pull it off.

Ducks vs Canucks: Canucks in 6 - The Vancouver Canucks have just completed a series that should have ended last week in Game 5. Finally the Sedin's decided to show up and make a difference. The Canucks will need the same production from them in this series that will have a lot more hitting in it compared to their series with the Stars. If Luongo can keep up his stellar play, they'll advance to the Conference Finals.

More to come...