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Sixteen teams qualify for the NHL Playoffs, eight from the Eastern and eight from the Western conference. The three division winners in each conference earn the conference's top three playoff seeds. All rounds of the NHL Playoffs are best of 7 games.

As expected, the defending Stanley Cup champs Pittsburgh sent Ottawa packing in 6 games but had to work hard for their wins. Two of the 6 games went to overtime with one requiring 3 extra periods. Captain Crosby racked up 14 points to lead his team to the next round where they face the Canadiens who knocked off the President Trophy winners, Washington Capitals after being 3-1 down in the series. The Habs rode hot goalie Jarosalav Halak who allowed just 3 goals in the final three games ending the 1st round with 2nd best .939 save percentage.

The Flyers stunned the Devils and easily disposed off them in 5 games. Hall-of-famer Martin Brodeur was supposed to carry New Jersey deep after GM Lou Lamoriello splashed to get sniper Ilya Kovalchuk at the trade deadline. All those plans were thwarted when Boucher outdueled Brodeur who finished with a poor GAA of 3.01 and a 881 save percentage. Philadelphia now entertains Boston in their 2nd round matchup,

The games were a lot closer in the west. Vancouver and Chicago both fell behind in the series early but roared back with 3 straight wins against LA and Nashville respectively. They now meet each other for the 2nd consecutive year. Revenge will be on the Canucks minds as the Blackhawks defeated them last year at this same juncture.

In the other matchup, San Jose will play 5th seed Detroit. Both teams were favourites in their 1st round matchups but needed 6 and 7 games to setup this meeting. The Sharks big line of Heatley-Thorton-Marleau combined for just 1 goal, 9 assists with a +/- of minus 7. They will have to be a lot better if they have any chance of making it to the conference finals. The Red Wings  experience trumped youth as they thumped the Coyotes 6-1 in game 7. The Wings had a bad year but look for them to be more than a handful for the Sharks. Henrik Zetterberg is hot with 11 points already with 9 players with 5 or more points already in the playoffs.

Our prediction is that Boston will meet Pittsburgh in the conference finals.

Similarly, Detroit should meet Vancouver but San Jose and Chicago might have something to say about it.

Playoffs Schedule: 2nd Round.

Eastern Conference

Boston Bruins vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Game 1 - Sat. May 1, Philadelphia @ Boston, 12:30pm EST on TSN, NBC
Game 2 - Mon., May 3, Philadelphia @ Boston, 7pm EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game 3 - Wed. May 5, Boston @ Philadelphia, 7pm EST on TSN, VERUSUS
Game 4 - Fri. May 7, Boston @  Philadelphia, 7pm EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game *5 - Mon. May 10, Philadelphia @ Boston, 7pm EST on TSN2, VERSUS
Game *6 - Wed. May 12, Boston @ Philadelphia, TBD on TSN, VERSUS
Game *7 - Fri. May 14, Philadelphia @ Boston, 7pm EST on TSN, VERSUS

Pittsburg Penguins vs. Montreal Canadiens

Game 1 - Fri. Apr 30, Montreal @ Pittsburgh, 7pm EST on CBC
Game 2 - Sun. May 2, Montreal @ Pittsburgh, 2pm EST on CBC, NBC, RDS
Game 3 - Tue. May 4, Pittsburgh @ Montreal, 7PM EST on CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Game 4 - Thu. May 6, Pittsburgh @ Montreal, 7PM EST on CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Game 5* - Sat. May 8, Montreal @ Pittsburgh, 7PM EST on CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Game 6* - Mon. May 10, Pittsburgh @ Montreal, 7PM EST on CBC, VERSUS, RDS
Game 7* - Wed. May 12, Montreal @ Pittsburgh, TBD on CBC, VERSUS, RD

Western Conference

San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings
Game 1 - Thur. Apr 29, Detroit @ San Jose, 9PM EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game 2 - Sun. May 2, Detroit @ San Jose, 8PM EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game 3 - Tue. May 4, San Jose@ Detroit, 7:30PM EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game 4 - Thu. May 6, San Jose @ Detroit, 7:30PM EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game 5* - Sat. May 8, Detroit @ San Jose, 10PM EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game 6* - Mon. May 10, San Jose @ Detroit, 7:30PM EST on TSN, VERSUS
Game 7* - Wed. May 12, Detroit @ San Jose, TBD on TSN, VERSUS

Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks
Game 1 - Sat. May 1, Vancouver @ Chicago, 8PM EST on CBC, VERSUS
Game 2 - Mon. May 3, Vancouver @ Chicago, 9PM EST on CBC, VERSUS
Game 3 - Wed. May 5, Chicago @ Vancouver, 9:30PM EST on CBC, VERSUS
Game 4 - Fri. May 7, Chicago @ Vancouver, 9:30PM EST on CBC, VERSUS
Game 5* - Sun. May 9, Vancouver @ Chicago, 8:00PM EST on CBC, VERSUS
Game 6* - Tue. May 11, Chicago @ Vancouver, 9:30PM EST on CBC, VERSUS
Game 7* - Thu. May 13, Vancouver @ Chicago, 8:00PM EST on CBC, VERSUS

*If necessary

Schedule produced using NHL.com

File Photograph Copyright: Ched Davis