[Sport] NHL Playoffs 2012: Round 2 is in the can.
So it's that time again. The conference semi-finals of the NHL playoffs are over, and I'm going to take a look at what went on and who's left to fight for Lord Stanley's cup. This is going to be fairly short, as I didn't actually get to watch much of what was happening
After praising the St Louis Blues for making it into the playoffs, and saying that they obviously deserved it after a strong 1st round, I'm disappointed in their performance in round 2. They crashed out 4-0 to the L.A. Kings. Now admittedly the Kings look exceptionally strong, and seem to be coming good at the right time, but the Blues just seemed as though they were a bit dazed. From all of the highlights and snatches of the games that I managed to see, they just didn't seem to be putting up much of a fight. On the other hand I was very impressed by the Kings. Obviously their defeat of the Canucks in round 1 was better crafted than I thought.
I was similarly disappointed by the Nashville Predators. I stated in my previous post on the playoffs that they were a team to watch, but they went down 4-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes. I think that the series was closer than the final score indicates, but the Predators just didn't seem to have the finishing ability of the Coyotes, and Pekka Rinne was having a pretty torrid time in front of the net. The Coyotes on the other hand were outstanding. Clinical, ruthless, and able to fight back where necessary. Phoenix seems a strange place for a top ice hockey team to hail from, but you can't say that they didn't earn their wins.
L.A. against Phoenix is going to be a great conference finals round.
The theme of disappointment continues somewhat with the Philadelphia Flyers versus New Jersey Devils series, with the latter winning 4-1. On reflection however I think that the Flyers were flattered somewhat by their first round results. Their performance wasn't great; it was just better than the Penguins'. Their goaltender was still very leaky, and the very strong attacking potential was blunted somewhat by the Devils' Martin Brodeur in goal, who turned out to be a much sterner proposition than Marc-Andre Fleury had been. Again, a closer series than the 4-1 score indicates, but the Flyers ultimately lacked in defence and it cost them.
The highlight of this round was the Washington Capitals against the New York Rangers, and once again the Rangers needed all 7 games to seal the deal. This series was too close to call all the way through, with the games swinging to and fro. We even had a triple overtime game! Either team would have been worthy winners, and the standard of hockey being played was very high. A joy to watch.
Both of the conference finals look like juicy prospects. Sadly I again don't think that I'll be able to watch much of them, as I'm very busy over the next few weekends.
After praising the St Louis Blues for making it into the playoffs, and saying that they obviously deserved it after a strong 1st round, I'm disappointed in their performance in round 2. They crashed out 4-0 to the L.A. Kings. Now admittedly the Kings look exceptionally strong, and seem to be coming good at the right time, but the Blues just seemed as though they were a bit dazed. From all of the highlights and snatches of the games that I managed to see, they just didn't seem to be putting up much of a fight. On the other hand I was very impressed by the Kings. Obviously their defeat of the Canucks in round 1 was better crafted than I thought.
I was similarly disappointed by the Nashville Predators. I stated in my previous post on the playoffs that they were a team to watch, but they went down 4-1 to the Phoenix Coyotes. I think that the series was closer than the final score indicates, but the Predators just didn't seem to have the finishing ability of the Coyotes, and Pekka Rinne was having a pretty torrid time in front of the net. The Coyotes on the other hand were outstanding. Clinical, ruthless, and able to fight back where necessary. Phoenix seems a strange place for a top ice hockey team to hail from, but you can't say that they didn't earn their wins.
L.A. against Phoenix is going to be a great conference finals round.
The theme of disappointment continues somewhat with the Philadelphia Flyers versus New Jersey Devils series, with the latter winning 4-1. On reflection however I think that the Flyers were flattered somewhat by their first round results. Their performance wasn't great; it was just better than the Penguins'. Their goaltender was still very leaky, and the very strong attacking potential was blunted somewhat by the Devils' Martin Brodeur in goal, who turned out to be a much sterner proposition than Marc-Andre Fleury had been. Again, a closer series than the 4-1 score indicates, but the Flyers ultimately lacked in defence and it cost them.
The highlight of this round was the Washington Capitals against the New York Rangers, and once again the Rangers needed all 7 games to seal the deal. This series was too close to call all the way through, with the games swinging to and fro. We even had a triple overtime game! Either team would have been worthy winners, and the standard of hockey being played was very high. A joy to watch.
Both of the conference finals look like juicy prospects. Sadly I again don't think that I'll be able to watch much of them, as I'm very busy over the next few weekends.
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