NHL / Richard Douglas / 02 May 2009 / Leave a comment

The search for the Stanley Cup winner is slowly coming to its conclusion as the final eight teams begin their Conference semi-finals. Richard Douglas provides his form-guide going into Round Two.

Perhaps the most contrasting match-up see Boston Bruins [1.02] take on the Carolina Hurricanes [3.35]. The latter pulled off the shock of Round One by seeing off the highly-fancied New Jersey Devils. The series was tied at 3-3 with the Hurricanes looking likely causalities in the final game on away ice the Prudential Centre. Despite that fact that goaltender Cam Ward kept them in the game by saving all 12 shots in the third quarter, the Devils seemed set to progress leading 3-2 with 80 seconds left. But first Jussi Jokinen tied them game before Eric Staal snatched it with 30 seconds remaining.

A stunning comeback but you wonder what they have left. Boston have looked Stanley Cup material all season. Their League position saw them seeded high and therefore they drew an injury-hit Montreal Canadiens in Round One. Having swatted them aside 4-0, they have been resting up and, yet again, their seeding means that this time they face the bottom-ranked side in the Eastern side of the draw.

Goaltender Tim Thomas and defenceman Zdeno Chara are the bed-rocks of the side. In the regular season, Boston won all four games against Carolina scoring 18 goals and conceding just six. The Hurricanes have added Erik Cole since then but it is hard to see much difference.

Boston are one of only three teams in single figure odds to lift then Stanley Cup. Not surprisingly they took the first rubber of the series against Carolina on Friday night.

The other semi-final in the East sees a clash of the marquee names in NHL right now. Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals ([1.95]) plus Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins ([2]) filled the top three places in the goalscoring charts in the regular season.

That said, Nicklas Backstorm and Alex Semin did as much as anybody to inspire the Capitals to come from 3-1 down to win the best of seven series against the New York Rangers in Round One. Washington struggled then shone last year at this stage before being edged out. If, as it appears, they have learned their lessons they could be on for long run in the competition.

Pittsburgh were the beaten finalists last year so you could argue their experience is greater. However no side has won the Stanley Cup the year after losing the final since Wayne Gretsky inspired the Edmonton Oilers back in 1983. However a quality goaltender is essential from here on in and the Penguins Marc-Andre Fleury fits the bill. In game four of their 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers in Round One he saved 45 of the 46 shots fired at him.

The Anaheim Ducks [1.5] sprang a hefty surprise in Round One by seeing off the San Jose Sharks 4-2 in relatively straightforward fashion. But now they have to do the same thing to a factor of 10 when they take on defending champions Detroit Red Wings [1.01]. The Ducks play a simple but cagey game and have an excellent goaltender in Joan Hillier. They won only one of the four meetings between the sides in the regular season though two of those were by only one goal. Friday's opener in this series kept with that form line with Detroit winning 3-2.

The Redwings have looked patchy at times this season but seem to have found a groove at the right time. Columbus Blue Jackets were blown away in four games with an aggregate score of 18-7. Left wing Henrik Zetterburg got four of them.

Vancouver Canucks [(1.38]) have the weight of a nation on their shoulders ahead of their series with the Chicago Blackhawks [3.0]. After Montreal, Calgary, Ottawa and Edmonton all went out, they are last Canadian side left in the competition. This match-up could be very close. It is real irresistible force versus immoveable object stuff.

Vancouver goaltender Roberto Luongo conceded only six goals in their 4-0 demolition of St Louis in Round One. In the regular season they had the third best defence in the two Conferences.

However, Chicago rely on their offence. They outscored Calgary 21-14 in Round One. Their young trio of Kris Versteeg, Pat Kane and Jonathan Toews got 17 of those. The Blackhawks have the fearlessness of youth on their side. It could count for quite a lot. However on Friday night the Canucks started off Round Two with a 5-3 win.

By May 14 we will know the Conference Finalists (aka the Stanley Cup Semi-Finalists). Detriot (2.66] remain rightfully short for the big prize and Vancouver [6.2] are contenders but my current flavour is Boston [5.0].

Claude Julien's side seem to have everything in their locker. The only doubt is how they cope with pressure in the latter stages when it becomes apparent they might just end Boston's 30-year wait for the big prize.

We'll see.