There are some key series going on in Round 2 that pit the greatest players in the world against some upset specialists, like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. Ovechkin has a 2-0 lead against Sidney Crosby and the Penguins, with the series headed back to the Steel City on Wednesday night for Game 3. Meanwhile, two other series that I’m keeping an eye on are Boston vs. Carolina (tied at 1) and Detroit vs. Anaheim, which was a testament of wills and one to remember for a long time to come as the Ducks went into Hockey Town and outworked the Champs to tie the series at 1. After the Red Wings had tied the game at 3, it would be Anaheim who would put the Champs in a precarious position as they would take away home ice from the Red Wings. Why have the playoffs been so memorable you ask? Because there have been key players that have stepped up at unpredictable times, and young goalies that have not brought their A-game (like Marc-Andre Fleury). Is the steel curtain closing on these Penguins once again, just as it did with Marian Hossa (who was acquired by the defending champion Red Wings)? Will Hossa face the harshest reality in sports of once again not having his name engraved on the Stanley Cup? Only time will tell if the aging Red Wings can survive a raucous Honda Center in Anaheim. You must have the will to survive in the playoffs.
