Despite the week and a half long bout of nasty hit after nasty hit, the world still goes on. Sure, they did bring us a few suspensions but despite the cries of the sky falling from some anti-NHL fans out there, the playoff still continue as scheduled (Who would have thunk it right?). I had my complaints about suspension czar Brendan Shanahan last week and I won’t repeat those, but I have no problem starting a new rant. It’s not as long as the last one and in the interest of time, and wanting to get to my round two predictions I will keep it quick.

First, I won’t disagree with the suspending of Raffi Torres. I don’t think the hit was an intent to injure and I think it really was a borderline “leaving his feet”, but it was a real hard hit and he did contact the head so I am fine with the suspension. What I DO disagree with is the length. Repeat offender or not, you simply cannot put Torres into the Dale Hunter hall of shame and infamy for that hit, stretcher or not as well. I think it was a “I’ll show them” and knee jerk suspension by Shanny here, and it sucks that a hard nose, hard skating player like Torres had to get the length of suspension he got. No one in hockey says Torres is a dirty player, a guy who plays every shift as if he wants to kill someone sure, but he’s not “dirty”. He plays hard, and he plays to win. 25 games is too much.

However I DO have a HUGE problem that after the Torres hit Shanny apparently went on vacation. Oh and so did the hockey media. It’s as if they were happy and didn’t care about any other hits. CASE IN POINT—> The Chris Neil hit on Brian Boyle. It was just as hard as the Torres hit, he left his feet, he contacted the head of Boyle, and it also produced an injury. So where is the suspension Shanny? Where is the outcry for suspension? No where. Shame on you Shanahan, shame on you hockey media. Everyone is silent just  trying to move on after the hammer fell on Torres. And what’s worse? The fact that Ottawa is now OUT of the playoffs, so we won’t hear anything about it anymore. Once again Shanny has lost all credibility in my book for lack of action, and lack of consistency.

Moving on to the 2nd round of the playoffs I will give my predictions.

Rangers Vs Capitals

After the game 7 heroics by Lundqvist the Rangers are riding high, and they know they got away with one. They couldn’t score and their big names looked like ass on the ice. It’s time to nut up or shut up in this series. As for the Caps, they caught the Bruins napping and looking past them in round 1. Before the B’s could realize they needed to concentrate on the Caps it was too late.

While both teams won in heroic fashion it will be the Rangers who will win this one. Expect the Caps to steal one or two on home ice giving them some hope but it’s going to be the Rangers in 6.

Flyers Vs Devils

The Devils are the final team to advance to round 2 with yet another heroic OT finish to the series. And like the Caps they will simply be out gunned, and out classed in round 2. The Flyers are rested and stacked. As long as they don’t look past the Devils like the Bruins did to the Caps they will have no problems with the Devils. Marty Brodeur might be in the top 5 goalies of all time but he looked bad in round one and is simply done. Look for the Flyers to take control early and win this series in 5.

Kings Vs Blues

As great as the Kings were in the first round, I think it was more Vancouver being a train wreck then the Kings being good. Don’t get me wrong I have been a fan of the Kings for a couple of years now and Kopitar is among my facorite players, they simply won’t be able to keep up with the Blues in this series. The Blues will win this one in 6.

Predators Vs Coyotes

The whole world is buzzing about how good the Preds are this year. They are right but despite what YAHOO! sports says they aren’t the top team yet. That being said they are still better then the ‘yotes and will push this series to the brink. I think this is going to be the most fun series to watch out of all 4 of them left, and it will go to a game 7. Look for a Shea Weber OT winner in game 7 to be the difference in this series. (Yeah I know bold prediction but they are fun too!)

Sure I know, not much of an upset pick anywhere but it sets up a couple of fun final four match-ups for the Con Finals.

Rangers Vs Flyers and Blues Vs Predators. Check in next week to see how I did with these predictions.

–GeekJock

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