Tank's NHL Second Round Preview

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Eastern Conference

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• M1. Carolina Hurricanes vs. M3. Philadelphia Flyers
• Hurricanes in Five

The time is now for the Carolina Hurricanes. An Eastern Conference powerhouse for the last five years, they have reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times since 2019 and have advanced to the second round in every non-bubble season. They have to know that the door they have been knocking on for the past seven years is closed, or they will have to live with a legacy of failure. The Hurricanes had the best record in the Eastern Conference during the season and made quick work of the Senators, sweeping them in the first round. 

The Philadelphia Flyers are playing with house money. They made the playoffs for the first time in six years and won their first non-bubble playoff series since 2012. They have improved immensely and are clearly a team on the rise after eliminating the fading Penguins. However, the Hurricanes are a step above and know how to win at this stage of the playoffs. Carolina has scoring depth, experience, and toughness. Their play on specialty teams is superior and will make them an overwhelming favorite to win the Conference Finals if they advance. Look for this to be a quick series as the Hurricanes tear through Philadelphia in five games. 

A1. Buffalo Sabres vs.  TBD

Pick will appear following Game 7 of Tampa and Montreal.

Western Conference 

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• C1. Colorado Avalanche vs. C3. Minnesota Wild
• Avalanche in Seven

This could be the de facto Western Conference Finals as both teams are stronger than the Golden Knights and the Ducks. In fact, these are two of the top three teams in the Western Conference in the regular season. The Colorado Avalanche, with the weight of the President's Trophy curse dominating the Kings in a first-round sweep, while the Minnesota Wild took down the Stars in six games. 

The Avalanche has no weak spots; they are the best team in the NHL, and if they are healthy and playing at their best, they are a strong candidate to finish the regular season with the best record and win the Stanley Cup in 13 years. The Wild are coming off an impressive six-game victory over the Stars, who were the favorites heading into the series. Minnesota showed they could win important games on the road, winning twice in Dallas. The Wild got stellar goaltending from Jesper Wallstedt, while Matt Boldy led the way on offense with six goals. Minnesota's biggest weapon was Quinn Hughes, who had a pair of goals and six assists while playing shutdown defense in the opening round. This series should go the distance with the Avalanche getting an assist at altitude in the final game to survive in seven. 

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• P1. Vegas Golden Knights vs. P3. Anaheim Ducks
• Golden Knights in Six

The Vegas Golden Knights had an up-and-down season, but found themselves on top of the topsy-turvy Pacific Division when the regular season ended. In the playoffs, they overcame early struggles to cast off the Mammoth in six games. In danger of missing the playoffs, the Golden Knights finished strong, winning seven of their final eight games after a coaching change saw John Tortorella take over behind the bench. The coaching change was just the spark Vegas needed, as they carried it into their opening-round victory over Utah. 

The Anaheim Ducks are a young team on the rise, making the playoffs for the first time since 2018. They showed no respect to their elders in the first round, stunning the Oilers in six games. The same Oilers that had made the last two Stanley Cup Finals. The Ducks outskated the Oilers, who head into an uncertain offseason. They had edges in goaltending and energy, as the Oilers seemed to run out of gas when they fell behind in the series. Vegas, seeking to get back to the Stanley Cup Final, which they won in 2023, is surging at the right time. Tortorella has found the right formula to get Vegas on the verge of getting to another Western Conference Final. With scoring depth and goaltending playing a big factor, look for the Knights to win this series in six games.