After an exciting first round of the NHL playoffs, we begin Round 2 with interesting match-ups that should provide us with high-octane, highly physical hockey as teams look to tighten up any problems from the first round on their road to Lord Stanley’s Cup. Let’s take a look at the second round match-ups and figure out who has the best chance to reach the conference championships.

Eastern Conference:

Buffalo vs. New York Rangers

Both New York and Buffalo had easy times in Round 1, as New York quickly dispatched an overmatched Atlanta squad and Buffalo made things look easy against the New York Islanders. Now, with both teams playing relatively well and with plenty of confidence, the Sabres have managed to take a two-games-to-none series lead with Game 3 heading back to New York. Buffalo has relied upon quality goaltending and overwhelming the Rangers with a swarming defense in both games thus far and timely goals in Game 2. In order for New York to get back in the series, it will have to be able to take both games at home to make the series go to at least six games. If they can extend the series as long as possible and continually bombard Sabres goalie Ryan Miller with shots, the Rangers may be able to survive this second round and advance. However, if Buffalo can continue to press the Rangers on defense, the series will last five games at the most.

New Jersey vs. Ottawa

These two teams also come off of relatively easy first rounds. New Jersey got a scare from the scoring trio of Brad Richards, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, but was able to put forth a complete team effort to advance past Tampa Bay in six games. Ottawa experienced a physical first round with Pittsburgh, but simply was too much for the young Penguins to handle as the Sens finished the series in five games. After two games, including a double overtime 3-2 New Jersey victory, this series has all the makings of a wire-to-wire thriller. Both goalies look to figure out their opponents as both Ray Emery and Martin Brodeur have given up seven goals in two games. Ottawa is the offensive juggernaut in the series and if they continue to play the way they did against the Penguins, they can shoot New Jersey right out of the series. But with Martin Brodeur in net, you can never really count out the Devils. Look for this series to go six games with the Ottawa Senators continuing to shake their past playoff woes and moving on to play Buffalo in the conference finals.

Western Conference:

Detroit vs. San Jose

Detroit plowed through a game Calgary team that couldn’t muster enough against the top-ranked Western Conference team. San Jose played an amazingly physical opening round against Nashville, but won the series in five games. With the current series tied at one game apiece, look for both teams to try to find that deciding edge. Detroit will continue to ride Dominik Hasek for as long as he will take them, while San Jose will plug in whoever of the their two goalies is hotter, Evgeni Nabakov or Vesa Toskala. San Jose can pull out the series if Detroit falls into a quick funk, but look for the Red Wings to be right where they usually are, on the cusp of the Stanley Cup finals, in six games.

Anaheim vs. Vancouver

The Ducks marched through Minnesota in five games and right into the conference semi-finals. Vancouver merely survived their first round match-up with Dallas that went seven games, including four 1 goal games and two overtime match-ups, one that went an extra four frames. These two teams employ strong goaltending with very strong forwards.  However, this series could be won from the blue line by Anaheim’s Scott Neidermayer and Chris Pronger. Both defensemen possess amazing offensive abilities and should be able to provide scoring on the power play against a tired Vancouver squad. Look for this series to last six games with Anaheim moving on despite the strong play of the Canuck’s Roberto Luongo.