NHL Playoff Predictions: Round 3

Pittsburgh (2) vs. Philadelphia (6)
Can anyone say bloodbath?  These teams despise one another for many reasons, and it doesn’t help that they play eight times per year.  Both are young teams with veterans in key positions.  Pittsburgh is stacked with young natural talent – Crosby, Malkin, Hossa, Fleury, J. Staal, Malone – and key veterans – Roberts, Sykora, Gonchar.  But the Flyers have a balanced team that, in the words of Bill Clement, can bend without breaking; and as Jim Jackson pointed out, even when they break, they find ways to reassemble themselves.  Should be a great series.  – PITTSBURGH

Detroit (1) vs. Dallas (5)
Hockeytown meets the Big D.  Detroit is one of the most consistently excellent teams in the NHL.  Meanwhile, Dallas has been either the best team in the league or the worst – all in one season.  This should prove to be Detroit’s first real test in the playoffs.  Colorado was decimated by the Minnesota series, and the Predators remained in the running on the phenomenal performances from Dan Ellis.  With Marty Turco and Brendan Morrow on fire, it should prove an interesting series.  – DALLAS