Stanley Cup Playoffs

Just as they had done in their previous two series (against New Jersey and Boston), the Carolina Hurricanes sought to rebound with a win in Game 2 after losing Game 1. When Carolina has won Game 2, they have prevailed in their last five series.

Between Super Bowl XIX and XXXI, the NFC won 13-straight Vince Lombardi trophies. The AFC had no chance.

Well, since I proved my skills as a hockey playoff prognosticator (“Long Road to Stanley Cup Underway,” April 17), I thought I'd take a crack at a couple of second-round match-ups.

The New Jersey Devils, once again, fell to the Carolina Hurricanes’ late game magic as the visitors got two goals with under 90 seconds remaining in the game to win Game 7 4—3.

Amid the chaos surrounding the Rangers over the past 48 hours, a former defenseman of theirs, Tom Poti, came back to bite them in the rear on Sunday afternoon at MSG, as the Washington Capitals handily beat the Blueshirts 5—3 to force Game 7 on Tuesday night in Washington.

Heading into Sunday night’s Eastern Conference quarterfinal with the Carolina Hurricanes, the Devils have had an anemic 0—5 record against the ‘Canes in overtime games, including their loss on Friday night.

For me, the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs is the most exciting.