After an exciting opening round which averaged six games per series, three of four go less than six in the second round.
However, the results look encouraging, as the National Hockey League can now boast of several quality potential finals matchups.

In the West, Detroit easily handled Colorado, sweeping them 4-0. In what was supposed to be a callback to legendary series past, Detroit outclassed Colorado in every category, capped off by an 8-2 win in game four in Denver. Over the course of the series, the Red Wings outscored the Avalanche 21-9. The Wings didn’t score less than four in any game.

The star of the series was undoubtedly Johan Franzen, who scored nine goals in four games, a Red Wings record and a feat not accomplished since Jarri Kurri did it in 1985. Franzen now has 26 goals in his last 26 games, an astounding accomplishment. Incidentally, the Red Wings have only lost six of those games.

Over in the East, both series went five games, with Pennsylvania coming out victorious. After losing the first game, Philadelphia reeled off four straight wins against the top-seeded Canadiens. After losing game one 4-3 in Montreal, the Flyers never allowed the Canadiens to take a lead in game two. After scoring two quick goals in the opening period, the Flyers match the Canadiens goal-for-goal.

Those two initial goals were the difference, as the Flyers went in to win 4-2. When the series shifted to the city of brotherly love, Montreal didn’t feel a lot of it. The Flyers won both games in Philadelphia, 3-2 and 4-2.

Back in Montreal, the hockey-crazed Montrealers could do nothing but watch as the puck sailed off Mike Knuble’s stick and into the empty net, sealing the game and the series for the Flyers. Much like Franzen, RJ Umberger was phenomenal this series, scoring eight goals in five game, including the go-ahead goal late in game five.

The other East series was the star-studded Penguins vs. the hall-of-famer-studded Rangers. Both teams had relatively easy first round series, so both were rested. But apparently the Penguins were more rested. They won the series 4-1, including a shutout.

The Rangers were lead by Jaromir Jagr, with 15 points in 10 games. Jagr is going to be a highly-sought out free agent, a potential target for the Kings. The dynamic duo of Canadian Sidney Crosby and Russian Evgeni Malkin again led the Penguins. They now both have 14 points in 9 games. Crosby’s 12 assists lead the playoffs.

Back in the West, the best series of the round was between the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. For the second series in a row, the Stars won both opening away games - a rare feat to be sure. They then won the third game of the series, giving them a 3-0 stranglehold.

Facing elimination and a game in Dallas, San Jose needed a win. They got it, with a third period goal from Milan Michalek and only one goal against from Evgeni Nabakov. Stars lead 3-1 going back to San Jose. The Sharks again needed a win to stay alive. They got it with a goal from Joe Pavelski 65 seconds into the first overtime.

That wouldn’t be the last overtime of the series. Game six was back in Dallas, and again the Sharks needed a win. It’s worth noting that in the 90-year history of the NHL, there have been two comebacks from 3-0 in the playoffs. One was in 1942. 33 years later, there was another in 1975. 33 years later, would there be another in 2008?

Because the Rangers and Avalanche both failed to come back from 3-0, it was clearly up to the Sharks. Sharks fans even set up believein33.com, listing the 33-related stats associated with the Sharks. There were, of course, 33 such stats. If the Sharks won game six, they would have been back home with all the momentum.

Game six began at 8:04pm on Sunday. It ended at 1:21am on Monday. It took the eighth longest game in NHL history (fifth in the modern era), but the Dallas Stars reach the Western Conference Finals. 33 was not to be. It took three periods, three overtimes, and nearly half of another overtime, but the Dallas Stars finally won on a Brendan Morrow powerplay goal.

The Conference Finals are now set. The Detroit Red Wings will play the Dallas Stars, in a battle of longtime powerhouses. The Stars have not had a losing season in a dozen years. And the Red Wings currently have the longest playoff appearance streak, 17 seasons, of any team in the four major sports leagues.

In the East, the Penguins and Flyers will square to battle for entrance into the Stanley Cup Finals and Pennsylvania supremacy. The Flyers are the surprise story of the playoffs. The worst team in the league last season, offseason moves have catapulted them into the upper echelon of NHL teams (the Kings should take note).

The next round begins on Thursday with Dallas in Detroit. The games will then alternate until the following Thursday.