SECOND ROUND SCATTERTHOUGHTS

PENGUINS-CAPITALS
I had the honor of calling most of this epic clash between two of the games most luminescent young stars (Crosby and Ovechkin) and featuring the top 3 scorers from the regular season (Malkin, Ovechkin, and Crosby).

The games were high theater (until Game 7s dud) but the bigger charge I got out of the whole affair was the opportunity to call the games with Mike "Doc" Emerick.

Doc is a legend - and a Hall of Famer - and one of the nicest, most professional and beloved individuals I've ever come across in my line of vocation. Many current broadcasters who think they are the center of their little TV universes, and who believe they are overworked or under appreciated, the ones who try hard to be bigger than the game they are calling, those who act like pompous, spoiled narcisists, they should all spend a day with the "Doctor" and witness true greatness, see what a real workday looks like.

He says he's on "the back nine" of his career behind the mic but he'd still embarrass them all.

The 5 games with him were an education and extremely my pleasure.

And one more thing, who will be the signature voice for hockey in the U.S. when Doc does decide to call it a career? I have some front runners but talk about a vacuum.

As far as the series...Crosby was Tiger, Ovechkin is Mickelson...and Varlamov is more Mike Moffat than Ken Dryden.

BOSTON-CAROLINA
The Bs went to sleep in the middle of the series and Eastern Conference #1 seed found themselves in a Game 7, and it didn't go well.

In the end Ward was better than Thomas in the pipes, and the Canes were faster than the Bruins in the neutral zone.

The league office died a little when Walker scored to knock the big market Bs out, just two games after getting only a lecture and a fine for sucker-punching Aaron Ward.

How bout them Canes. They either miss the playoffs by a mile, or go deep in pursuit of the Cup!

DETROIT-ANAHEIM
Red Wings are too deep. Osgood just wins. Babcock is the games best tweaker and motivator.

Ducks were one line, a veteran checker, a deep d-corp, and a Swiss version of Steve Penney in net. Not enough to topple the defending Cup champs - but close.

CHICAGO-VANCOUVER
The young Hawks are playoff precocious. They aren't supposed to be mature enough for this deep a run. But the kids are alright, Khabibulin is a proven big save goalie, and the Blackhawks seem to have role players embracing their roles. Oh, and they can skate, which is why they can hang with Detroit's stuff now.

The Canucks are built around Roberto Luongo's netminding and he sucked in a must win Game 6. Shocking.

Like everyone else the Canucks had problems with the Hawks combination of speed and skill...and moxy. Now what do they do? The Sedins are UFAs and Luongo is entering the final year of his contract. Can you say makeover?

I'm doing Pens-Canes East Final so watch - they need the ratings and I'll say something outlandish to keep your attention...