The panel gives their picks for the second round.

After a very successful first round record of 7-1, the Experts Panel returns with their predictions for round two! We had three experts with perfect 8-0 records in the opening round: Dobber, Collins and Daoust. In all, the 15 experts combined for a 92-28 record.

Look back on the full set of predictions made prior to the start of the playoffs here.

Without further ado here are the big picks for round 2 along with additional comments below! Of course, you can chime in with your own thoughts in the comments section.

Barrett

The Lightning and a hot Tyler Johnson push the Habs with their speed, but ultimately Price out duels Bishop.

The Capitals showed a desire to win in their seven game series vs the Islanders that we haven’t seen in years, but I don’t know if theres a team in the league that executes their system better than the Rangers. Their responsible three-zone play will make it hard for Ovi and co. to find much room out there, and King Henrik should stifle anything that slips through the cracks.

Johnny Hockey and his squad of young guns may have the heart, but lack the experience needed to beat these grizzled Ducks veterans. Anaheim’s superior talent will accelerate that process.

The Hawks are normally the favorites this time of year, but this Wild team just has too much to prove. Since the acquisition of Chris Stewart this hockey hotbed has not looked back, and all that money spent on free agents is paying off. Dubnyk should be steadier than the Crawford, Darling duo and Parise will continue to step up to the plate in big moments.

Brouwer

Montreal in 5 – Price continues MVP season as Canadiens use a similar shutdown system as the Red Wings.

Washington in 7 – this series has 7 games written all over. Ovechkin carries his team to the eastern conference finals

Anaheim in 4 – too big and strong. Too deep. The Ducks will make quick work of the Flames.

Minnesota in 6 – Dubnyk will still a game or two and Chicago’s goalies will struggle. Dream season for Dubnyk will continue.

Campkin

Calgary’s season can already be considered a success and I think that the Ducks provide matchup issues down the middle for the Flames that weren’t there in the Vancouver series. The Ducks are rolling right now and I don’t see Calgary being the team to stop them.

Minnesota has been one of (if not THE) best teams for a couple months now. The Wild’s posession game can help to neutralize the firepower of Kane, Toews, Hossa and company so I think goaltending will be the difference in this one. Whether they go with Darling or Crawford (looks like Crawford),there are question marks in the Chicago net, while Dubnyk has been stellar for an extended period of time. Minnesota to win a tight series with the potential for a few OTs.

Outside of goaltending, Tampa is easily the more complete team and I feel like they are going to be one of those playoff teams who improve as they go throughout their run. Carey Price will steal a game or two, but I don’t think he can take the whole series.

Caps/Rangers is the hardest series to handicap for me. It will be a tight, hard fought series but I think that the power play will be the difference. Washington’s potent PP was first overall at 25.3% in the regular season and converted 4 for 13 against the Rangers while the Rangers PP came in at 21st. In a series that should be played tight and physical with two great goaltenders, making an impact with the man advantage will be key for the Caps.

Clifford

I think without Zuccarello for the Rangers, these are two evenly-matched teams from top to bottom.

Tampa Bay absolutely owned Montreal this year, and I give that more credence than the playoff series last year.

The Ducks shouldn’t have much trouble rolling over a Calgary team that hasn’t won in Anaheim since I was in high school.

Chicago and Minnesota are two fairly even teams, even if Toews provides a true #1 centre advantage over anyone from Minnesota, I think Dubnyk provides a bit more security in net (and I can’t believe I just typed that sentence).

Coretti

Habs/Lightning – This series may go the distance. But I like the Habs for one reason… Price. How can you bet against this guy? If this does indeed go the distance my money is on Carey to get it done against Bishop.

Caps/Rangers – Both these teams are built for the playoffs. However, I have to go with the Rangers here as they have a ridiculous amount of depth. If the Rangers can shut down the Great 8, this series can end in a hurry.

Hawks/Wild – It’s meant to be. The main difference in this series will be in net. I just don’t believe in Crawford and I think the Wild will get revenge against the Blackhawks in a nail biter of a series.

Ducks/Flames – Flames Cinderella run will end here. The Ducks core are to experienced (Getzlaf/Perry) and the Flames young guns will be overwhelmed. Ducks will roll into the Conference Finals with ease.

Dobber

Dubnyk and Price will be huge stories in this round, and my Cup Final picks remain Anaheim versus the Rangers. I came out of the first round 8-0 for what I think is my first time ever and I feel pretty confident about my second round picks.

Gooding

The Flames will keep on being the Flames and hang around games, making each game close the way that Winnipeg did with the Ducks in the first round. But the Ducks look like a nasty piece of business right now. If the Canucks managed to sneak past the Flames, even I wouldn't have given them much hope against the Ducks. In the end, expect the physical Ducks to have their way with the smaller Flames.

Hopkins

-Ovi held to 2 goals in series

-Crawford stays sharp and plays all 6

-Flames/Ducks ends up being best series of second round.

Libin

Betting on Crawford/Darling continuing to struggle. Minnesota is pretty much as deep as Chicago but Chicago's ability to suppress shots has slipped this year.

Anaheim is too deep and talented for Calgary to upset them. Anaheim has two high-end lines (Getzlaf and Kesler's) and a third competent line (Cogliano's), meaning they are much better suited to beat Calgary than Vancouver was.

Montreal had trouble with Ottawa and Tampa is on another level. Even if Stamkos continues to struggle the triplets provide enough high-end offence to keep pushing a Montreal team that routinely gets outshot. With Bishop healthy and a half-decent backup in Vasilevskiy this won't be a repeat of last year.

Pudsey

The Lightning owned the Habs all regular season, I don’t see that changing in the playoffs. The Rangers are the best team in the east but this should be a good series. I think the goaltending for Chicago is too sketchy to carry them past a very deep Minnesota team. I realize that Hiller will want to prove that the Ducks made a mistake in letting him go but sometimes those emotions can get the better of you. Don’t think for a second the Ducks don’t know how to shoot on Hiller either. The Flames are about to fizzle against one of the best teams in the West.

Roos

The Habs got here despite a hiccup game from Price and an offense that was mostly dormant. Sorry Bolts, but don’t look for either of those things to recur in round two.

I think the winner of Rangers/Capitals emerges as this year’s Stanley Cup Champion; and in the spirit of the Kings last season I like the comeback Caps to emerge, as their goaltending is sharp enough and the emergence of Kuznetsov (not to mention Backstrom’s new found willingness to shoot the puck and Ovi’s track record against King Henrik) gives Washington the edge.

Dubnyk has now shown he can handle the added spotlight, while Crawford seems like he’s destined to be the Marc-Andre Fleury of this year’s playoffs. Advantage Wild.

Hiller seizes the opportunity to beat his former team, while this round Anaheim won’t have the benefit of its opponent choking away a third period lead in three different games.

Wassel

-Joel Ward scores GWG in OT

-Justin Fontaine scores GWG in Double OT

-Perry, Getzlaf, and depth are too much for very game Flames.