The first round of the 2010 playoffs is in the books and the conference semifinals are well underway. In the West things pretty much followed suit as three of the top four seeds advanced past the first round. As we move into the semifinals here is a brief look at each series along with each team’s current odds to win their conference and the Stanley Cup.
#2 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #3 Vancouver Canucks
Blackhawks Current odds to win the Western Conference 12-5 Stanley Cup 9-2
Canucks Current odds to win the Western Conference 5-2 Stanley Cup 9-2
Coming into these playoffs, Chicago was considered by many to be the favorite to win the Western Conference as well as the Stanley Cup. After losing their opening game to Nashville at home 4-1 it was gut check time for the Blackhawks as they realized the Predators were not about to roll over in this series. They actually trailed 2-1 after three games but reeled off three straight wins to take the series in six.
In this series they once again they struggled at home in game one, losing to Vancouver 5-1. The bounced back in game two with a third period rally led by Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg to pull out a 4-2 win.
Vancouver was pitted up against the upstart Los Angeles Kings in the opening round. After losing games two and three to fall behind 2-1 they too went on to win three straight to eliminate the Kings in six.
The Canucks jumped on the Blackhawks early and often in game one, scoring twice in the first and three times in the second to win 5-1. They had a 2-0 lead in game two but could not hold on, falling 4-2 to even the series at a game apiece.
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