Todd Cordell
For me the biggest surprise was the Kings bowing out of the playoffs as fast as any team - in five games.
I did predict the Sharks would win but I expected a long, back-and forth series.
The Sharks are very good, obviously, but the Kings have one of the best young goal scorers in Tyler Toffoli, one of the best two-way centers in Anze Kopitar, a pair of top defensemen in Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin, and the list goes on. I just thought the Kings had too many high-end players to be bounced the way they did.
Jason Lewis St. Louis finally overcoming their demons and beating the Blackhawks.
St. Louis is a solid team, but for whatever reason that team cannot seem to throw down when it matters. Personally, I for sure thought they were out of this one after losing Game 6 the way they did but they battled back and handed it to Chicago.
Also think the Panthers going out to the Halak-less Islanders was a bit of a surprise, but Florida was an unpredictable team.
John Jaeckel Sharks over Kings.
The Kings looked ready to roar back this year, but the Sharks put those dreams to rest. I have felt for a few years that Pete DeBoer is a rising star among NHL coaches. He has pushed all the right buttons in San Jose, and the Sharks are getting the most out of their talent now.
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