This year is beginning to look more and more like the year of the upset.

After watching as pre-season cup favorites Calgary Flames and Colorado Avalanche failed to even make the post-season, round one claimed another title challenger and nearly ate up two more.

The Anaheim Ducks, New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins all faced a seventh game in round one and Pittsburgh wasn't able to survive, a defeat which spewed forth a profanity laden tirade from General manager Patrick Matthews that not only was one for the ages but also virtually guaranteed big changes it Steeltown before next year.

Of the big name squads, perhaps the Rangers are in the best shape. A solid team all season, the Rangers fell behind the Carolina Hurricanes 3-0 in round one before rallying to take the series, leaving them riding a four game winning streak and a huge pile of momentum into round two.

Of the eight teams into round two, three -the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Dallas Stars- likely weren't expected by many to have even made the playoffs. Will round two continue the trend of the underdog winning big, or is it time for the remaining elite to finally put those dogs out to the pound?

(1) Edmonton Oilers vs. (7) Dallas Stars - The Oilers were nearly clinical in the regular season enroute to their first conference title and they didn't let up in round one, easily dispatching the Arizona Coyotes in five games. Jason Pominville absolutely destroyed the Coyotes, scoring four goals and 10 points, one more than centre Brad Richards as the Oilers had a heyday with the Coyotes.

Dallas meanwhile snuck in as the seventh seed and most expected the GMless squad would be in tough against the Minnesota Wild. The result? A 3-0 series lead before moving onto round two in five games. Zach Parise scored 10 points himself and Evgeni Nabokov posted a .947 save percentage. This cast of misfits fits together quite well.

Prediction: The Stars will really need to align for Dallas to move on. Edmonton's just been to consistent for to long this season. Edmonton in six games.

(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. (6) Chicago Blackhawks - A season of just getting by continued for the Ducks, who edged out the cross-state rival San Jose Sharks in a tight seven games. Their reward appears to be an easier opponent in the Blackhawks, one seed lower than the Sharks but a club that knocked off the St. Louis Blues in round one.

It was a round that Chicago wasn't expected to get to, but the plucky Hawks benefited from some solid play in their end and a sputtering Blues offense that just couldn't get it going. Chicago is led by a mish-mash roster full of castoffs, a group that has banded together all season long to prove the pundits wrong.

Prediction: Expect Chicago to put up a good fight and Anaheim to not put up enough of one. Still, it will be Blackhawk down for Chicago. Anaheim in six games.

(1) New York Rangers vs. (6) Columbus Blue Jackets - The Rangers are either riding a huge high or they are wiping their collective brows after rallying from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games. Henrik Lundqvist came through when he needed to and 'The Mule' Johan Franzen scored six times to help the Rangers save a lot of face and move on to round two.

Columbus on the other hand is ready for the challenge to do what the Hurricanes couldn't; slay a giant. The Blue Jackets already dispatched the Pittsburgh Penguins, led by Sidney Crosby no less, and they are now aiming to make it two-for-two against the Rangers. If they can slow down the Rangers offense the same way they slowed down Pittsburgh's it could happen. Not only did they hold the highpowered Penguins to 12 goals, they also held them to just over 21 shots per game.

Prediction: Columbus will make this a series, but Rangers are on a roll and they will be just one step ahead. New York Rangers in five games.

(2) Ottawa Senators vs. (4) Washington Capitals - The lone series in the playoffs that features two teams that had home ice advantage in the first round, this tilt sees the Senators as the odds on favorite for the first time in a while. Maybe ever. Ottawa has rebounded from years of terrible play to not only be a playoff squad under GM Noel Moxon, but also a darkhorse cup contender. Robin Lehner's outer world play is a big piece of that, showing itself in a five game win over the Tampa Bay Lightning with a .943 save percentage.

Washington however has been to this rodeo before, and nearly went the distance last year after claiming the conference title. An first half swoon prevented a repeat of that but Washington has been on a tear down the final quarter of the season and continued that roll in the playoffs, blasting through the Montreal Canadiens in five games. If they can keep Ottawa's offense off the table as well, they should be able to prevail.

Prediction: This series will likely be the best of the second round and while Ottawa is getting really close to being a cup threat, it's Washington that's ready for that challenge. Washington in seven games.

(1) Oklahoma City Barons vs. (5) Hamilton Bulldogs - Hamilton is six games

(2) Toronto Marlies vs. (3) Chicago Wolves - Toronto in five games

(1) Norfolk Admirals vs. (7) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in five games

(4) Hershey Bears vs. (6) Binghampton Senators - Hershey in seven games