Doesn't help that the NHL East is like the NBA West. Once you get to the finals it's a step down from playing your way through the East. Once they get through the Caps it's a much easier road, and really Ottawa gave them everything they had too. That's why playoff re-seeding needs to happen. #1 and #2 in the second round is just stupid and should never happen. No other sport does that. I wouldn't even be sad if they got rid of the conference play, and just went top 16 with re-seeding each round.
Yep, my best friend who is a Pens fan, and me were saying all along the winner of Round 2 was going to win the Cup in all likelihood. In that sense, the NHL playoffs has been just as predictable as the NBA.