Western Conference

 

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Los Angeles Kings

I don’t think that it is all that surprising that the Canucks won the President’s trophy again. They were a dominant team last year and not much changed for them in the off season. With the addition of David Booth, I believe they only got better. Luongo and Schneider have continued to play well. The Sedin’s had another stellar season and they had a fair amount of depth step it up. The only surprising turn of events for this team for me is that Kesler was invisible all season long.

Before the season, the Los Angeles were predicted to do some great, great things. With the addition of Mike Richards, they got some of the hard work, experience and grit that they needed. They locked up Doughty long term, and they had the tandem of Bernier and Quick in net. However, somewhere along the way, that potential just never blossomed into anything. It wasn’t the goaltending. Quick played out of this world all year. Their defense wasn’t bad, but their offense was almost non existent. Richards started strong, but fell off after sustaining an injury. Gagne has been out most of the year and the acquisition of Penner is still a terrible move. But before the deadline, they picked up Jeff Carter and even though he hasn’t done a ton individually, the team seems inspired. They’re playing better and more importantly, they’re scoring goals.

Vancouver is coming in strong. They are 8-1-1 in their last ten. Considering that they have been winning without their goal scoring ginger, they are a dangerous team. I can only imagine that they will continue to strive once he returns. I think this will be a close series, but only if Luongo can keep his head together. Somehow, between him and Schneider, I think they manage it. Also, I think that the experience that the Canucks have the past three years will help them outscore the Kings and take them into the next round.

Prediction: Vancouver in 6

 

#2 St. Louis Blues vs. #7 San Jose Sharks

When the St. Louis Blues added Jamie Langenbrunner and Jason Arnott, I knew that they were adding valuable experience that would help them develop their younger core. I knew that they would do good things this season and that they would be contenders in the playoffs. Their season started off slow, but before they could get buried they got a new coach. I knew that Hitchcock would do good things for the team. I did not, however, expect them to almost win the President’s Trophy. The St. Louis Blues have played out of this world defense and have have strong scoring depth. The biggest problem that they are having at the moment is which goalie should they start. Not because they are in the Capitals predicament, with both starters out, but because both of their goalies have been outstanding. Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak have been competing back and forth for the starting position and they have both been playing phenomenal. If that’s your biggest problem, I’d say that you are probably in pretty good shape.

In the off season, San Jose sent Heatley to Minnesota for Havlat and then shortly after that they sent Setoguchi there for Burns. They were two pretty huge trades that I thought would only make the Sharks that much more dangerous. I thought that those two trades might be exactly what they needed to make that extra push to get to the cup, but like the Kings, they didn’t live up to their potential. I suppose you could attribute that to Heatley’s injuries, but he’s only one player. The rest of the team is still comprised of huge, physical players that dominate. I suppose you could say that it was an off year. Their goaltending was less than desirable and they didn’t get the numbers that they usually get out of Thornton.

The Blues took the sharks in all four meetings this season. Their defensive play and their young core won out all season. It isn’t going to get any easier for the Sharks. They have the experience, and they have the depth, but how are they going to handle a healthy, young defensive team like the Blues?

I don’t think that they will be able to. I think it will be a tough, physical series, but I don’t think that the Sharks can overcome the defensive and goaltender prowess of the Blues.

Prediction: Blues in 6

 

#3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #6 Chicago Blackhawks

The departure of Ilya Bryzgalov created a large amount of uncertainty for the Phoenix Coyotes, but it could not have worked out better for them. He wasn’t someone that they were going to be able to afford and his replacement, Mike Smith stepped up big time. Smith has been hands down the MVP for this team this season. He has single handedly kept this team in the race. Don’t get me wrong. Doan, Vrbata and Whitney have been offensive powerhouses. Boedker is developing well. Yandle and Ekman-Larsson have been great, and they have one of the best coaches in the league. Dave Tippett has continued to take this team to the next level and to overcome adversity.

The Blackhawks did one wonderful thing this season. They got rid of John Scott. This has nothing to do with my prediction for this series. I just hate John Scott. He is worthless. Good luck, New York. Anyway. Kane, Sharp and Hossa are still Kane, Sharp and Hossa. Keith and Seabrook are still Keith and Seabrook. Unfortunately, Crawford and Emery have not played as well as they could have. I think that this team would be a lot more dominant if their goaltenders could answer the call. At the moment, Toews is still out with a concussion, but he remains one of the hardest working athletes in the league. If he makes it back for the series, which they are saying that he will, he will definitely be a game changer.

But how do the offensive driven Blackhawks match up against the defensive minded Coyotes? The Coyotes took three of the four games from Chicago. Will that make any difference or even carry into the playoffs? It’s hard to say, but I think that for the Blackhawk, the Coyotes provide the biggest challenge out of the three Pacific Division teams that they could have played. That’s not a knock against San Jose or LA. I just think that the Coyotes have what it takes to frustrate and challenge the Blackhawks. It’s going to take a lot to break them down and get the puck behind Smith.

The Coyotes are the 3 seed in this match up, but they are far from the favorite. I can’t help but think that this is the year that the Coyotes make it out of the first round. I know that seems biased considering that I live in Phoenix, but they are just playing too tough. Mike Smith is playing too well. I can’t help but think that if the Coyotes get the Mike Smith they have had throughout the regular season, they are going to squeak past the Blackhawks.

Prediction: Coyotes in 7

 

#4 Nashville Predators vs. #5 Detroit Redwings

The Nashville Predators are the most improved team from last season. I don’t think that there are many people out there would disagree with that. With the addition of the bad Kostistyn, Gaustad, Hal Gill, and Radulov they are only stronger and deeper. Gaustad is the go to face off guy. The bad Kostitsyn has played much better alongside the better Kostitsyn. Hal Gill still looks like he’s skating in quick sand, but he is a big, big man and a shut down defender, and lastly, Radulov has been touted as the best player outside of the NHL. He hasn’t “proven” himself thus far, but he has only been back for a handful of games. With the shut down pairing of Weber and Suter, the deep scoring, and Rinne in net. I think that the Predators are the team to beat in the West. They’re that scary.

Detroit’s age is starting to show. Throughout the second half of the season, it seemed like they had more injured players than they had healthy. At one point, they were missing Lidstrom, Datsyuk, Franzen, Cleary, Bertuzzi, Kindle, Ericsson, Miller, Eaves and Howard. Most of those players are back, but none of those players are 100%. Also not at 100%, the rest of their roster. MacDonald is hurting. Zetterberg is hurting. Everyone is hurting. In their favor, Hudler and Filpula have had incredible seasons lining up with Zetterberg. They have gotten a lot of scoring from Miller and Abdelkader, and Ian White has done more than was expected from him. The late addition of Quincey will help the blue line depth, but I don’t know if it will be enough.

I think that this series will be tough for both teams. I’m not sure that either team could have drawn a harder match up. I think that this series is similar to the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia series in that vain. Regardless, I think that the fact that the Red Wings aren’t at 100% weighs them down and I don’t think that they will be able to break through the defensive play of the Predators. I think it will be close and that it could go either way, but if pressed, I’d say that the Predators take the series in 7 games.

Prediction: Predators in 7