Western Conference Match Ups

Chris Ferraro | April 13th

San Jose Sharks (1)

The Sharks need to use last years first round playoff exit as motivation into this years playoff season to not be held back or embarrassed after having another exceptional regular season. Sound familiar Joe Thornton? Coach Todd McLellan has been a wizard behind the bench and has developed a strategy and a system that works, but he cant put the jersey on himself and make the Sharks win. The lack luster playoff performance from the Sharks made their fans want to vomit last season. All that success during the regular season with nothing to show for in the end but a pat on the back. Nabokov will show up as he always does and is solid and reliable. Rob Blake will lead as he has in the past. Patrick Marleau is coming off a season high 44 goals and needs to carry that over into the playoffs. Clowe and Boyle can contribute heavily, but we cant forget one of the key elements and key components to the Sharks success in Joe Thornton. After a good regular season statistically and a below average performance for team Canada against the best in the world at the 2010 Olympic Games and a shameful effort in last years playoffs have many worried. The good news is hockey is a team game and you don’t win or lose with one player. It comes down to hard work, grit, passion and an almost perfect system to be a contender for Thornton and his Sharks. Lets get to work Joe!

Colorado Avalanche (8)

Heavy underdogs, but “rookie” coach Joe Sacco and his squad have nothing to lose and are high on enthusiasm, energy, and adrenaline. With both teams having impressive records in the last 10 games of the regular season with the Avs winning 6 and the Sharks winning 8, Colorado will use any momentum they can get to use against a very strong San Jose veteran team. Inexperience can play a disadvantage factor for the Avalanche, but work ethic and determination usually overrides experience without effort. Colorados’ veterans players Adam Foote, Milan Hejduk, Darcy Tucker, and Stephen Yelle will gel nicely with high scoring forward Paul Stastny, surprise goaltender Craig Anderson and impressive youngsters Matt Duchene and Peter Mueller barring they are healthy to give the Avalanche their best chance to upset the top team in the western conference. Expect a low scoring, low shot total in these games which might make for an almost boring series, but its not how you win, its how many wins you have! My heart tells me to pick Colorado and I want to take a chance on them and they will cause problems for the Sharks, but in the end San Jose has too much depth. San Jose wins series 4-2.

Chicago Blackhawks (2)

This explosive “high” flying team will generate many offensive scoring chances and give up very little as one of the top defensive teams in the league. Anti Niemi has taken over as #1 goalie between the pipes and Huet will backup from the bench, but its uncertain it will remain that way. It wont play a factor against a low scoring team like Nashville, but might if the Hawks advance into the next series against some more offensive teams. A very disciplined team that doesn’t spend much time in the penalty box gives this speedy team the luxury of playing 5 on 5 hockey which is a huge advantage for the Hawks. Coach Joel Quenville has experience in the post season and has had success despite ever winning a Stanley Cup will be relaying on veterans John Madden and Marian Hossa to lead the way with the unstoppable tandem of Toews and Kane along with Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook and Patrick Sharp. A serious contender with their motors running! I really like this team.

Nashville Predators (7)

Play a very safe, conservative, effective 5 on 5 system under coach Barry Trotz, but struggles among the leagues worst in both power play at 77% and penalty kill at 16%. Special teams will give this team an early exit unless the referees retire their whistles. Pekke Rinne is awesome, will impress, and will do what he can to hold down the fort, but will need his big guns on Defense Shea Webber and Ryan Suter to play close to 30 minutes a night to assist him. The Predators game plan should be to keep the Hawks on the perimeter and limit prime scoring chances for the Hawks. Top scorer Patric Turnqvist and Martin Erat will need to generate offense with the likes of veterans Steve Sullivan and Jason Arnott to give the Preds a fighting chance. Pekka Rinne is good enough to steal a game from Chicago. I apologize Nashville, but its not happening. The Hawks win in 5.

Vancouver Canucks (3)

The Sedin Twins and Luongo will determine the fate of the Canucks throughout the entire playoffs and are the foundation of this team. As team captain Luongo needs to be better than average in the playoffs as that’s all he has been in playoff hockey is simply average. He is in the top 5 in the league and needs to display why he relieved Broduer of his duties in the 2010 Olympics as the best goaltender in Canada at the present time to earn his country a gold medal. With leadership and effort from Kessler and additional scoring from Burrows(35) and Samuelson(30), Vancouver can generate offense,play tough defense and keep the puck out of the net with Luongo. The Canucks have owned the Los Angeles Kings during the regular season winning all 4 match ups.

Los Angeles Kings (6)

Goaltender Jonathan Quick has been impressive all year, but has been a concern as of late with below average performances. Maybe the long regular season NHL schedule has paid its toll on this young goaltender? Drew Doughty and Rob Scuderi are the go to guys on defense. Veterans Sean O’Donnell, Ryan Smyth, Jarett Stoll, and Fred Modin will compliment Anzi Kopitar and Dustin Brown to balance out the team. Team Defense is a must for the Kings to have success. The Kings will have their hands full and will be fighting an uphill battle. Take out the broom Vancouver. Canucks win series 4-0.

Phoenix Coyotes(4)

The biggest surprise in the National Hockey League! What a turn of events for this organization and an impeccable job from Mr.Wayne Gretzky developing his young players and sticking with them and having the patience and confidence in them. The Coyotes are resiliant and play 60 minutes of hockey. Coach Dave Tippett and G.M. Don Maloney have been wise additions to the Coyotes as they have incorporated a disciplined defensive system that frustrates their opponents. Have little experience in the playoffs, but you need to start somewhere and the regular season performance from this club will carry into the playoffs. For an organization to be in jeopardy a year ago of going bankrupt to where they stand now shows what the Coyotes are made of. Ilya Bryzgalov Stanley Cup with Anaheim and his fill in goaltending performances for J.S Giguire doesn’t intimidate him against a powerful, threatening Detroit Red Wings, as he has been there done that before. The Phoenix Coyotes are flying high with confidence and excitement running through their veins and team captain Shane Doan will bring his inexperienced young troops along and they will be a force to be reckoned with!

Detroit Red Wings(5)

Have been great down the stretch, but will face a very determined, motivated, and excited opponent in the Coyotes that will most certainly force the Wings to struggle. Jimmy Howard “rookie” goalie has taken Chris Osgoods position as the Wings starting goalie and has been superb. Rafalski, Lidstrom, and Kronwall are what the Wings need on the back end and Datsyuk, Zetterburg, Franzen, Cleary, and Holmstrom are the Wings offense. A great 2 way team in the Detroit Red Wings and will perform nicely. This will be a fast, fun, exciting series and will be the most entertaining series in the first round. Coyotes win 4-2.