Post by Eklund on Mar 31, 2013 2:07:05 GMT -8
Western Conference
1st
vs 8th 
The Northwest Division Rivals look to have an interesting series ahead of them. The Canucks captured the Presidents’ trophy for the 3rd time in the past decade but may not have as easy a series as they may be hoping for. With Filip Forsberg, Marcus Johansson, Karl Alzner, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins all out for the foreseeable future, this will push the rest of the Canucks to play some inspired hockey. The Flames made the biggest deal at the deadline with the Wild to acquire one of the best goaltenders in the game in Miller but the depth of the team will now have to rely on Matt Stajan to provide the secondary scoring with the departure of Colin Wilson. Another advantage the Canucks may have is the possibility the Flames cannot build on the chemistry that has been developing lately. On paper, the Canucks figure to have the advantage over the Flames but I’m going to say the Canucks will be pushed to a game 6 before they advance.
2nd
vs 7th 
This will be an intriguing series to watch in the West. All eyes on Pekka Rinne as he hopes to lead his dominant Coyotes past his former team. Phoenix is incredibly deep down the middle but will be without 3rd line centre Olli Jokinen to begin the series. Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner are very capable of carrying the team however and the production of Phoenix’s top two lines will be crucial in the series. Nashville struggled down the stretch to say the least as they ended up losing the Central Division title to the surprising Blues. However, with snipers Semin and Hornqvist and one of the best on defence in Shea Weber, it’s hard to rule the Predators out. They will have to play a couple of games without 1st line centre David Krejci which could end up determining the series. I will the say the Yotes take it in 5.
3rd
vs 6th 
This series is one that I’d say will be very close out in the West. The Wild got much deeper on their forward and defensive ranks by adding Colin Wilson and Luca Sbisa. With Koivu, Staal, and Wilson down the middle, this could pose a serious threat to the Blues. The biggest challenge the Wild will face is in net with James Reimer still out for another week or so. Josh Harding has held the fort nicely but when Reimer returns, he figures to slot back in but the rust that could be found could end up costing the Wild. The Blues were quiet at the deadline and chose not to trade Frans Nielsen. As I mentioned in the Mid Season Review, this team is incredibly young and this inexperience will most likely decide how the Blues perform. 2nd line centre Matt Duchene is approaching elite status but he is also very young and has minimal playoff experience. The biggest advantage the Blues boast would probably be in net with Jaro Halak having a history of being a good playoff performer. Similar to the Flames, the Wild underwent major changes and if chemistry does not form, the Blues look like they can take advantage. I’m going to say the Blues in 7.
4th
vs 5th 
Another team that will have an uphill battle will be the Sharks. Captain Joe Thornton suffered a heartbreaking injury that will see him out likely until the end of the playoffs. GM Luongod recently named “Little Joe” Pavelski as the captain for the playoffs and Pavelski will be counted upon heavily along with Logan Couture and Michael Grabner to provide the offence. Newly acquired Mike Fisher will also play an increased role on the 2nd line and his play could ultimately affect the series. What the Sharks boast is 3 solid defensive pairings and 2 reliable goaltenders in Antti Niemi and Evgeni Nabokov. The Kings have been up and down for the last couple of months but have been on a run the last couple of games, as they vaulted themselves atop the logjam in the West and earned themselves a date with the Sharks. Another team that is incredibly deep down the middle, the Kings size throughout the lineup will make the lives of the Sharks defenders miserable. What the Sharks will have to take advantage of is some of the Kings defenders. Willie Mitchell and Rob Scuderi are both proven playoff performers but their speed could be a problem. The 3rd pairing also looks like it could be a weakness that could be exploited if the Sharks can get their bottom 6 contributing. Another close matchup, but I’m going to say the top 4 in the West advance as the Sharks take it in 7.
1st
vs 8th The Northwest Division Rivals look to have an interesting series ahead of them. The Canucks captured the Presidents’ trophy for the 3rd time in the past decade but may not have as easy a series as they may be hoping for. With Filip Forsberg, Marcus Johansson, Karl Alzner, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins all out for the foreseeable future, this will push the rest of the Canucks to play some inspired hockey. The Flames made the biggest deal at the deadline with the Wild to acquire one of the best goaltenders in the game in Miller but the depth of the team will now have to rely on Matt Stajan to provide the secondary scoring with the departure of Colin Wilson. Another advantage the Canucks may have is the possibility the Flames cannot build on the chemistry that has been developing lately. On paper, the Canucks figure to have the advantage over the Flames but I’m going to say the Canucks will be pushed to a game 6 before they advance.
2nd
vs 7th This will be an intriguing series to watch in the West. All eyes on Pekka Rinne as he hopes to lead his dominant Coyotes past his former team. Phoenix is incredibly deep down the middle but will be without 3rd line centre Olli Jokinen to begin the series. Eric Staal and Jeff Skinner are very capable of carrying the team however and the production of Phoenix’s top two lines will be crucial in the series. Nashville struggled down the stretch to say the least as they ended up losing the Central Division title to the surprising Blues. However, with snipers Semin and Hornqvist and one of the best on defence in Shea Weber, it’s hard to rule the Predators out. They will have to play a couple of games without 1st line centre David Krejci which could end up determining the series. I will the say the Yotes take it in 5.
3rd
vs 6th This series is one that I’d say will be very close out in the West. The Wild got much deeper on their forward and defensive ranks by adding Colin Wilson and Luca Sbisa. With Koivu, Staal, and Wilson down the middle, this could pose a serious threat to the Blues. The biggest challenge the Wild will face is in net with James Reimer still out for another week or so. Josh Harding has held the fort nicely but when Reimer returns, he figures to slot back in but the rust that could be found could end up costing the Wild. The Blues were quiet at the deadline and chose not to trade Frans Nielsen. As I mentioned in the Mid Season Review, this team is incredibly young and this inexperience will most likely decide how the Blues perform. 2nd line centre Matt Duchene is approaching elite status but he is also very young and has minimal playoff experience. The biggest advantage the Blues boast would probably be in net with Jaro Halak having a history of being a good playoff performer. Similar to the Flames, the Wild underwent major changes and if chemistry does not form, the Blues look like they can take advantage. I’m going to say the Blues in 7.
4th
vs 5th Another team that will have an uphill battle will be the Sharks. Captain Joe Thornton suffered a heartbreaking injury that will see him out likely until the end of the playoffs. GM Luongod recently named “Little Joe” Pavelski as the captain for the playoffs and Pavelski will be counted upon heavily along with Logan Couture and Michael Grabner to provide the offence. Newly acquired Mike Fisher will also play an increased role on the 2nd line and his play could ultimately affect the series. What the Sharks boast is 3 solid defensive pairings and 2 reliable goaltenders in Antti Niemi and Evgeni Nabokov. The Kings have been up and down for the last couple of months but have been on a run the last couple of games, as they vaulted themselves atop the logjam in the West and earned themselves a date with the Sharks. Another team that is incredibly deep down the middle, the Kings size throughout the lineup will make the lives of the Sharks defenders miserable. What the Sharks will have to take advantage of is some of the Kings defenders. Willie Mitchell and Rob Scuderi are both proven playoff performers but their speed could be a problem. The 3rd pairing also looks like it could be a weakness that could be exploited if the Sharks can get their bottom 6 contributing. Another close matchup, but I’m going to say the top 4 in the West advance as the Sharks take it in 7.
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