It is playoff time once again, something everyone in the hockey world thought was going to be missing in January of this year. Despite a shortened 48 game season, the best teams were able to get in, with the exception of the Columbus Blue Jackets falling short of 8th place in the Western Conference.
The playoffs start Tuesday with three Western Conference series dropping the puck for Game 1.
#1 Chicago Blackhawks vs #8 Minnesota Wild
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| (Photo by: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) |
Without a doubt, the Chicago Blackhawks are the heavy favorite to win this series. But don't sell the Minnesota Wild short.
Chicago won the Presidents' Trophy, but that trophy has always come back to bite teams in the playoffs. The Vancouver Canucks are the perfect example.
One thing the Minnesota Wild will thrive on is the Blackhawks' questionable goaltending. Many believe Corey Crawford and Ray Emery to win games, but when their in tough situations, they do not react the proper way. Rebounds and lose pucks will be there often for gritty forwards in front of the net.
The advantage to make up for the lack-there-of between the pipes is their quick strike offense. Chicago arguably has the best depth at forward in the league when healthy, but that hasn't seemed to be the case all year round.
If Ryan Suter is the real deal, here is where he will have to prove himself that he can be a number one defenseman in the league without being called "Robin" to Shea Weber when he was in Nashville. The Wild's defensive depth can not match up with the Blackhawks' and it will be the job of Suter to rack up a large sum of ice time and shutdown their top two lines.
Prediction: Blackhawks in 4.
Schedule (ET)
Tuesday, April 30 8 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago NBC Sports Network, CBC
Friday, May 3 9:30 p.m. Minnesota at Chicago NBC Sports Network, CBC
Sunday, May 5 3 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota NBC, CBC
Tuesday, May 7 9:30 p.m. Chicago at Minnesota NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Thursday, May 9 TBD Minnesota at Chicago CBC
*Saturday, May 11 TBD Chicago at Minnesota CBC
*Sunday, May 12 TBD Minnesota at Chicago CBC
#2 Anaheim Ducks vs #7 Detroit Red Wings
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| (Photo by: John Russell/Getty Images) |
The Detroit Red Wings look to advance to the second round after being eliminated last season in five games. This run for the cup will be without star defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who retired last summer. It will be the job of Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson to fill the void at defense.
Detroit is the hot team entering this series winning their final four games of the season, which is what lifted them to the playoffs for the 22nd straight year.
Certainly the Anaheim Ducks proved themselves this year. Last season, Anaheim missed the playoffs leaving question in the locker room surrounding the future of star forwards Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan. They have answered the bell with Bruce Boudreau as their bench boss.
More credit should be given to the goaltenders of Anaheim Jonas Hiller and Viktor Fasth. It is still questionable about who will get the nod in Game 1, but if there is a bad game played, no worries for the Ducks' faitful as the other could step in and do a better job.
A weakness in the Ducks is their defensive depth. Cam Fowler has yet to fully prove he can step up in big situations. Meanwhile, the four 30+ year olds on the team may be unable to handle Detroit's speed.
Prediction: Red Wings in 7
Schedule (ET)
Tuesday, April 30 10:30 p.m. Detroit at Anaheim NBC Sports Network, TSN
Thursday, May 2 10 p.m. Detroit at Anaheim NBC Sports Network, TSN
Saturday, May 4 7:30 p.m. Anaheim at Detroit NBC Sports Network, TSN
Monday, May 6 8 p.m. Anaheim at Detroit CNBC, TSN
*Wednesday, May 8 10 p.m. Detroit at Anaheim TSN
*Friday, May 10 TBD Anaheim at Detroit TSN
*Sunday, May 12 TBD Detroit at Anaheim TSN
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs #6 San Jose Sharks
| (Photo by: Vancouver Canucks) |
This is the most compelling series of all. Both matchup to each other very well. The team who advances will be the one who is the least worn down after the extreme physicality of multiple games.
The Canucks are full of players who many do not like unless they are on their favorite team. That means they are filled with playoff players. Ryan Kesler and Alex Burrows will get under players' skins, while the Sedins score goals. Vancouver is one of those playoff ready teams each and every year.
One advantage the Canucks will have is the handiness of having Roberto Luongo ready to go if Corey Schneider isn't playing well or becomes injured.
San Jose enters the series with a chip on their shoulder winning all three matchups against Vancouver. They know how to play against them, but it is a different situations come the postseason.
The Sharks are led by forwards Joe Thornton, Logan Couture, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski. All four are consistent scorers and will have to produce. They know what it takes to make the playoffs, but they have yet to make that next step. This series is the first step and it will not be an easy one.
Both teams have a solid defense, depth forwards and good goaltending. This series could really go either way, which is what makes this the most compelling.
Prediction: Canucks in 7
Schedule (ET)
Wednesday, May 1 10:30 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver TSN, NBC Sports Network
Friday, May 3 10 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver TSN, CNBC
Sunday, May 5 10 p.m. Vancouver at San Jose NBC Sports Network, TSN
Tuesday, May 7 10 p.m. Vancouver at San Jose CNBC, TSN
*Thursday, May 9 10 p.m. San Jose at Vancouver TSN
*Saturday, May 11 TBD Vancouver at San Jose TSN
*Monday, May 13 TBD San Jose at Vancouver TSN
#4 St. Louis Blues vs #5 Los Angeles Kings
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| (Photo by: Harry How/Getty Images) |
The Los Angeles Kings look to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup this year. The odds are not in their favor, but it will be LA's goal to block out the negative and focus on the positive.
These two teams met in the WCSF when the Kings swept, and utterly dominated the St. Louis Blues. The Blues seek revenge and possibly return the favor.
Jonathan Quick lifted his team to win the Cup last season, but his numbers have decreased, possibly due to the lack of focus. Quick will have to hit the refresh button and get back to making incredible saves each night.
Jeff Carter will be the X-factor for his team. Carter had more goals in this shortened season than his 2011-12 campaign total, with 26. He knows how to put the puck in the net, but he will have to carry his success over into the playoffs.
The Blues have a playoff-like roster with top six scoring forwards and physical bottom six. Adding Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold at the trade deadline was huge to solidify their defense. They will have their hands full containing the Kings' offense though.
Jaroslav Halak is questionable for his return to the series. If he was able to go, it would be the perfect time to come in. Brian Elliott has been hot as of late, which would give head coach Ken Hitchcock a difficult decision to make once Halak is 100%.
Prediction: Blues in 6
Schedule (ET)
Tuesday, April 30 8 p.m. Los Angeles at St. Louis CNBC, CBC
Thursday, May 2 9:30 p.m. Los Angeles at St. Louis CNBC, CBC
Saturday, May 4 10 p.m. St. Louis at Los Angeles NBC Sports Network, CBC
Monday, May 6 10 p.m. St. Louis at Los Angeles NBC Sports Network, CBC
*Wednesday, May 8 TBD Los Angeles at St. Louis CBC
*Friday, May 10 TBD St. Louis at Los Angeles CBC
*Monday, May 13 TBD Los Angeles at St. Louis CBC
* if necessary
TBD – To Be Determined
