NHL PLAYOFF PREVIEW: WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (8) Minnesota Wild

The Skinny: The Chicago Blackhawks are the President Trophy winners, in large part because of their 24-game point streak. The Blackhawks finished with a (+51) goal differential allowing just (102) goals all season. The Minnesota Wild for all the moves they made in the last nine month including: signing Ryan Suter, Zack Parise and trading for Jason Pominville at the deadline, barely made the playoffs. The Wild made the playoffs on the last game of the season after beating the lowly Colorado Avalanche to hold off the Columbus Blue Jackets. If game one was anything of what the rest series should shape up as, then it should be a closely contested game between the two teams.

Blackhawks win if… They continue to be the best defensive team in the league. The Blackhawks finished first in the league giving up just (2.02) games with Ray Emery and Corey Crawford shutting the door. Crawford looked a bit shaky at times in game one but prevailed with the win, making key saves in the 3rd period and overtime. So much offensive depth with Patrick Kane as the key playmaker.

Wild win if… Niklas Backstrom can return from a freak injury he sustained in the warm-ups before game one. While Josh Harding looked like a suitable backup, playing extremely well, Backstrom led the team with wins (24) and a G.A.A. of (2.48). Also can Ryan Suter play the same type of minutes that he did in game one. To put in perspective he led all players in time with 41:08, he had over 30 minutes after three periods.

Prediction: Blackhawks in 5

(2) Anaheim Ducks vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings

The Skinny: The Detroit Red Wings took two of three from the Anaheim Ducks during the season, with both coming on the road. After taking game one, on home ice, the Ducks must be feeling good about themselves. Jonas Hiller played well and they have Viktor Fasth if things get bad. The Red Wings had a great home record through the season and should be able to take things the distance with the Ducks.

Ducks win if… The line of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan take control of the series. This line surely can with all the talent, but in game one it was Nick Bonino and the everlasting Teemu Selanne that scored instead of the big three. The Ducks play an up-tempo game under Bruce Boudreau, so their main focus has to be on containing the Red Wings, which the did perfectly in game one.

Red Wings win if… Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Nik Kronwall overmatch the big three of the Ducks. Datsyuk and Zetterberg are great two-way players and can be a force on the penalty kill as well as the power play. They will need to take one at the Honda Centre in Anaheim to win this series.

Prediction: Ducks in 7

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) San Jose Sharks

The Skinny: The San Jose Sharks took all three games between the Vancouver Canucks. The Sharks are a force at home and took two of the games at the HP Pavilion Centre in California. This is probably the last go around with the core players for the Sharks. An early playoff exit would probably mean the end for guys like: Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton as Sharks. They have Brent Burns as a winger, which seems weird, and it is, but he is playing decent down the stretch. The Canucks are in the same boat, but starting Roberto Luongo in game one, with Cory Schneider nursing an injury, is worriesome. Luongo’s job and career can be encapsulated in this first start of the playoffs. If he gets blown away, he’s washed up and done as a Canuck, but if he were to succeed, coach Alain Vigneault may have a conundrum on his hands.

Canucks win if… Henrik and Daniel Sedin can find the chemistry they have had in the past and have success with it. For the most part they are pretty healthy with Derek Roy and Ryan Kesler down the middle. Their defense is a little worrisome, and they must excel on the power play. As in all cases it comes down to goaltending so whomever it may be, must play very well.

Sharks win if… They take game one of the series. I truly believe that the Sharks are a good enough team to surprise people and make a deep run. They are pretty dominant and home so winning game one would set the tone and put them in the drivers seat. Key Player: Joe Thornton. It all flows through him.

Prediction: Sharks in 6

(4) St.Louis Blues vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings

The Skinny: The St.Louis Blues want revenge on the Los Angeles Kings for knocking them out last season. The Kings would end up winning the Stanley Cup while the Blues sat on their couches. The first step was getting bigger on the blue line, check, then it was grabbing home-ice advantage, which they did. Then it was taking game one after being swept last year, which they also did thanks to Jonathan Quick’s epic blunder. Check. Check. Check.

Blues win if… They can maintain their stingy defense. Brian Elliott is the goaltender for the Blues going forward, and with goals coming at a premium he will have to be up to the task. On the blue line the Blues dominate everyone with guys like: Shattenkirk. Leopold, Bouwmeester, Polak and Pietrangelo. Forward Jaden Schwartz is a players to watch.

Kings win if… Jonathan Quick can put the blunder behind him and bounce back. Quick is the reigning Conn Smythe trophy winner and looked sharp in game one (despite the blunder). Forwards have to be able to get deep into the Blues zone and work their cycle game.

Prediction: Kings in 7