Chicago vs Vancouver
(1) Vancouver Canucks
Last Stanley Cup Win: NA
Last Stanley Cup Final: 1994
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: Mikael Samuelsson
(8) Chicago BlackhawksLast Stanley Cup Win: 2010
Last Stanley Cup Final: 2010
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: Dave Bolland, Jonathan Toews, Troy Brouwer, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane, Tomas Kopecky (2), Brian Campbell, Jassen Cullimore, Niklas Hjalmarsson, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook
This series may harbor the most ill will, especially being a re-match. Last year the Hawks defeated the Canucks after a brutal and somewhat controversial series en route to the franchises first Stanley Cup title since 1961. A year later, Vancouver, a franchise that has never sipped from the cherished cup, is coming in as the favorites to not only take out Chicago, but, to dethrone them as the champions of the NHL. While Hossa and the Blackhawks may have put their respective curses behind them, all the pressure is now squarely on the shoulders of Roberto Luongo and the Canucks.
Despite being the reigning champs, Chicago backed in as the final West playoff team needing a Dallas choke to defend their title. Conversely, Vancouver knew they would be in this position all season long, they were at top the conference from jump. However, the regular season is meaningless for these guys, their interest sparks now. Luongo has had an awesome career..in the regular season and had another stellar campaign, yet, he seems to continuously come up small in the post-season year after year. He may mix in a 3 OT thriller from time to time, overall he has actually been apart of the problem not the solution. That obviously can't go on for this year to be different. I think Roberto can be that guy and teams have raised the cup despite average goalie play. If any team has the fire power to win wit sub-par gaol tending it is this seasons Canucks. They have speed, natural talent, hockey smarts, and perhaps the best line in hockey. The Sedin twins seemingly trade off which one will shine brighter each year, Henrik wins an MVP, so Daniel trumps him with 104 points and possibly one of his own. These two have played together since the whom and know where the other will be without even looking. Outside of the the sharp shooting twins, Ryan Kesler plays a nice number three. Kesler finished third on the club in scoring with 73 points, he may have been 20+ back of the brothers, however, would've been the leader most other teams. The offensive depth does not end there, Mikael Samuelsson brings a winning pedigree having made two finals trips with Detroit. He is super quick and is one of the few who can fully execute the "Gretzky wrap around." Christian Ehroff and Alexandre Burrows are nothing to sneeze at either. On paper this is by far the most well rounded team in the playoffs. Will the hockey Gods shine down on Luongo enough for all this talent to finally pay off?
I could easily see this series being the toughest test for the Canucks. Chicago won't give up their reign without a fight. The Blackhawks appear different from the last time these teams met in a series. Gone is Anti Niemi, gone is their secondary scoring, and gone is the dominance. The Blackhawks broke their drought mostly thanks to stellar play from an unknown netminder, Niemi, and gritty play by guys like Kris Versteeg. Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Marian Hossa (the jokes are also gone), will bring their A games, secondary scoring is necessary to make a playoff run and I just don't see enough on the 2011 Hawks. Kopecky, based on having been there before, could be that guy (he was very far back on both his ring teams depth charts). Chicago does have Duncan Keith, that elite defenseman I said was so crucial. Vancouver may have an All-Star goalie with playoff performances in question, Chicago has another unproven guy, Corey Crawford. Hey, if he doesn't work out Chicago can always answer one veteran choke artist with the king of kings at the craft, Marty Turco.
Pick: A new champion will be crowned, just not as easy as some think. Vancouver in 7
San Jose vs Los Angeles
(2)San Jose SharksLast Stanley Cup Win: NA
Last Stanley Cup Final: NA
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: Dan Boyle, Ben Eager, Kent Huskins, Niclas Wallin, Anti Niemi
(7) Los Angeles Kings
Last Stanley Cup Win: NA
Last Stanley Cup Final: 1993
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: Dustin Penner, Justin Williams, Rob Scuderi
When discussing past playoff failures Vancouver aint got shit on San Jose. The Sharks are kings at one thing, choking. With tons of All-Stars and top seeds it has been set up for SJ to make a deep post-season run many times. Just like clock work somehow the Sharks find a way to screw it all up. Last year they faced a pesky Avs teams and despite getting by Colorado was beat to shit for the next round. As always they received probably the worst possible first round matchup. Not only is LA a rival, but, the Kings are just as talented.
If Los Angles was healthy down the stretch the only way these teams would be meeting would be for the right to play for the cup. LA declined due to the loss of studs Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Kopitar is a beast, a big guy who has the stick handling and shot of a speedster half his size. He will most likely not be cleared to play in this series, that is a huge loss. For some good news, Williams is supposed to be good to go and has the green light to return. Without Kopitar everyone will have to step up and that is a possibility, Dustin Brown, Ryan Smyth, and mid season acquisition, Dustin Penner will be very tough to deal with. Those three make up some of the best secondary scoring in the league. Smyth and Penner can cause a goalie fits and both act as a Holmstrom cheery picker. They will sit and wait to pounce and both have big bodies that will make it insanely difficult for Niemi to avoid being screened every night.
Everything I said is true, but, the real reason I think LA can contend is simple..Jonathan Quick. I see him as a true candidate as this years playoff goalie to break out. He has been a Vezina type between the pipes and kept his team afloat despite the injuries. A 2.24 GAA and magical saves made him one of the best all season. Quick doesn't need help to dominate, he will get it anyway with Drew Doughty on defense in front.
The Sharks have less on paper than in years past, they didn't get it done then why will they now? Good question, I've been asking myself the same thing for months. Joe Thornton has the best vision of the last decade and has put up a Hall of Fame resume, it's just missing one thing, a ring. Instead of having to "say say it aint so Joe" (I'm a baseball guy too, sue me) yet again, will this be THE year? They got secondary scoring last playoffs, in Joe Pavelski, he then kept that great play going this season. Patrick Marleau, Danny Heatly, Ryan Clowe, and rookie Calder favorite Logan Couture give San Jose tons of depth. They also can't use the excuse, our goalie can't win in the playoffs anymore, Niemi has bling that begs to differ.
Pick: I think Quick will stand on his head and I refuse to waste a pick on the Sharks ever again, UPSET ALERT! Los Angeles in 7
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Detroit vs Phoenix
(3) Detroit RedWings
Last Stanley Cup Win: 2008
Last Stanley Cup Final: 2009
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: Pavel Datsyuk (2), Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Rafalski (3), Johan Franzen, Jiri Hudler, Nicklas Lidstrom (4), Nicklas Kronwall, Dan Cleary, Valtteri Filpula, Tomas Holmstrom (4), Kris Draper (4), Brad Stuart, Drew Miller, Darren Helm, Chris Osgood (3), Mike Modano
(6) Phoenix Coyotes
Last Stanley Cup Win: NA
Last Stanley Cup Final: NA
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: Ilya Bryzgalov, Ray Whitney
For the second straight year, the most storied American hockey franchise meets one that still doesn't have a damn majority owner. This went to 7 a season ago before the RedWings exploded to advance. Like the Lakers do so often in the NBA, Detroit can just turn it on at a whim. This could easily be the most lopsided series.
If Phoenix has any chance to not only compete, but, win, Bryzgalov will have to pull a Giguere or Kiprusoff (goalies that single handily beat Detroit in the playoffs). Keith Yandle came out of nowhere to become one of the best young dmen around, he was also the teams second leading scorer. Unfortunately he needs to be focused on preventing goals, not worrying about putting the biscuit in the basket in this series. "The Brick" needs all the help he can get. Offensively if the Coyotes can do it, they will have to see their leader Sean Doan not only step up but erupt. Doan is a nice player but wouldn't crack the second line on Detroit. Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata are pretty much the end of the secondary scoring. Yup, Phoenix you're in trouble.
The RedWings are loaded as usual. The only thing that has prevented this franchise from 6 or 7 cups in stead of the 4 they won in the last 15 or so years, they tend to get over look and get out worked by clearly weaker opponents. That happened some last season, Mike Babcock will kill someone if it happens again. I doubt it will..Zetterberg is banged up a bit, a hurt Z is better than 90% of everyone else. Phoenix could not afford to lose it's best, Detroit actually can, at least for awhile. He is supposed to be back by game 2 though. With that said, Datsyuk, Franzen, Holmstrom, and the immortal Lidstrom all have a reputation for stepping up in clutch moments. Detroit has a core unit that has been together for many years now and won many games, the RedWings are a well oiled machine at this point. Bertuzzi has returned for another crack at it and gives an added sense of physicality Detroit ha lacked in during cup runs. I always point to secondary help being key, Filpula, Hudler, Cleary, and future Hall of Famer Mike Modano are amazing assets and fit their roles perfectly. Detroit plays a soccer style of hockey, you pass or shoot at all times.
The only thing that could hinder another deep run is the goalie. Jimmy Howard is inexperienced in the playoffs, however, he does have a game 7 win under his belt. Unlike the RedWing teams of the past, a home grown product has the keys to this Cadillac. Instead of searching the wire for a legend, Jimmy Howard was the given the gig and he has done nothing but impressed now two years later. And if he has issues, how many teams can send out a 3 time champion 400 game winner out to the ice?
Pick: Detroit in 5
Anaheim vs Nasheville
(4) Anaheim Ducks
Last Stanley Cup Win: 2007
Last Stanley Cup Final: 2007
Last Post-season Appearance: 2009
Players With Bling: Ryan Getzlaf, George Parros, Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne, Francois Beauchemin, Todd Marchant, Andreas Lilja
(5) Nashville Predators
Last Stanley Cup Win: NA
Last Stanley Cup Final: NA
Last Post-season Appearance: 2010
Players With Bling: NA (sad I know)
Nashville is back in the playoffs....does my excitement scream through the page? The most boring team to watch in any sport always finds some way to crawl in. I do give the Preds brass credit, they find a way to build a contending team every year and do so with no fan support and a minimal payroll. Name three players on Nashville....take you're time I got all night. Well here's my three and the key guys, Martin Erat, Shea Webber and David Legwand. Legwand has been through some battles as a Flame, so he's one of the most experienced. If you thought Montreal was lacking offense failing to register a 60 point man, prepare yourself for this stat, Nashville's leading scorers, Erat and Sergei Kostitsyn, are tied with 50. The Preds bring a lineup of all role players. These guys might be nice components on good teams, alone they are hardly enough. Defensively is their only strong point. Webber is the next great defenseman and can shutdown the opponents top bullet. Pekka Rinne also posted a 2.12 GAA and is probably the best goalie you've never heard of.
On the flip side, the Ducks have a RedWing like squad in terms of experience. They are filled with core guns still around from the cup campaign. I'm starting to be convinced Selanne is not human, he kept his career going with a 30 goal / 80 point season out of complete left field. He's been like a fine wine, gets better with age. The offense differential can be described bluntly, as comical. While the Preds top point men had 50 each, Anaheim leading scorer posted a 50 on his final box score, 50 goals that is. Corey Perry, the Hart (MVP) favorite, can take over a game all by his lonesome. The Ducks own a legend and a soon to be MVP, but, Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan should not be overlooked. Both men reached 70+ points and would be top line player in most other cities. Getzlaf can be a big key, he is a younger Holmstrom type. After the stars, the likes of Jason Blake and former Canadien captain, Sako Koivu can provide a needed jolt. Jonas Hiller endured some injuries and actually took a step down from a season ago, he still is far good enough in this series.
Pick: Ducks in 6 (Please don't win Nashville, hockey needs ratings)
written by Mike Asti
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