Figured I would give this a bump for the start of the playoffs. Looking at the first round Western Conference matchups:
I think Chicago will have an easy time with Minnesota. Outside of their first line & pairing, Minnesota doesn't really have much to contend with the 'Hawks, who are easily the deepest team in the league. Chicago gets scoring from everyone it seems & Minnesota's only foundation lies with Parise, Koivu & Suter. Cullen & Setoguchi had a nice little run a few weeks ago, but Cullen got hurt & production from anyone but those top three guys has been pretty much nonexistent ever since. Minnesota limped into the playoffs & Chicago will be too much to handle for them Verdict: Chicago in five. Minnesota will steal one, but I don't think this will be that entertaining of a series.
Anaheim and Detroit poses a unique pairing. They only played three times & each team has dismantled one another once, but Detroit beat them in there house twice on a back-to-back. Wings are playing the best hockey they've played all season as they secured the #7 seed & got the best possible matchup they could've drawn considering where they were before the end of season run. Anaheim was playing remarkably well several weeks ago, but didn't exactly finish the season on the same note that Detroit did. Anaheim is the better team, but if Detroit can continue this momentum they've been building the past few weeks, I wouldn't be surprised to see them win this. That being said, Detroit have a lot of question marks on defense & a plethora of playoff inexperience. They are the epitome of a boom or bust team in the first round. Verdict: Anaheim in seven. They're the better team & Detroit still has a lot of question marks going into this series.
Vancouver and San Jose is easily the best opening round matchup in the West. Both teams finished the season not scoring a lot, although the defenses & goaltending were superb from both teams. Vancouver has found a nice 2nd line to the Sedins & Burrows with Roy, Kesler & Hansen but will that be enough ? San Jose loves the physical game & Vancouver doesn't. It's a real finesse versus power matchup that I think favors San Jose more in a playoff type of atmosphere. That being said, San Jose are perennial underachievers. They always have one of the best on paper teams in the league, yet always find a way to blow it. Keep in mind that San Jose won all three matchups against Vancouver this season though. Verdict: San Jose in six. This could go either way, but I don't think San Jose will have much trouble frustrating a finesse team like Vancouver even with home ice advantage.
L.A. has absolutely owned St. Louis going back to last seasons playoffs, where they swept the Blues. They won all three games against them in the regular season this year, but didn't finish the season very well. They're still the defending Stanley Cup Champions, so you can't take them for granted. St. Louis has been all over the place this season. They started off very well, but quickly tanked when numerous players went down with injury. Word has it that Oshie will be reactivated from IR for the opener tomorrow night & they're going to need him. St. Louis ended the year playing pretty well, but L.A. has there number. Verdict: L.A. in five. Too much firepower for a team like St. Louis, that doesn't score very much.
