2012 Playoff Preview - Western Conference

(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (8) Nashville Predators

Offense:

 A very underrated offense in Nashville that really carried them all year. The Predators had five 30 goal scorers, led by Jason Pominville who had 40 goals, all of which created a very balanced attack for the 2010 Stanley Cup champions. Over in Vancouver, there is no lack of talent with a forward group that boasts the likes of Steve Stamkos, Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin. With the names on the roster the Canucks were a little lackluster up front and were not as deadly as they would seem, but they are still a huge threat.

Advantage: Tie

Defense:

 Both teams got very little offensive support from their backend. The Predators built with solid veteran defenseman, they did add Mike Green midway through the year, but his minus 6 is a bit worrisome.  The Canucks might have the envy of the league on defense, they have a very good young shut down D in Brent Seabrook, add in the towering Zdeno Chara and the first ballot hall of famer Nicklas Lidstrom, there is very few holes in this defense.

Advantage: Canucks

Goaltending:

 Cam Ward was nothing short of excellent for the Canucks this season. A Vezina like year, he picked up 53 wins with 6 shutouts, and just giving up just over 2 goals a game.  Nicklas Backstrom for the Preds was a little lackluster this year, with the season Nashville had, you could argue they should be higher up the standings, but Backstroms play wasn’t winning them any games, but he is still a great goaltender and could turn it on during the playoffs.

Advantage: Canucks

Prediction: Canucks in 6

 The teams split their season series, both teams winning their home games, so that could play a huge part in this matchup. But the Canucks are just too deep of a team.

(2) Los Angeles Kings vs. (7) Detroit Red Wings

Offense:

 Whats not to like about the Red Wings forward group. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk lit up the league this year, along with the emergence of Claude Giroux. Add in a pair of power forwards in Scott Hartnell and James Van Riemsdyk, its hard to find many holes up front. Problem for them, is the Kings were that much better this year. Tomas Plekanec and Tuomo Ruutu both had 100 point seasons, the latter with a 50 goal year as well. They received plenty of secondary scoring from guys like Stafford, Elias and Kunitz as well but after them it tails of drastically, which causes concern for a deep playoff run.

Advantage: Kings

Defense:

 The Kings have a much younger D core than most of the playoff teams, the likes of Kevin Bieksa and Brent Burns were the driving force this season and they will depend on veterans Douglas Murray and Rob Scuderi to be consistent in the playoffs. The Red Wings look better on paper, Kimmo Timonen and Christian Ehrhoff put up the points, blocked the shots and played the minutes, but that didn’t stop the pair for combining to be a minus 18 this year, which is not what you want to see from the top pair.

Advantage: Kings

Goaltending:

 Jaroslav Halak stepped up as the Red Wings number 1 this year, posting 33 wins, and giving the Wings a chance to win all year. But Kari Lehtonen on the Kings has been one of the most underrated goalies this season. Winning 51 games this season, he pushed them to a division win, and being named first star 13 times this season.

Advantage: Kings

Prediction: Kings in 5

 Red Wings are a very good team but are just too outmatched by the Kings in every area. The Wings though could squeak out a few wins this series.

(3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (6) Phoenix Coyotes

Offense:

 The Blackhawks have been an offensive force for years now, and it was no different this year with huge years from Jarome Iginla, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.  But after those 3 the production really wasn’t there, and it must have been disappointing to see Eric Staal put up only 30 points this year.  The Coyotes picked up Daniel Briere and Daniel Alfredsson this season, but their impact has left more to be desired. Frans Nielsen has been a bright spot but the trading of Jason Spezza crippled the Coyotes forward group.

Advantage: Blackhawks

Defense:

 The Coyotes defensive group has some very interesting pieces, and the addition of Adrian Aucoin really helped their cause especially with Francois Beauchemin sent out the door. In Chicago, all 3 defensive lines could play over 25 minutes. Duncan Keith and Alexander Edler had huge years at both sides of the ice, and will give little options for a weak Coyotes offense.

Advantage: Blackhawks

Goaltending:

Roberto Luongo wasn’t the best in the league this year and he himself knows he could have done better, but he wasn’t bad and won games when he needed to. In Phoenix Ilya Bryzgalov was playing great but he was also sent out at the deadline, and Josh Harding took his place. Harding wasn’t bad but definitely didn’t put up the numbers of his predecessor.

Advantage: Blackhawks

Prediction: Blackhawks in 4

The Coyotes could have stood a chance if it was their pre-deadline team, but against a deep Chicago team, their selling will leave them with an early exit.

(4) Edmonton Oilers vs. (5) San Jose Sharks

Offense:

 The Oilers got plenty of offense from their 3 big guns this season. Guys like Ryan Kesler, Dany Heatley and Marian Hossa all found the scoresheet on a regular basis this year. But something needs to be said about the match made in heaven over in San Jose. The pairing of Andy McDonald and Brian Gionta destroyed the west this year. The two combined for 104 goals, each hitting the 50 goal plateau. Gionta and his 54 goals won him the Maurice Richard, and Andy McDonald with 122 points, is this years Art Ross champion. If they can continue that during the post-season, watch out.

Advantage: Sharks

Defense:

The Sharks had a trio on defense have huge seasons, John Michael Liles, Dan Hamhuis and Jordan Leopold. Not outstanding years but all 3 put up the points, blocked the shots and played big minutes for the Sharks all year and were steady along the way. Dan Boyle was the key piece on the Oilers defense, adding 51 points to his resume and over 100 shots blocked,  after that it’s a steady diet of shut down D for Edmonton, all of which will try to slow down the big 2 on San Jose.

Advantage: Tie

Goaltending:

The Sharks did not let Jonas Hillier have a breather all year, the Swiss netminder played all 82 games for the Sharks, and did not slow down at all and was a steady force between the pipes.  Henrik Lundqvist didn’t get much more rest than Hillier, but the All-Star was excellent this year, winning 48 games and almost unbeatable at times this season.

Advantage: Oilers

Prediction: Sharks in 7

Both teams are very close in production and will match each other shot for shot. It really could come down to who can make the timely saves.