# 1 Detroit Red Wings vs. # 8 Nashville Predators
When the regular season came to a close, the Detroit Red Wings finished 24 points higher in the standings than eight seed Nashville Predators. Despite the large point spread between the teams, the difference between these two teams isn’t as great as the numbers might suggest. The Red Wings had a difficult time winning the games they played against opponents from their own division. Though the Predators only managed a 3-5 record against the Red Wings, the games were close and two of them needed more than regulation time.
Nashville does not have the same level of talent as the top team in the Western Conference. What makes this match potentially disastrous for the Red Wings is the physical play Nashville brings to the table. The Predators thrive on hard work and have the ability to grind out the game. This is especially an advantage for Nashville if the series goes six or seven games. The question mark surrounding the young Predators is if their goalie, Dan Ellis, will be able to hold up under the pressure of the playoffs. Ellis has been great in the stretch, but the playoffs are foreign ground to the goalie.
Some say goaltending is also a potential issue for the Red Wings. Though Dominik Hasek will be starting between the pipes for Detroit, we can expect to see Chris Osgood at some point during the playoffs. Though Hasek is not the same goalie that he was in Buffalo, he still is serviceable if he can stay healthy. The problem with both goalies is that they both are not superstars any more. The solution for the Red Wings is their defense and their leader Nicklas Lidstrom. The offense for the Red Wings was fueled by Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk but for them to make a serious run for the Stanley Cup; they will need to have other players step up. Johan Frazen is the key to the success of the Red Wings. Fifteen of his twenty seven goals game during the last month of the season and Frazen had success against the Predators where he scored six goals and two assists during the series.
This series will prove to be interesting as it has the chance for upset potential. If the Red Wings look past the Predators and towards the teams they may face in the second round, they could find themselves out of the playoffs. Not many give the Predators much chance to win the series but they can do enough to put a scare into the fans of the Red Wings. Look for Detroit to advance to the next round, but it will take six games for them to seal the deal.
# 2 San Jose Sharks vs. # 7 Calgary Flames
The San Jose Sharks are the hottest tea in the NH when the playoffs begin. Over the final six weeks of the season, the Sharks won 17 of 19 games, with their two losses coming in overtime. As a result, the Sharks are the heavy favorites to represent the Western Conference and win the Stanley Cup. On the other side, the Calgary Flames had to go down to the wire just to earn the right to be in the playoffs. This end of the season push could be the momentum the Flames need to help over come the odds and advance to the second round.
The Sharks made news at the NHL trading deadline when they added the Brian Campbell to their lineup. The defensemen energized the team by helping them unleash potent offense attack with his natural puck moving ability. Keep an eye on winger Ryane Clowe who was a non factor in the regular season. Clowe has the potential to surprise the Flames with his scoring ability as he works with Patrick Marleau, another Shark who will need to pick up his game.
During the regular season, the Flames showed flashes of strength but they were not able to maintain any type of constant production. They are an aggressive and physical team who follow the steps of their 50 goal scorer Jarome Iginla. Center Daymond Langkow and Winger Kristan Huselise were the only other Flames who scored more than twenty goals in the regular season. If the Flames are going to upset the Sharks, Iginla will need to be consistent and keep the pressure on San Jose’s defense. Goalie Miikka Kiprusoff has shown in the past the ability to win a series if his game is on. Kiprusoff will need to improve upon his .901 regular season save percentage if the Flames are going to be in contention throughout this series.
The key to this game will be the play of San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov. During the regular season Nabokov performance was enough to give anyone a serious heart condition. Nabokov could go through a three or four game slump before coming back with a solid shutout. If the Sharks are going to continue their impressive run, it will be a result of Nabokov’s hard work. Look for the Flames to push the Sharks to the limits but by the end, the Sharks will win the series in six games.
# 3 Minnesota Wild vs. # 6 Colorado Avalanche
The series between the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche could prove to be one of the more interesting ones in the first round of the NHL playoffs. The Wild have been working on changing the success of the franchise over the past few years and under the leadership of Coach Jacques Lemaire, they appear to be on the right track. The Colorado Avalanche are trying to recapture their glory years by relying upon battle tested veterans to lead them to the Stanley Cup.
The Wild still focus on a suffocating defense, but have added a potent offense. Marian Gaborik led the team with 42 goals and scored a total of 83 points during the regular season. Brian Rolston found the net 31 times during the season while six other players scored 13 goals or more for the Wild during the year. The Wild are a physical team that should be able to wear down the older Avalanche players if they maintain contact with them. The goalie, Nikklas Backstrom, will need to continue his regular season performance. If he can continue with his high save percentage, the Wild should be competitive in this series.
Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic, and Adam Foote will remind some of the Avs of old who were the team to beat earlier in the decade. Though a few years older, they have still shown an ability to make a positive impact on the ice and should continue to do the same in the playoffs. Goalie Jose Theodore was like a phoenix rising from the ashes this season as he revitalized a dead career. Though he is not playing at the same level as his days with Montreal, Theodore has shown he can prove to be formidable and can make a difference in the playoffs. Ryan Smith’s performance will be important for the Avalanche in this series. Smith is one of the players who can play the same physical style the Wild prefer. Smith’s play on the ice could provide the spark needed if this series last longer than five games.
After being ousted by the Ducks last year, the Wild made it a point of developing a similar physical style and they were successful. If they are able to maintain this style through the series, the Wild will be able to wear down the older team and advance to the second round. Though the experience of the Avalanche in the playoffs is helpful, the Wild’s presence on the ice will prevail. Minnesota will advance to the second round after a grueling seven game series.
# 4 Anaheim Ducks vs. # 5 Dallas Stars
The series between Anaheim and Dallas will key in determining the course of the playoffs. Last year the Anaheim Ducks won the Stanley Cup are the team to beat in the Western Conference, even if they are only a # 4 seed. The Dallas Stars were making a run at the top team in the conference until they began to falter in the last month of the season.
Though they took a step back in the regular season, the Ducks were still an elite team in their conference. Anaheim played well enough to break through the 100 point barrier in the standings and gain home ice advantage to begin their title defense. A concern for the Ducks is their lack luster offense where they did not have a player score more than 29 goals. The trademark defense and physical play is what the Ducks will need to rely upon come playoff time. Goalie Jean- Sebastien Giguere helps makes the Ducks a dangerous team this time of year. Ducks’ fans saw Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer return from their temporary retirements to help the team attempt to become repeat champions.
The Stars were moving along nicely when they added Brad Richards to their lineup at the trade deadline. He brought a new dynamic to the team and it showed in his first appearance as a Star when he tallied five points. The performance of Richards and the rest of the Stars began to dip in the last month of the season and will need to find a way to turn this around. The Stars hope Richards will be the same player who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2003 with Tampa Bay when he scored 12 goals and totaled 26 points. A wildcard for the Stars is goalie Marty Turco. If Turco can produce in the playoffs like he did last year with his normal number of shutouts, then the Stars should have a chance of advancing past the Ducks.
The question surrounding the Ducks is if they can find the swagger and intimidation factor from last year’s championship run. If they are able to bring this magic back, then the Ducks will be the team favored to reach the Finals. Look for the size and physical presence of the Ducks to be the deciding factor in the series. The Stars will make it competitive at the beginning and should push the series to six games, but the Ducks will be the ones advancing to the second round of the playoffs.
