NHL Western Conference Playoff Predictions

With the 2007-2008 NHL playoffs beginning tonight, four western conference teams will be facing off. Three of the four quarterfinal series feature some division rivalries. Here are predictions with some thoughts and information about why which teams will advance and why the other four will be leaving early.

#1 Detroit Red Wings vs #8 Nashville Predators

Since about a week into the NHL season, the Detroit Red Wings were the best team in the league. Showing no signs of slowing down, they continued to win the Presidents Trophy and capture a record of 54-21-7 along with 115 points, 24 more points than their quarterfinal opponents, the Nashville Predators. Detroit can easily take this one if they continue their excellent work along with their veteran leadership. Lindstrom, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg must show up to play as well as Hasek and Osgood.

Nashville didn't have a great start to the season, holding a last place spot in the division and some points, but they have really turned around by winning important games against Detroit, Chicago, and Columbus. The squad thus far has been led by J.P. Dumont and Jason Arnott who must continue to play the way they have all season if Nashville wants anyway of winning. Young goaltender Mark Ellis, who finished the season with a record of 23-10-3, a save percentage of .924 and a GAA of 2.34 with the Predators, can potentially steal the series from Detroit if he is on his game.

The teams met 8 times in the regular season in which they both finished 3-3-2 against one another. 

Prediction - Detroit in 6

#2 San Jose Sharks vs #7 Calgary Flames

Without a doubt, the San Jose Sharks are on fire as of now. In their last 22 games with a record of 18-2-2. The two losses have been the last two games of the year against the Dallas Stars and the Los Angeles Kings. Despite those two games, the Sharks went on an 11 game win streak in which they beat division rivals Anaheim and Dallas, western confernce playoff teams such as Nashville, Detroit and Minnesota, and even added three wins against top eastern confernce teams like Montreal, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Leading point scorer Joe Thornton led the way with 96 points. Its almost as if the Sharks as individuals have gone down, but risen as a team. Goalie Evgeni Nabokov had a tremendous year winning a league most 46 wins and almost played all 82 games. Nabokov also kept his GAA low at 2.10. If San Jose continues to play like they have in the past two months, they can cruise into the cup finals. Just imagine how much better they would be if Marleau had more than 48 points and wasnt a -19, or in Cheechoo didnt have a lousy 37 points, 32 less points than last season and 56 less than in 05-06.

As for Calgary, they have been in the fight all season long competing for the division lead of arguably the best, the Northwest division, which has 4 out of 5 teams in the playoffs and Edmonton just missing by 3 points. The Flames have been led by none other than Jarome Iginla this year, but also been helped by Huselius, Langkow, and Phaneuf all collecting 60+ points. Mikka Kiprusoff had yet another good year, but will have to pick it up if he wants his crew to advance.

Throughout the season, Calgary and San Jose played 6 times in which Calgary won the series 4-2.

Prediction - San Jose in 6

#3 Minnesota Wild vs #6 Colorado Avalanche

Minnesota has probably been the biggest suprise this season finishing in third place and atop the tough Northwest division. The Wild have a VERY VERY fast team behind Marian Gaborik, Pavel Demitra, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and Brian Roloston. Minnesota can be a real threat in this years playoffs, especially with Niklas Backstrom between the pipes who finished the season 33-13-8 for the Wild. Along with the big four up on offense, the Wild have some silent but dangerous players in Brent Burns, Mikko Koivu, and Eric Belanger. Minnesota can dominate any game against anyone they play if they get a lead. If the Wild take a series lead on Colorado tonight, don't be surprised if they take it all.

The Avalanche are a higly skilled, young and old team. The veterans carry the team like Sakic, Andrew Brunette, and recently acquired Adam Foote and Peter Forsberg. The addition of Forsberg was a great deal for Colorado as he is back on his game scoring 14 points in just 9 games, 1 G 13 A. If the Avalanche stayed healthy this seaosn, they would have been higher up in the standings. Young stars also lead the team like Statsny, Wolski, and Svatos. If colorado wants to take this one from Minnesota, they will need to at least win one game in Minnesota in the first two games. Colorados powerplay will have to step up and actually accomplish something in this series as Minnesota holds a well structured penalty kill.

In 8 games played between the two, Minnesota took the series going 4-3-1.

Prediction - Minnesota in 7

#4 Anaheim Ducks vs #5 Dallas Stars

This has truly been a good year for both these teams. Anaheim is fighting to get back to the finals as they slumped for a good part of the beginning of the season and Dallas has been in it all year as well. Anaheim is an all around power house with young players who are quite dangerous in all situations such as Getzlaf, Perry,  and Kunitz. Unfortunatley, Corey Perry is out for the playoffs due to an injury, meaning people like Selanne,the Niedermeyers, Weight, and Pronger, who is coming off an 8 game suspension will have to continue to play well. The Ducks have arguably some of the best defense in the NHL with Pronger, Niedermeyer, and Schneider. The Ducks also have J.S Giguere who had 35 wins this season for the Ducks. Anaheim is entering the playoffs with a 20-5-1 record in their last 26 games, 8 without Pronger and 11 without Perry. The Ducks physical play always seems to get in the other teams head and especially with Steve Ott and the Dallas Stars.

Dallas is a fearful team again this year as they have the same players producing greatly in Morrow, Lehtinen,and Modano and great new suprises like Ribeiro, Richards, and Hagman. Mike Ribeiro has risen into a true star finishing the season leading Dallas in points with 83 points. Injuries have seemed to be a problem for the Stars, especially defensman Sergei Zubov who missed nearly half the season. This year will not be a problem in net with Turco. We all saw his outstanding performance last year against Vancouver, but he will need offensive support to win games. The Stars special teams could also help them slip past Anaheim in this series.

Another division rivalry matchup, Dallas led the season series 5-2-1. Don't let this suprise you, the Ducks will be ready to play.