How the West Will Be Won: A Western Conference Playoff Prediction

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Although we are just a couple puck drops into the month of December, it is never too early to discuss playoffs.

Playoffs is when the “real season” begins. 16 of the NHL’s strongest teams compete to become Stanley Cup Champions.

This season the Western Conference is stronger than it’s been in recent years. With key acquisitions during the off-season, the Western Conference as well as former dominant teams taking the plunge several upgraded teams have from pretenders into contenders.

Recently a panel of Featured Columnists from Bleacher Report was given the task of breaking down the Western Conference to determine playoff seeding to see which team would represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Round One: (1) San Jose Sharks v. (8) Nashville Predators

The San Jose Sharks currently have the best record in the NHL this season which the panel seemed to favor as only two writers predicted them not finish as the top seed.

Matt Hutter, a Featured Columnist for the Detroit Red Wings, compared this season's Sharks to the 1997 Detroit Red Wings. “If any team must win the Cup this year, it's San Jose. Heatley, an improved Marleau and Jumbo Joe (Joe Thorton) are too much for most teams to deal with, their offense will overpower any opponent.”

The Nashville Predators one the other hand should not be taken lightly. The Predators have split the series this season against San Jose at 1-1. Despite finishing in last place in the Central Division, they were only three points away from making the playoffs.

However, this season wasn’t like last season. Despite making into the playoffs this year, the Predators will fall short to an improved San Jose team. Thorton is having an MVP caliber season as players such as Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau have made the Sharks one of the most exciting teams to watch the NHL. The Sharks will make short work out of the Nashville Predators.

Prediction: San Jose, 4-1.

(2) Chicago Blackhawks v. (7) Phoenix Coyotes

You don’t have to finish the season with the best overall record to become Stanley Cup Champions. Last season the Pittsburgh Penguins skated into the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference and Pittsburgh became Stanley Cup Champions for the first time since the 91-92 season.

The Chicago Blackhawks have not won the Stanley Cup since the 60-61 season. Despite having great teams in the 1970’s the Blackhawks have been grounded since. However, this could be the season that Chicago ends the drought. But before we could begin discussing history, they first need to do something they haven’t done this season—defeat the Phoenix Coyotes.

The Phoenix Coyotes have been in the playoffs since the 2002. Since the '02 season, the Coyotes have skated at the bottom of the Western Conference and are currently bankrupt and without an owner.

The Coyotes are a young team guided by veterans Shane Doan, Robert Lang, Adrian Aucoin and Ed Jovonovski.

However, the Blackhawks could be the most dangerous team in the NHL. The Blackhawks are considered to have the best defense in the NHL with defensemen such as Duncan Keith (a Norris Trophy candidate) and Brent Seabrook amongst others they could prevent an already weak scoring Coyotes offense into coming scoreless.

Prediction: Chicago, 4-2.

(3) Calgary Flames v. (6) Detroit Red Wings

The Calgary Flames are the best Canadian team in the NHL this season, whereas the Detroit Red Wings are skating on thin ice. This is not the same Red Wings team which has dominated the NHL the past decade.

The Red Wings have struggled with injuries this season and they could continue to struggle with injuries heading into the post-season.

Meanwhile the Flames have quietly lit up the competition this year, as Chicago and San Jose have taken over the publicity of the Western Conference.

The Flames look to skate away with Northwest Division where teams like the Colorado Avalanche and Vancouver Canucks look to cool down as the season passes by.

This season Calgary and Detroit have split the series and won’t play each other until Mar 9th. I expect Calgary to walk away unharmed as they hope to become the first Canadian team win to win the Stanley Cup since the 92-93 Montreal Canadians.

Prediction: Calgary, 4-1.

(4) L.A. Kings v. (5) Vancouver Canucks

On given nights the Los Angeles Kings play like the great Kings teams of the early 90’s. Then on other nights they play like the team that finished second to last in the Western Conference last season.

Why the improvement? Anze Kopitar has a lot to do with the sudden improvement of the Kings. Kopitar leads the Kings in almost every offensive category. Without Kopitar the Kings do not have an offensive threat especially with the absence of Ryan Smith.

The Vancouver Canucks have not lost to the Kings this season. Eric LaForge wrote an article last week discussing three seasons why the Canucks will make the playoffs this season: strong defense, a returning offense and depth. All three of these traits is something which the Kings would like to have.

One other thing that Kings wished they had was Roberto Luongo. In fact there are several teams in the NHL wishing that they had Luongo as Luongo is one of the top goaltenders in the NHL. With a team that has a strong defense as well as offense and a healthy Luongo, I see the Canucks playing a brutal seven games series but coming out victorious against the Kings.

Prediction: Vancouver Canucks, 4-0.

Semi-Finals: (1) San Jose Sharks v. (5) Vancouver Canucks

This series has the credentials of being one of the best playoffs series in recent history. I would pay good money to see these teams go at it.

The Sharks are currently ranked second in the NHL with 3.32 goals per game while the Canucks are tied for ninth in goals against. This series could go back in forth as fans wouldn’t want to see this series ends.

In their last outing Evngeni Nabov stopped 28 saves as the Sharks defeated the Canucks, 4-2. If the Sharks want to advance to the Western Conference Finals they would have to rely on Thorton, Heatley and Marleau which they have had no problems doing this season as the trio is currently in the top seven in points this season.

Despite having perhaps the best goaltender in the Western Conference, the Canucks would need more than him to put away the Sharks hopes of a Stanley Cup run. The Canucks would have rely on Henrik Sedin who is currently tied for 14th in goals.

Another player the Canucks would have to rely on is in veteran Mikael Samuelsson and Ryan Kesler.

In the end I see the Sharks becoming one step closer in reaching the Stanley Cup Finals after an intense battle with Vancouver.

Prediction: Sharks, 4-3.

(2) Chicago Blackhawks v. (3) Calgary Flames

Perhaps the team that made the biggest splash in the off-season were the Chicago Blackhawks. With the addition of a healthy Marian Hossa the Blackhawks are a step away from a verge of dynasty similar to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Going back to Matt Hunter for compared the 97 Detroit Red Wings to the current San Jose Sharks, Hunter would also elaborate on how Chicago could become the most dangerous team in the Western Conference.

“The Hawks are the deepest team in the West. Their offense is staggering and their defense is perhaps the best in the West. Their big question mark going into this season was Christobal Huet. He has a .911 SV% and a 2.11 GAA through 20 games, those look
like #1 numbers to me,” said Hunter.

The last time the Hawks faced the Flames they matched the biggest comeback in NHL history, after coming back from a 5-0 to defeat Calgary in overtime.

I don’t think Calgary has forgotten this game and neither has Chicago. In the end I see Chicago doing what they did back on October 12th.

Sorry Canada, it looks like neither Vancouver nor Calgary will represent the Western Conference. At least you get to host the Winter Olympics!

Prediction: Chicago, 4-1.

Western Conference Finals: (1) San Jose Sharks v. (2) Chicago Blackhawks

Tab Bamford is as loyal as a Chicago Blackhawks fan as they come. When it comes to breaking down the Western Conference Final, Bamford didn’t hesitate to voice his opinion.

“They're younger than San Jose, deeper than San Jose, and play better defense than San Jose. Oh, and they're undefeated against San Jose,” said Bamford.

Not only is Chicago undefeated against San Jose this season they humiliated the Sharks in front of their home fans.

The signing of Hossa during the off-season made the Blackhawks a dangerous team for not only this season but for the next couple of seasons. “I'm going to say Marian Hossa gets into his 3rd Stanley Cup Finals in a row, but wins it this time,” said Bamford.

If Hossa wants to get to his third straight Stanley Cup Finals the Blackhawks are going to have find a solution to stop Thorton, Heatley and Marleau. However, Chicago stopped them once this season and I think they can do it again.

Congratulations Chicago Blackhawks you are going to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Prediction: Chicago, 4-2.