Blackhawks, Red Wings, Coyotes, Kings and The Rest Of The West

San Jose Sharks vs. Colorado Avalanche

Once again the San Jose Sharks claim the top seed in the Western Conference. Unlike last year, their opponent isn't nearly as scary on paper.

Last season the Sharks won the Presidents Trophy then lost in the first round to the Anaheim Ducks. Anaheim was much better than it's eighth seed showed, but that does not excuse the Sharks for their playoff collapse.

This season would be even more devastating. They added Dany Heatley to an already stacked offense and Evgeni Nabokov was solid, if unspectacular, in net once again this year.

All the pressure is on Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau to take the Sharks far. What might relieve some of the pressure that the Sharks may be feeling is the fact that even though they are the number one seed again, not one expert is calling them the favorites. That title belongs to the Blackhawks and Red Wings.

Colorado came out of nowhere to have a very solid year. The end was a little shaky at times but the end result is satisfactory. They are probably pleased with their first round draw as well, avoiding Chicago.

Colorado was led by goaltender Craig Anderson, who was acquired from the Florida Panthers this offseason. Anderson, just like the Avalanche, started very quick out of the gate winning 10 out his first 13 games with two shutouts. Unfortunately he finished losing 8 out of his last 11, giving up four goals or more six times.

On offense Colorado can count on Paul Stastny, Chris Stewart, Matt Duchene and Peter Mueller.

Prediction: Sharks in 5

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators

Chicago is the team that has to carry the weight of expectations on their shoulders. Picked as a preseason favorite to win it all, they have done nothing to prove the experts wrong. One could argue they are even more of a favorite to win it all now.

Eight players on Chicago's roster scored 17 goals or more this season. That is not including D Duncan Keith's 14 goals and 55 assists.

Amongst those offensive players are Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Marion Hossa.

Some people seem to think that Chicago's only obstacle, just like Washington, in the way of an easy ride to the cup is the question mark in net.

I seem to be one of the few who disagree with that notion.

Yes Antii Niemi came out of nowhere to replace Cristobal Huet in net. But forget the fact that he lacks experience and just take a look at the numbers.

26-7-4, 2.25 GAA, .912 SV % and seven shutouts. With the offense that he has behind him and Nashville's weak offensive depth, he should be just fine. All he needs is one series victory and he is no longer a playoff rookie. Oh and I'm sure his confidence will soar as well.

Nashville returns to the playoffs after a one year absence. They have a few good offensive players in Jason Arnott, Patric Hornqvist and Martin Erat.

They also have solid defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter.

In net is Pekka Rinne. He is also capable of shutting the door having seven shutouts to his name as well.

Prediction: Blackhawks in 4

Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are in the playoffs. Say it again. The Kings are in the playoffs. This is true for the first time since 2002 and for only the fifth time since they lost in the finals to Montreal in 1993.

Their opponent is a very solid Vancouver Canucks team that along with Roberto Luongo, also have some offensive force as well.

Henrik Sedin finished with 112 points. His twin brother Daniel had 85 despite missing 17 games.

They are joined by Mikael Samuelsson (30 G), Alex Burrows (35 G), Ryan Kesler (75 pts) and Mason Raymond (25 G).

The defense is solid as well led by Christian Ehrhoff, Alexander Edler, Sami Salo and Kevin Bieksa.

They also have one of the best goalies in the NHL, and another gold medalist, Roberto Luongo.

Luongo did not have the dominant season that he usually has, but he can still be counted on to be solid in the playoffs.

The Kings also have players who can be counted on.

Anze Kopitar, Ryan Smyth, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty and Alexander Frolov are all very skilled players who should have Vancouver's attention.

Jonathan Quick played well, and was consistent enough, to hold down the starting job throughout the season.

From January 14th-March 2nd he went 13-2 with a shutout, proving he can carry a team when need be.

Unfortunately for Kings fans he followed the stretch with another streak, the one you don't want to have. From March 4th-April 10th he went 4-7-5 being pulled from a game twice.

A first half Quick could make this a series worth watching.

Vancouver in 6

Phoenix Coyotes vs. Detroit Red Wings

Saving the best for last.

Coyotes/Red Wings is the best?

Yes. Without a doubt, no questions asked. This is the marquee first round match up.

So far in all of my predictions I have no upsets. It's pretty ridiculous to think that in the NHL where the best team doesn't always win in the first two rounds of the playoffs, more than any other sport, that there would be no upsets.

The NHL this year just seemed a bit top heavy. There were the powerhouses in San Jose, Chicago, Washington, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Vancouver.....where is Detroit?

Detroit did not have it's usual outstanding regular season this year. Around the Olympic break they were just fighting for the eighth seed. They must have one day put their jerseys on, looked in the mirror together and remembered the team that they were. The Detroit Red Wings.

They went 16-3-2 after the Olympic break. 34 points in 21 games, and they only got the fifth seed. Just goes to show you how mediocre their start was.

Detroit is led by the usual suspects of Nicklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Brian Rafalski.

Not so coincidental to the winning streak was the return of Johan Franzen to the lineup.

The only major difference for the Red Wings is that there will be no Chris Osgood in net.

Osgood has made a living by playing out of his mind in the playoffs. Being a goalie that can transform himself into a machine. It's just that this season he had an unusually mediocre start that the Red Wings had to look at alternative options.

Enter Jimmy Howard.

The favorite for the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), Howard has done his best Osgood impersonation to be the unquestioned leader of the defense.

After producing eye-popping stats (37 wins, 2.26 GAA), Howard should have all the confidence in the world.

Phoenix on the other hand is somewhat of a underdog story.

They made the playoffs five out of their first six seasons after relocating from Winnipeg, but they never got out of the first round.

After losing in five games to the Sharks in 2002, they fell on hard times.

They never again came close to even qualifying for the playoffs and attendance shrunk considerably. The hard times hit a peak when the franchise filed for bankruptcy on May 5th of last year.

Last year they finished with 79 points. This season? A whopping 107. The most ever since they became the Coyotes.

Led by captain Shane Doan, this Coyotes team has really come together. Mid-season acquisitions Wojtek Wolski (Colorado) and Lee Stempniak (Toronto) have helped boost their offense.

Their defense is respectable too with Ed Jovanovski, Keith Yandle, Derek Morris and Adrian Aucoin.

In between the pipes is Ilya Bryzgalov who has maybe the most surprising stat line of all the goaltenders in the playoffs (42 W, 2.29 GAA and 8 shut outs).

You can be sure that the white towels will be waving ferociously in Arizona. Their fans have had to endure many losing seasons and some embarassment, and now they have a legit team to cheer for.

What's more is that almost everyone expects them to lose. They are playing Detroit after all. The Red Wings are comparable to the Lakers, or the Yankees in the way that the nation views them.

It doesn't matter how bad (by their standards) Detroit started the season. What matters is how they are playing now. Behind their consistent offense and their young goaltender. Detroit will easily take this Phoenix squad that is probably just happy to be in the playoffs again.

Wrong.

Phoenix will be more than just happy to be there. They will be happy to win it. You don't accumulate 107 points by accident and lose in the first round. Unless you are the San Jose Sharks.

So Phoenix will gladly assume the underdog position, take it's great home ice advantage, it's solid goaltending and prove the doubters wrong. This is going to be one heck of a series. Phoenix in 7.