Detroit Red Wings: How Do the Wings Matchup Against the Best of the West?

In a tale of two seasons, the Detroit Red Wings are looking to recover some of the brilliance of the first half heading into the playoffs. Momentum and injuries are two key components that can derail even the best of teams looking to make a strong show in the postseason.

While the injuries are mending and Detroit is welcoming back the wounded, the Wings are looking for more consistent play as they head towards Round 1. Goalie Jimmy Howard is looking to return from a nagging groin injury this weekend, which leaves Darren Helm as the lone regular missing from the lineup. Helm's recovery from a sprained knee should last another three to four weeks.

Assuming the Wings find their form, the pitfalls of the Western Conference await. With 37 wins against conference opposition, the Wings have more wins against their own conference than any other team. With five games remaining, four at home, Detroit will have a chance to improve that total while measuring themselves against playoff teams from each conference.

With about 10 days to go in the regular season, the playoff picture gets a bit clearer each day. Here's how the Red Wings matchup against the top eight teams in the West.

Phoenix Coyotes

Head-to-head: 3-1

Just in case the Sharks free fall out of the playoffs continues, we'll throw the Desert Dogs into the fray. Phoenix has been a bit of a surprise this year, lingering around the top of the Pacific Division for most of the season. With the perpetual rumors of relocation and even contraction, coach Dave Tippett has done a commendable job keeping his team competitive.

Ageless Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata  have lit up the score sheet while exiled Tampa reject Mike Smith has been stellar. Detroit won the series with the Coyotes, and two games were decided in shootouts. Detroit has had it's hands full with Phoenix in previous playoff years, and if the two meet again this year, the Yotes will give them all they can handle again.

San Jose Sharks

Head-to-head: 1-3

This assums the Sharks are the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. San Jose has a roster full of talent, and could potentially be the No. 3 seed. In any case they are the culprits that sent the Red Wings to the golf course the last two years.

The Sharks seem to have Detroit's number, especially in the postseason lately. A season of underacheiving could be salvaged by a strong playoff run. Captain Joe Thornton seems to love playing the Red Wings, and Joe Pavelski has had radar lock on the Wings goal the past two seasons.

Detroit has revenge on its side, and Sharks goalie Antti Niemi has been inconsistent all year. If the Wings play inspired hockey and don't have to dig themselves out of a hole every night, they can return the favor and bounce San Jose out early.

Los Angeles Kings

Head-to-head: 3-1

The Kings pose an interesting opponent for the Wings. Jonathon Quick has thrown his name into the hat for Henrik Lundqvist's Vezina trophy, and the Kings offense is getting lukewarm after being ice cold all season.

In any series a hot goalie can make a huge difference. A shutout can get into another team's head and turn sniper hands to stone. Quick is capable of stealing a series, even two. The Red Wings played the Kings well in the regular season and will have to make sure they throw a lot of pucks and traffic at Quick to make him work.

Chicago Blackhawks

Head-to-head: 2-3

Every game this season between these two former Norris Division rivals has been decided by one goal, both Detroit wins coming in overtime. Chicago has had their share of injuries this year too and has put together a strong run to announce their own arrival on the playoff scene.

With a shootout victory last night in Chicago, the Hawks are reminding the West that they lifted Lord Stanley just two years ago. Getting captain Jonathan Toews back has been a key to consistent play in Chicago.

Shaky goaltending has been a contributor to the Hawks' poor standing thus far, but Corey Crawford has gotten more stingy as the season winds down. The regular season finale features the two Original Six rivals on Detroit's home ice. Both will play with something to prove, and both will try to finish strong.

Nashville Predators

Head-to-head: 3-2

The most likely first-round playoff scenario has the Red Wings against the Predators in some variation of the No. 4 vs. 5 matchup. Detroit has had playoff success against Nashville and goaltender Pekka Rinne, and will need to make the big Fin work hard in net.

Nashville-Detroit could come down to who loses at home first. Both teams have huge home ice and home crowd advantages. Bridgestone Arena fans often mimic the Hockeytown faithful by tossing a catfish on the ice in reference to the octopi hurled at the Joe Louis ice.

Detroit has a more talented roster, but can be outhustled by Nashville at times. Special teams play and small details will be huge as both teams will try to gain any edge they can.

Dallas Stars

Head-to-head: 4-0

Detroit has owned the "Pesky Stars" all season, but the playoffs offer a fresh start in every series. Dallas has a talented roster, with lots of grit from Steve Ott and Jamie Benn. Slippery Swede Loui Eriksson provides a deft scoring touch while captain Brendan Morrow hits anything that moves. Keri Lehtonen has shed his "Let-one-in" moniker and is playing like a No. 1 goalie.

The games were all one-goal decisions, except for the first meeting. With a shootout win by the Wings won by this fancy Hudler maneuver, they swept the season series.

Vancouver Canucks

Head-to-head: 2-2

A rivalry may have been born when Alex Burrows motioned to snapping his stick and the Red Wings 23-game home winning streak over his leg after netting the shootout winning goal. It didn't sit well with a lot of Wing players, especially goalie Jimmy Howard, who referred to the Canucks as "a bunch of idiots." Howard went on to state that he didn't care if he was quoted for those comments. Them's fightin' words if I've ever heard any.

Vancouver, proud owners of exactly zero Stanley Cups, have never had much success against Detroit in the playoffs. For one reason or another, the Canucks seem to peak in the regular season, save for last year's Cup run. If these two powerhouses meet in the playoffs, expect to see some bad blood, and Burrows to get Kronwalled at some point.

St. Louis Blues

Head-to-head: 3-2

All season the Red Wings had seen the Blues creeping in the rearview mirror, until the injury bug hit and St. Louis ran right past them to the Western Conference lead. The Blues are also charter members of the "Haven't Done Squat in the Playoffs" club.

This year's team features a dynamic duo in goal with free-agent signing Jaroslav Halak and journeyman Brian Elliott, who have led the league in team goals against average.

The Blues find themselves in unfamiliar territory after missing the playoffs four of the last five years. The young squad has a sprinkling of veterans like Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner, who provide leadership and vital Stanley Cup experience.

Detroit has had mixed success against St. Louis throughout the season. The last matchup, a 3-1 Red Wings home victory, saw an edginess to it that will certainly be revisited if the two meet again in the playoffs. The two meet in St. Louis next Wednesday April 4, in a game that will bring out the best in both squads as they ready themselves for the postseason.