NHL Playoffs 2012: Most Important Players in Western Conference Matchups

The Western Conference bracket of the Stanley Cup playoffs features four matchups that could go either way.

Not even the top-seeded Vancouver Canucks are safe, as they're tasked with beating a Los Angeles Kings squad that put the puck in the back of the net far more frequently at the end of the season than they did at the beginning. The St. Louis Blues are also in upset territory against the San Jose Sharks, and the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings could also pull off opening-round upsets.

It will all depend on which teams play their best. And to play their best, each team will need its key players to step up.

From the look of things, each of the four matchups will hinge on the successes or failures of one player in particular.

No. 1 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Kings

Series Begins: Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. ET in Vancouver

Most Important Player: Daniel Sedin

Though he's struggled lately, Henrik Sedin has shown in the past that he doesn't need his twin brother around in order to be productive. If Daniel Sedin has to miss some additional time with a concussion, Henrik will simply have to pick up the slack.

But there's no denying that the Canucks are that much more dangerous when they have both Sedins out on the ice at the same time. Daniel is Vancouver's top goal-scorer, and it suffices to say he and Henrik have a good rapport with one another.

At last check, the word from the Associated Press is that there are differing opinions on Daniel Sedin's status. Henrik says he's good to go, but Alain Vigneault is being more cautious, which is how concussions should be handled.

If Daniel does play, the Canucks should be able to beat the Kings without too much trouble. However, even if he does play, he's one hard hit away from leaving the ice. 

No. 2 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 7 San Jose Sharks

Series Begins: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET in St. Louis

Most Important Player: Antti Niemi

The Sharks' top two lines are going to put the Blues' netminding duo of Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott to the test, but it will all be for naught unless they get some stingy goalkeeping work on their own end.

And that will be up to Antti Niemi.

You just never know what you're going to get from Niemi. He was inconsistent this season and it was no surprise when his name started surfacing in trade rumors right around the deadline.

Once the deadline passed, though, Niemi calmed down and had a great month of March. In 17 starts, he had a GAA of 2.20 with a .971 save percentage.

That's the version of Niemi the Sharks are going to need in this series. If they don't get him, they probably won't be going back to the Western Conference finals.

No. 3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks

Series Begins: Thursday at 10:00 p.m. ET in Phoenix

Most Important Player: Mike Smith

Not unlike Niemi, Mike Smith is another goalie who went through some ups and downs as the season went along. In March, for example, Smith had a 2.47 GAA even despite the fact he had three shutouts.

Smith has really locked things down at the right time, however. In his final five games heading into the postseason, Smith allowed a grand total of two goals. He pitched consecutive shutouts against the Sharks, Ducks and Blue Jackets.

The Blackhawks are all about scoring goals. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are going to combine their forces to put a lot of shots on goal, and the Coyotes are going to be in deep trouble if Smith can't deflect the majority of them.

All Smith has to do is keep playing like he was playing at the end of the season. If he does that, the 2010 Stanley Cup champions could go bye-bye.

No. 4 Nashville Predators vs. No. 5 Detroit Red Wings

Series Begins: Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET

Most Important Player: Pavel Datsyuk

What is there left to say about Pavel Datsyuk at this point? He's been around for a while and it's hard to argue his status as the top two-way forward in the NHL.

The Red Wings can take comfort in the fact that Datsyuk's best play has come lately. The Detroit Free Press has the story on Datsyuk's latest dominance, which has tended to come at the right moments.

This is just a case of a savvy veteran being a savvy veteran. The Red Wings are going to need him to keep it up against the Predators.

The Red Wings are not overmatched against the Predators by any stretch of the imagination, but it doesn't bode well for Detroit that Nashville has the home-ice advantage. The Red Wings were not good on the road this season, and that tendency could lead to a quick exit.

But not if Datsyuk has something to say about that. If he puts the Red Wings on his shoulders, their road woes will be quickly forgotten.