NHL Playoffs 2012: Vancouver Canucks vs. Los Angeles Kings Preview

Two years ago, the Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings met in the first round of the playoffs with the smallest of margins between them. The Canucks had secured the Northwest Division crown with 103 points but the Kings had logged a stellar season of their own, finishing with 101.

The three-vs.-six series played out just as tightly, with the Canucks' power-play sputtering and the Kings taking a 2-1 series lead before eventually falling in six games. The Canucks went on to lose in six in the second round, to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.

Since that time, the teams' fortunes have gone in opposite directions. The Canucks have won two Presidents' Trophies and reached game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals, while the Kings lost in the first round to San Jose and have since undergone a major overhaul.

The Kings have improved significantly since Darryl Sutter took over as head coach last December. Let's see how the two match up on the eve of their 2012 first-round battle.

Season Series: Canucks Win 2-1-1

Regular Season

Canucks (51-22-9), 111 points, No. 1 seed
Kings (40-27-15), 95 points, No. 8 seed

Head-to-Head

Nov. 10, 2011 - Van. 3 @ LA 2
Dec. 31, 2011 - Van. 1 @ LA 4
Jan. 17, 2012 - LA 3 @ Van. 2 S/O
Mar. 26, 2012 - LA 0 @ Van. 1

Overall, the Canucks had the better season. But the Kings were 25-13-11 after Darryl Sutter took over on December 22—a record that would work out to 103 points over an 82-game schedule. The Kings are trending in the right direction, and the difference in the games themselves was very small.

Offense: Advantage Canucks

Regular Season

Canucks - 241 goals for, tied for first in Western Conference
Kings - 188 goals for, 14th in Western Conference

Power Play

Canucks - 57/288, 19.8 percent, fourth in Western Conference
Kings - 49/289, 17.0 percent, seventh in Western Conference

Much has been made about the Kings' scoring difficulties. Based on the regular season, the Canucks should have the advantage five-on-five, but the gap narrows considerably when you compare the two teams' power-plays. In a tight series, Vancouver will be well-advised to try to stay out of the penalty box.

Defence: Advantage Kings

Regular Season

Canucks - 191 goals against, third in Western Conference
Kings - 170 goals against, second in Western Conference

Penalty Kill

Canucks - 40/286, 86 percent, second in Western Conference
Kings -  38/293, 87percent, first in Western Conference

The Kings made the playoffs because they locked the back door to compensate for their scoring challenges. Their goals-against and their penalty kill are outstanding—better than the Canucks'.

Jonathan Quick has been a huge part of the Kings' defensive success, and their stellar first pairing of Willie Mitchell and Drew Doughty log big minutes. But the Kings are now carrying just seven defencemen after trading Jack Johnson. One injury could make a big difference in how Darryl Sutter deploys his D.

The Canucks answer with depth. Assuming Keith Ballard might be ready to play during this series, they'll have nine healthy defencemen that they can shuffle in and out of the lineup as needed, depending on the situation and style of play. We'll likely see pairings of Hamhuis/Tanev, Edler/Bieksa, and Salo/Rome to start the series. Solid, from top to bottom.

Goaltending: Draw

Team Goals Against Average

Canucks - 2.33, third in Western Conference
Kings - 2.07, second in Western Conference

Goaltenders

Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Quick are the only goaltenders to appear in Canucks/Kings games this season.

Luongo - 2.41 goals against, 11th in Western Conference
Quick - 1.95 goals against, second in Western Conference

The Canucks' secret weapon, however, is Cory Schneider. Though he has not faced the Kings this year, his numbers are stellar. His 1.96 GAA is third in the Western Conference, and virtually identical to Quick's.

Count on Schneider to get the call if Luongo falters at any point in the series.

Injuries: Draw

In Vancouver, the focus is almost exclusively on Daniel Sedin. Will the Canucks' leading scorer return from his concussion for Game 1?

It shouldn't matter. While the Canucks are playing spy-vs-spy with their injury reports, the simple truth is that the Canucks played great while Daniel was out of the lineup, logging their best streak of the season and finding lots of different ways to win.

The power play continued to under-produce, and that's an area where Daniel could make a distinct difference. But it was also under-producing before he got hurt, so his return does not necessarily mean an instant goal injection.

While the Canucks have a few forwards who have underperformed through the stretch drive, they've also had guys like Chris Higgins and Max Lapierre step up and fill the voids. The Canucks will manage on offense with or without Daniel in the lineup.

The same is true for Zack Kassian, who missed a few games with a rumoured shoulder problem but appears to be close to returning. His toughness is welcome, but if he can't go, the Canucks have other players who can.

Finally, Keith Ballard is close to making his return from a concussion, but the blue line has become a crowded place in his absence. Ballard has never been a particular favourite of coach Vigneault, and even if he's ready to go, he may not draw back into the lineup unless there is an injury to the top six.

As for the Kings, their big offensive question mark is newly-acquired Jeff Carter, who injured his ankle at the end of March. Like Sedin, he is said to be close to returning.

Utility forward Brad Richardson just underwent an emergency appendectomy, so he's out for at least a little while. And Simon Gagne has already missed nearly 50 games with a concussion, with no timetable for his return.

Will Carter and/or Sedin dress for Game 1? And will we see further injuries contribute to the ultimate result of this series?

Intangibles: Advantage Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks will win this series based on the details that don't show up in the box-scores.

In this Vancouver Province story, Kevin Bieksa articulated the lesson learned when you lose Game 7 of the Finals:

"

I still remember the feeling of that game. I still remember how much it hurt for weeks to come. I don’t want that feeling again. I know a lot of guys don’t. Just to know you worked so hard for something. Twenty-nine teams have that pain at the end of the season. I’d love to be on the one team that doesn't.

"

The Canucks are hungry to make a point.

In the last few weeks, they've shown that they can fine-tune their game. They've also learned how to pace themselves through four rounds and save their best for last.

If they take the Kings lightly, they could find themselves in trouble like they were in 2010. Based on the lessons of the last two years, this group should have the maturity to stay focused and get the job done.

Prediction: 

Canucks in six