Free For All: NHL Playoff Preview, Western Conference

With a little less than two weeks left in the NHL regular season, this writer dons his turban, charms his snakes, and peers into the all-knowing oracle to give his readers a look at things to come.

Well, it's not quite like that, but given that the playoff race is in full swing, and the current standings looking like they're going to hold for at least another 24 hours, I present to you a Stanley Cup playoff preview.

Let's start with the Western Conference.

Believe it or not, I have been eyeing the standings in the West more than the East. There are more interesting things going on there. Let's start with the current matchup of the San Jose Sharks vs. Nashville Predators.  

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop in San Jose. Looking at that team, it almost reminded me of one of the Rangers teams from the 80s and 90s. Lots of potential, hot start, but will always seem to let themselves sink to the bottom. Honestly, I'm glad that squad proved me wrong. Rob Blake has performed wonders for them on the blueline and should be back in the lineup against the Oilers. 

Speaking of injuries, the Sharks have overcome a rash of injuries recently and continue to plow ahead at the top of the NHL heap.

The Predators have been an on-again/off-again bunch all season. Pekka Rinne has shown flashes of solid goaltending while he splits pipe duty with Dan Ellis, but the whole team has played inconsistently throughout the season and should feel fortunate to be in the playoffs at all. That's if they make it. St. Louis is trailing right behind them, just one measly point away.

Let's move on to the prospective Chicago/Calgary matchup. Now, I'm not a big fan of looking at a season series to get a gauge of how the playoffs are going to work out, but the Blackhawks outscored the Flames 19-7 over four games. The 'Hawks just keep gaining steam heading into the final days of this season. 

My guess is that if this matchup happens, the never-say-die swagger that the Flames have carried all season will melt away in front of an incredibly hostile playoff crowd at the United Center.

Detroit/Anaheim is a matchup with some history. If memory serves, Anaheim made the playoffs and drubbed a Detroit team that was favored to win the Stanley Cup a few years ago. And the saga continues. This writer is not going to go over the obvious. You've heard it before. 

It is anyone's guess whether this will live up to a true playoff upset as this matchup has yielded in the past, but, as my friends in Battlestar Galactica like to say, "All of this has happened before, and will happen again."

And then there are the Columbus Blue Jackets. Of course, in their first playoff outing, the Blue Jackets may just draw the Vancouver Canucks. They actually might have a better shot of beating Detroit in a seven game series. With Roberto Luongo back in the Canucks lineup, and I mean back without post-injury dust, they are beginning to look like a real contender.  

I feel bad for the Blue Jackets. They've worked so hard to get themselves in. Steve Mason has had a fantastic breakout season and will continue to hone his talent. Look for the Blue Jackets to have some success in the coming seasons and give Vancouver a good fight this playoffs.

Part Two will focus on the potential Eastern Conference matchups. Stay tuned.