NHL Playoff Preview: Western Conference Round One Predictions

Pictured Above: Top Western Conference Series of Round One (Red Wings vs. Blue Jackets)

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After Sunday's games, the matchups have been determined, and the NHL's 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to kick off Wednesday night.

However, before we get to the upcoming action, the picks must be made, and the predictions set.

If you would like, in response to this article, you can email me your picks if you haven't already published them here on Bleacher Report. If I get enough responses, I will publish a "Community Picks" article sometime before Wednesday evening.

But before we get to that, here is the latest edition of my 2009 NHL Playoff Picks: Western Conference, for Round One.

(1) San Jose Sharks vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks

In a single-state rivalry game, the sputtering Ducks will face the terrific San Jose Sharks in what is destined to be a tough, physical matchup.

The Sharks come into the playoffs with a President's Cup already sitting in their foyer and looking for a bigger trophy to add to the collection: the Stanley Cup. Although those high predictions may be hard to meet, they definitely have proved that they deserve to be considered one of the NHL's elite teams.

The solid (though not extravagant) goaltending of veteran Evgeni Nabokov has been great all year, and the defense pairings may be the best in the league. They're also near the top of the standings in points for, a result of the terrific goal scoring by their first line. Even though San Jose does slightly lack stars, they are a very solid team.

On the other hand, the Anaheim Ducks were supposed to be a highly-seeded team, but goaltending issues and tremendous aging kept the Ducks out of the top eight for most of the year. It wasn't until a streak in the final couple weeks that got Anaheim into the playoffs, and even so, it was just by a single point.

Even though the Ducks seem to be a good depth team too, the Sharks have just way too much talent for the Ducks to handle.

Sharks win series, 4-1

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (7) Columbus Blue Jackets

Well, what an interesting series this has turned out to be. The defending Stanley Cup champions against a literally bad team last year. I never would've predicted it, but it's true, and the series may actually turn out to be a good one.

First of all, we'll get to the Red Wings. Even though they might not have had a year quite as good as last season's, the Red Wings are still a great team. They've overcome lots of early goaltending problems, and although the position is still a little shaky, Conklin and Osgood are turning out to be a decent pair.

However, it's the experienced yet very talented players that are turning heads in Detroit. They have a terrific set of defenseman, who can defend very well and then quickly transition onto the attack to help out the already-very good offensive lines.

Secondly, there is the Columbus Blue Jackets. They've always been known as a mediocre-only one-man team, but not this year. Even though past-star Rick Nash hasn't had his best season, youthful goaltending sensation Steve Mason has led this team throughout the year to win after win. And it's not just him: the entire Jackets team has emerged as a real balanced squad that can take over a game.

The arenas of both these teams are just over 100 miles apart, and they're going to play like it. Eventually the Wings will win, but don't be surprised if it goes to six or seven games.

Red Wings win series, 4-3

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs (6) St. Louis Blues

In yet another unexpected series, another big contender faces a team that has missed the playoffs year after year, until now.

The Canucks come in having been a six or seven-seed team for most of the season but having a spring run to capture them the division championship. Luongo has returned to the form he was in several years ago in his prime, and Vancouver's top line of Sedin and Sundin is becoming one of the best.

Their opponent, the St. Louis Blues, are a surprise team led by yet another goaltender named Mason. Chris Mason, after taking over the starting job when sputtering Manny Legace was injured, has had an unbelievable six shutouts in just 57 games and posted a 91.6 save percentage. However, the send out a lineup filled with unknown, unspectacular players, and that is how many of their opponents have beaten them.

The Canucks can be beat, because they lack stars and defensive talent. But overall, they are a team to watch, and the Blues are no competition for this high-flying Canucks lineup. Easy win for Vancouver, even though don't be surprised if it's a very low-scoring series.

Canucks sweep series, 4-0

(4) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Calgary Flames

In a series that was sure to be a thriller ever since we got a taste of how good these teams were, the youthful yet sparky Blackhawks will face a deep, experienced Flames team.

The Blackhawks enter the game with a great front three: Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Teows, and the awe-inspiring Patrick Kane. I believe this is by far the top line in the NHL, and added to their great second and third lines (the fourth is a bit shaky, though), they could be a huge threat in the playoffs. Chicago is also undoubtedly one of the most explosive teams in the league, although slightly streaky. Chicago has had a terrific year, and they probably expect to continue it in the playoffs. But they shouldn't get too cocky yet...

Their opponent, the Calgary Flames, is also another terrific team. They were a huge trade deadline winner, and even though they have slumped a little down the stretch, expect for them to return as a huge powerhouse studded by goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff in this series.

Even though Chicago seems to have the advantage in the stats, I think their youthfulness with end up losing them a chance to compete for the Stanley Cup. Kane will have plenty of playoff jitters, Patrick Sharp isn't as good as he was last year, and Toews isn't used to captaining the team yet. Even though it'll be close, Calgary will eventually miraculously pull this one out of the bag.

Flames win series, 4-3

Projected Second-Round Matchups

(1) San Jose Sharks vs. (5) Calgary Flames: no worries, Sharks fans...

(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (3) Vancouver Canucks: is an upset by the Canucks lurking in the Detroit alleys? We'll see...