2011 NHL Playoffs: Canucks-Sharks Western Conference Finals Preview

The San Jose Sharks avoided a playoff collapse by eliminating the Detroit Red Wings in Thursday's Game 7 by a score of 3-2.

The Sharks will now move on to face the Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference Finals. This classic battle of the two top seeds in the Western Conference will begin on Sunday night in Vancouver.

Vancouver will open the series with their first game in almost a week. They defeated the Nashville Predators in Game 6 on Monday night. Meanwhile, San Jose will be coming into Canada with Thursday's win fresh on their minds.

Can the Canucks advance to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994, or will the Sharks compete for the glory for the first time in their franchise history?

Let's break everything down and see who has the biggest advantage.

Regular Season Records

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NASHVILLE, TN - MAY 09: The Vancouver Canucks gather around goalie Roberto Luongo after a win over the Nashville Predators in Game Six of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bridgestone Arena on May 9, 2011 i

Canucks: 54-19-9 (117 points, first in Northwest Division, won President's Trophy)

Sharks: 48-25-9 (105 points, first in Pacific Division)

Offense: Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 26: Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks jumps out of the way as goalie Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks makes a pad save during the second period in Game Seven of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the

Vancouver has the 2011 Art Ross winner and Hart Trophy nominee Daniel Sedin on their team. Sedin had 104 points in the regular season and also tied with Ryan Kesler for the team goal-scoring lead with 41 tallies.

They have one other 20-goal scorer, Alexandre Burrows, who put up 26 goals in the regular season.

The Canucks were first in the NHL with 3.15 goals per game during the season, but things have dropped in the playoffs, as they are scoring just 2.31 goals a game.

So far this postseason, Kesler is the team scoring leader with 15 points, and both him and Sedin have six goals. Kesler had 11 points in the Nashville series, including two three-point games and two two-goal games. He is currently leading the league in postseason scoring.

Offense: Sharks

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DETROIT - MAY 4: Patrick Marleau #12 of the San Jose Sharks skates with the puck against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on May 4, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michig

Patrick Marleau led the Sharks in the regular season with 37 goals and 73 points. He was one of seven players on the roster with at least 50 points or 20 goals this year.

Ryane Clowe is the playoff scoring leader so far, posting 13 points in 13 games. He is also third in the NHL in playoff scoring.

Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Devin Setoguchi each have five goals for the team goal-scoring lead. Couture's 12 points are first among NHL rookies in the playoffs. 

The Sharks were sixth in goals per game during the regular season, tallying 2.96 goals per game. They are seventh in the NHL with 2.92 goals per game in the playoffs, experiencing a limited drop-off from the year.

Defense: Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 21: Christian Ehrhoff #5 of the Vancouver Canucks and Viktor Stalberg #25 of the Chicago Blackhawks get tangled up along the end boards during the third period in Game Five of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011

Christian Ehrhoff led Vancouver defensemen in scoring in the regular season with 50 points. He is also the leading defensive scorer in the postseason with nine points in 13 games.

Kevin Bieksa had a plus-32 rating in the regular season to lead the Canucks and place second in the NHL in that category. In the playoffs, Kesler has a team high plus/minus of plus-six.

The Canucks gave up the least amount of goals in the regular season, with just 2.20 surrendered per game. They have given up 2.54 per game in the playoffs, good for fifth among playoff teams.

Defense: San Jose

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 08: Dan Boyle #22 of the San Jose Sharks in action against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 8, 2011 in San Jose, California. (Photo

Dan Boyle led Sharks defensemen in regular scoring with 50 points, and he is again taking the defensive scoring lead in the postseason with nine points.

Jason Demers had the plus/minus lead in the regular season with a plus-19. Kyle Wellwood has taken the lead in the playoffs, though, posting a plus-seven rating.

The Sharks were 10th in goals against per game with 2.54 surrendered in the regular season. But like the Canucks, they have surrendered more in the postseason. Their 3.00 goals against total is ranked 10th.

Goaltending: Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 30: Goalie Roberto Luongo #1 of the Vancouver Canucks makes a save against the Nashville Predators while down on the ice during the first period in Game Two of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Pla

Roberto Luongo is trying to shed his label of being a big game choker and get the Canucks deep into the playoffs.

Luongo, a 2011 Vezina Trophy finalist, went 38-15-7 during the season to finish first in wins. His .928 save percentage was ranked fourth, while his 2.11 GAA was second. He also posted four shutouts.

So far in the playoffs, Luongo is first in wins with a record of 8-5-0. His .917 save percentage is sixth, and his 2.25 GAA is fifth. He has posted two shutouts.

Goaltending: Sharks

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 12: Antti Niemi #31 of the San Jose Sharks watches the puck during their game against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at HP Pavilion on May 12, 2011 in S

Antti Niemi won the 2010 Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks, so he understands the pressure of the Stanley Cup Playoffs and knows how to come up big when it matters most.

Niemi went 35-18-6 in the regular season and was ninth in wins. He had a .920 save percentage and 2.38 GAA to go with six shutouts (ranked sixth in the NHL).

So far in the playoffs, he is 7-5 and is fourth in the league in wins. He has a .906 save percentage and 3.01 GAA but has yet to post a shutout.

Special Teams: Canucks

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 28: Ryan Kesler #17 of the Vancouver Canucks skates with the puck during Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Nashville Predators during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 28, 2011 at Rogers Arena in

Vancouver's power play was ranked first overall in the regular season with a 24.3 percent success rate.

Daniel Sedin had 18 power-play goals to lead the Canucks, and he was also first in the NHL in power-play goals scored. He has three goals on the man advantage in the playoffs and is tied with Kesler for the lead in that category.

The Canucks' power play is working at 22.2 percent success rate this postseason and is ranked sixth among playoff teams.

On the penalty kill, the Canucks did not allow a goal on 85.6 percent of their penalties to be third in the NHL. Kesler had three shorthanded goals in the regular season to lead Vancouver.

Burrows has one shorthanded goal in the playoffs, and the Canucks' postseason penalty kill is ranked sixth with an 86 percent success rate.

Special Teams: Sharks

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Dany Heatley #15 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after a goal against the Los Angeles Kings in game six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Staples Center on April 25, 2011 in L

Marleau, Dany Heatley and Joe Pavelski each had 11 power-play goals during the season to lead the Sharks. The Sharks' power play was ranked second in the regular season with a 23.5 percent success rate.

So far this postseason, Clowe and Devin Setoguchi have two power-play goals for the special teams goal-scoring lead. Their power play has slipped to just a 12.5 percent rate to be ranked 13th among postseason teams.

San Jose's penalty kill was dismal in the regular season at 79.6 percent (ranked 24th). Marleau and Joe Thornton each had two shorthanded goals during the year, but the Sharks have yet to score a shortie in the playoffs. Their penalty kill has improved, however, and is now ranked eighth at 81.2 percent.

Coaching: Vancouver

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - APRIL 28: Head Coach Alain Vigneault (middle) speaks with Henrik Sedin #33 and Kevin Bieksa #3 of the Vancouver Canucks during a timeout in the third period in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Nashville Predato

Vigneault is in the running for the 2011 Jack Adams Trophy after leading the Canucks to the President's Trophy. He won the Jack Adams in 2007.

Under Vigneault's guidance, the Canucks have won three straight division titles and also won the Northwest in 2007. He only missed the playoffs once, in 2008.

However, Vancouver has been bounced from the playoffs in the second round in Vigneault's first three seasons. His 1998 Montreal Canadiens were also eliminated in the Western Conference Semifinals. He is in the Western Conference Finals for the first time in his career.

Coaching: Sharks

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 17: Head coach Todd McLellan of the San Jose Sharks watches from the bench during the NHL game against the Phoenix Coyotes at Jobing.com Arena on January 17, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks defeated the Coyotes 4-2. (Photo b

Todd McLellan is in his third year as the Sharks head coach.

He has some similarities to Vigneault. He has led the Sharks to three straight division titles and the playoffs, but his teams have largely underperformed.

But unlike Vigneault, McLellan got things going in the right direction last year when the Sharks went to the Western Conference Finals. Although they were swept by the Blackhawks, it finally helped San Jose begin to shed their choker label.

McLellan was a finalist for the 2009 Jack Adams Award.

Who Has the Advantage?

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VANCOUVER, CANADA - JANUARY 20: Marc-Edouard Vlasic #44 of the San Jose Sharks holds off Daniel Sedin #22 of the Vancouver Canucks while trying to clear the puck during the third period in NHL action on January 20, 2011 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC, C

Offense: Canucks

Vancouver has the last two Art Ross Trophy winners, and Ryan Kesler is coming into his own. San Jose has been consistent with goal scoring, but Vancouver has more power.

Defense: Tie

Both teams are surrendering more goals, and both team's best offensive defensemen have the exact same regular season and playoff point totals. This one can't be called either way.

Goaltending: Sharks

A consistent underperformer in Roberto Luongo, or a Stanley Cup winner in Antti Niemi? I'll take the latter.

Special Teams: Vancouver

The Canucks are better overall on both the power play and penalty kill, and their players have produced more special teams points.

Coaching: Sharks

Todd McLellan has been to the Conference Finals before. Alain Vigneault doesn't seem to know what a deep playoff run is...yet.

Prediction

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SAN JOSE, CA - MAY 12: Patrick Marleau #12 and Joe Thornton #19 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates after Marleau scored a goal in the third period against the Detroit Red Wings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Semifinals during the 2011 NHL Stanley

You know, originally, I had picked the Canucks to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. Everyone wants to pick the top seed, and I was guilty of this.

But then I thought about it a bit more.

Both teams have had similarities in this postseason. Their starting goalies have faltered at times, forcing them to turn to their backups, who had little or no Stanley Cup playoff experience. They also each avoided a horrible playoff collapse by nearly blowing 3-0 series leads.

They also have had limited success in playoffs past, so who knows if either team has what it takes?

Ultimately, though, it's hard to argue with a Stanley Cup–winning goaltender. Niemi's stats may not be as pretty as Luongo's, but he has been here before. He got to know San Jose while playing against them as a member of the Blackhawks in last year's Western Conference Finals, and he'll know what to do to help them win this year.

Furthermore, McLellan will be better prepared to coach the Sharks through this year's series. You can bet he was as hurt about getting swept by Chicago as his players were. He won't let it happen again.

The Sharks will be ready to shed their choker label for good.

Prediction: Sharks in seven, based mostly on the "We've been here before" factor. 

Agree? Disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments.