2013 Playoff Preview: Western Conference

(1) Nashville Predators vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks

OFFENSE:

 A rare thing in the MRFHL, the Predators had two scoring lines going effectively. Patrice Bergeron was the lightning rod for that, while 5 others on the team finished with over 20 goals, and that is without Mike Cammalleri performing. The Ducks also were able to roll two lines, with a very different blend. The vet Ray Whitney led the way with 88 points, while rookies Adam Henrique and Gabriel Landeskog were not far behind.

ADVANTAGE: SLIGHTLY PREDATORS

DEFENCE AND GOALTENDING:

Sergei Gonchar has been through it all, and Roman Polak and Alex Goligoski add a stable back end, but nothing to write home about. Mathieu Garon probably exceeded expectations but still heading into the playoffs as the worst goalie of the 16.  Nothing exceedingly great about the Preds D either. Robidas and Orpik eat minutes and play safe, while Mike Green can be an offensive dynamo, but that wasn’t the case this year. Backstrom still not putting up stellar numbers, but still good enough to lead the Preds to first in the West.

ADVANTAGE: SLIGHTLY PREDATORS

PREDICTION: PREDATORS IN 7

 The Ducks are a very good 8^th seed, and will be a force for years to come when they continue to build but the might of the Predators will be just enough.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Los Angeles Kings

OFFENSE:

The Kings have ruggedness on their bottom lines, with some legit scoring on their secondary lines with Staffford and Brassard. Tomas Plekanec and Kyle Okposo were deadly all year and that needs to continue. The forward group in San Jose is probably weak, but Andy McDonald has been one of the most electrifying offensive players in the league the last 2 years. He makes everyone around him better, but will it be enough.

ADVANTAGE: KINGS

DEFENCE AND GOALTENDING:

  Dan Hamhuis and Willie Mitchell are minute eating steady defenseman, but the rest of the D is shaky at best, along with Roberto Luongo who the Sharks expected more out of. Over in LA, Brent Burns was excellent all year, just missing a Norris nom. The rest of the D is a mix of old and young that is not flashy but effective. While he isn’t in the elite, Lehtonen can pick up wins and keep them in it.

ADVANTAGE: KINGS

PREDICTION:  KINGS IN 6

While the Sharks have an interesting blend and were solid all year, the Kings just have more depth.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (6) Calgary Flames

OFFENSE:

Offense wasn’t the strength this year for the Flames. Tyler Ennis and Mike Riberio led the way with 68 points. Jagr provides a strong veteran leadership, while the addition of Evander Kane and Joe Thornton late in the year boosted the team. Evgeni Malkin-Steve Stamkos, both dominating, Ovechkin and Perry are deadly except for this year. Mid-season additions Pavel Datsyuk, Jordan Staal and Shane Doan make this one of the most potent offenses in the league.

ADVANTAGE: CANCUKS

DEFENCE AND GOALTENDING:

Picking up Shea Weber at the deadline was a huge move; Brent Seabrook remains one of the best shutdown D in the league. Nothing special about the rest of the D, but they are solid. Last year’s Vezina winner Cam Ward will look to get back on track. An interesting mix on D in Calgary with veteran backends, Bouwmeester and Jovanovski. Karl Alzner and John Carlson are top of the line young D also. Varlamov will have to improve if they want to win.

ADVANTAGE: CANUCKS

PREDICTION:  CANUCKS IN 4

 Finishing 7^th or 5^th would have been a better fate for Calgary in their return to the postseason. The Canucks are just too deadly in each area.

(4) Columbus Blue Jackets vs. (5) Chicago Blackhawks

OFFENSE:

 The surprise story of the year, the Blue Jackets sky rocketed from the bottom of the standings with the help of Spezza and Parise. Brad Marchand and Danny Cleary added some secondary scoring while the late addition of Alexandre Burrows certainly helped in many areas. The Blackhawks have all the talent but not the production, secondary scoring was more apparent for the team but no stand outs.

ADVANTAGE: BLUE JACKETS

DEFENCE AND GOALTENDING:

 Like the offense, plenty of talent on the backend. A nice mix of young and a bit of a veteran presence is huge with size and skill. Mike Smith was solid in net, and they will have to hope he will get better as the playoffs go along. Unlike the Blackhawks, the Jackets are all veteran with Tim Gleason being the youngest on the blueline, which provides some reliability. Ilya Bryzgalov will have to step it up to stop the stacked Hawks.

ADVANTAGE: BLACKHAWKS

PREDICTION:  BLACKHAWKS IN 7

The Jackets proved to be great all year, but the Blackhawks want to get to the cup again, and will be hard to stop.