Stanley Cup Playoffs!

Wow.  It's really been awhile, huh?  Yeah well....okay, okay.  I promise to do better!

NHL 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs

Finally!  My favorite time of year is upon us and I’m about to forsake my child and wife for the next 2 months.  Ah well…they’ll forgive me.  They do every year. 

I thought I would take a cursory little look at the matchups and put forth a few thoughts.  Predictions are ridiculous…don’t put any stock into that and I will only make some for the sense of bar talk and fun.  That’s really the essence of why we all love sports:  anything can happen.

Western Conference

 (1)    Vancouver Canucks

                   vs.

 (8) Chicago Blackhawks 

One of the most anticipated series of the opening round, for sure.  This is the third consecutive year that the two teams have met, with Chicago besting the Canucks both times so far, last year on their way to being Stanley Cup Champions.  With Vancouver winning the President’s trophy this year as the NHL’s best team, they have to mighty tired of losing to Chicago already and have a steely resolve not to let it happen again. 

Chicago had to blow up their winning roster a little bit after the Cup win last year and a few of the departing players, like Byfuglien and Niemi, were very instrumental in their victories.  Couple that with the normal hangover letdown that many teams experience the year after winning a Cup and I think it takes bit of an edge off of Chicago this year. 

The hunger Chicago had last year has been passed on to Vancouver for this year.  Luongo and the Butter Twins can win all the accolades and Art Ross trophies they want but everyone, including themselves, know it doesn’t mean as much as a Stanley Cup.  Vancouver in seven.  

    (2)    San Jose Sharks

            vs.

                (7)  Los Angles Kings 

San Jose has been knocking on Stanley’s door for years now, never finding a way to break through it.  That constant failure to make it all the way, despite regularly being the best team throughout the regular season, has had an impact on how people view those players.  Joe Thornton is a daisy.  Heatley has no heart.  Nabakov is a choker.  Well, the last of those players has been replaced by last year’s championship winning goalie, Antii Niemi, and Big Joe is going to take another crack at it with his cast of merry men.  Is this the year they finally do it? 

The Kings are an easy team to like and have a lot of great pieces.  The rebuilding has gone well and their plan seems to be taking the predicated steps year after year.  Their defense is their strongest point with studs like Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson.  They also have a solid list of forwards…except for one big piece.  Their scoring leader and best player, Anze Kopitar went down with a broken ankle near the end of the regular season and won’t be back in time to help.  As deep as they are, they can’t overcome that…not at this point in their development.  I’m sure they’ll fight like champs, but:  Sharks in five.  

    (3)    Detroit Red Wings

             vs.

                (6) Phoenix Coyotes

Detroit has been perennial playoff threat with a solid core of players that always seem to perform with consistency.  To be sure, they are the class of the league.  They’ve won cups aplenty and fans around the league for their play and conduct.  They’re one of those rare teams where no matter how often they win the fans, form any city in the league, will still not hate them.  This year they start the playoffs without Zetterberg and a goalie that seems to be struggling a bit in Jimmy Howard.  But hey, it’s not like that’s never happened to them before.

Phoenix is a bit of a darling team after overcoming huge distractions with their ownership situation and lack of paying fans in the seats.  Despite it all, they stay focused and play hard.  Very well coached by Dave Tippet and well led by captain Shane Doan, everybody likes an underdog.  As much as we all want to see them succeed , they don’t near enough ammunition or experience to take out the big boys.  Detroit in six.

(4)    Anaheim Ducks

          vs.

(5)    Nashville Predators

Anaheim is the team nobody wanted to play in the first round.  Well, that makes Nashville a great opponent because the same could be said of them!  A couple of sold playing teams with just enough power and experience to make them the perfect dark horse and playoff threat.  The Ducks got a sick performance out of Corey Perry, busting through the fifty goal barrier to win the Rocket Richard trophy as the league’s best scorer this year.  And Selanne as a 40 year old is playing like most other team’s 30 year-olds.  Not to mention these boys have the experience of winning it all before…they know what it takes.

Nashville has had the same coach their entire existence for a reason; Barry Trotz could have probably won the Jack Adams award in any given season that he’s worked.  But all in all, they just haven’t had the star player to set them apart.  They have never won a playoff series.  But they fight hard, always have.  It’s going to be a tough series and, as always, who ever advances after playing Nashville will be tired and worse for the wear.  But the same will hold true as years past.  Ducks in seven.

Tomorrow.....the East.  I promise.