Stanley Cup Playoffs previews : Western Conference

LA Kings (1st) vs San Jose (7^th)

 

Season: Kings win the season 3W (1OT) – 2L (1OT)

 

Probably not the team the Kings wanted to face in the first round, the Sharks have a way better team than what they’ve shown us this year.  They got playoffs experience from players like D & H Sedin, Pominville, Nash, Wisniewski and Ward supported by Schwartz, Landeskog, Bonino, Barrie, Vatanen, Andersen and Ekblad.  At the moment, we are not too sure who’s gonna get the call in the net.  The Kings who won the President Trophy this year have all the elements to make it to the cup Finals. This being said, with Iginla turning 40 soon, St Louis retiring, Datsyuk who just announced he probably won’t be back next year, the window of opportunity might close early for Los Angeles, they’ll probably make a strong push to win this year.  Other than for their PP, the Kings have not weaknesses. 

 

LA Kings in 6

 

 

 

Vancouver (6^th) vs St Louis (2^nd)

 

Season: Vancouver wins season 2W (2OT) – 1L

 

We expect the Blues to make it far in the playoffs but are they gonna answer the call?  They’ve been at the top of the league for pretty much all the season, finishing 2^nd overall, 1 little point behind the Kings.  Best offense of the league, 2^nd best defensive squad, these guys have nothing else to prove in the regular season.  Do they have enough depth and experience to win in the playoffs, one thing for sure, if Tarasenko, Nyquist, Giordano and Varlamov keep doing what they were doing during the first 82 games, they’ll be a tough team to beat.  The Canucks have nothing to lose, following their rebuilding process they’ll try to spoil St. Louis hopes. They are entering these playoffs with no pressure, the Canucks ranked 5^th in the league on the PP and 12^th on the PK, if they get great goaltending, who knows.

 

Blues in 5

 

Anaheim (3^rd)  vs Calgary (5^th)

 

Season: Ducks win season 4W (1OT) – 1L

 

The two teams met last year in the Western Conference semi finals and the Flames did upset the Ducks in 6 games.  This year Anaheim finished only 2 points ahead of the Flames but we were expecting better from them.  On paper we would give this series to the Ducks but Calgary always find a way to win.   They got good seasons from Abdelkader, Brassard and the emerging young player Kuznetsov.  Bergeron was traded to the Ducks this year and he’ll try to make the difference for them in the playoffs, this will be his first playoff appearance since the 2011-12 season (Jets).  Schneider did a good job for the Flames this season but Rask has been really solid and should get votes for the Vezina Trophy.

 

Ducks in 6

 

Dallas (4^th) vs Colorado  (8^th)

             season: Stars win season 3W (1OT) - 1L (1OT)

 

We should get a lot of goals in that series, both teams aren't really playing good defensively but they can score.  The Avalanche brings in a really young team leaded by Steven Stankos who's the key of their excellent power Play. In Dallas, Cody Eakins had a really good season but they also got good support from their top 6, Mark Streit was the main man at the blue line and finished only 3 points behind Eakins. The Avalanche traded Cam Ward just before the trade deadline and that should have a major impact in that series, the Stars have the option between Craig Anderson and Kery Lehtonen while the Avalanche will most likely play Chet Pickard.

Stars in 6