What’s up folks? It’s been a WHILE since I’ve written for PA. I did an Olympic Preview for this site under my old moniker ”5 for Friday”, but alas, the rigors of working everyday in the TV business caught up to me…not to mention me not really digging the name for my column. So now I debut “The Neutral Zone”, the weekly (or sometimes even bi/tri-weekly depending on the action) column in which I will give my own personal reflections on NHL happenings while ignoring my deep-rooted bias for the Washington Capitals (bias since 1993) and shoot straight from the hip.
Firstly, what an end to the NHL season! The last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference being decided in a shootout was nothing short of high drama, as well as some of the more prominent individual awards, such as the Art Ross and “Rocket” Richard trophies, being decided on the final day. But now the dust has settled, and it’s time for the business end of the NHL season…THE PLAYOFFS! Let’s do a preview of the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs, with my series predictions:
#1 SAN JOSE SHARKS VS. #8 COLORADO AVALANCHE
2009-10 Head to Head: Tied, 2-2
For the 2nd consecutive season, the San Jose Sharks enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the top seed out West, and yet, one can only wonder if they’ve learned any lessons from last seasons 6 game capitulation at the hands on the Anaheim Ducks, in which they scored 10 goals and got shut out twice. Lying in wait are the Colorado Avalanche, a team that was on fire until the Olympic Break, then sputtered down the stretch, and crawling into the playoffs thanks to the inconsistency of division rival Calgary Flames.
Key Players: San Jose’s Canadian Gold Medal Line of Patrick Marleau, Joe Thorton, and Dany Heatley will be counted on to lead the Sharks attack followed by Defenseman Dan Boyle, who accumulated nearly 60 points on the season. Colorado will need goals from their young scorers Chris Stewart and Matt Duchene. Ultimately Colorado’s chances in the series depend on the shoulders of G Craig Anderson. The career minor leaguer was signed last summer and played in 71 games for the Avs, a team record, while posting a 2.64 GAA, .917 Save %, and 7 Shutouts. Great numbers…but he seemed tired down the stretch. Add to the fact that he’s never played in a playoff game makes things interesting…
X-Factors: Only one man for me in this series, and he plays for the Sharks: G Evgeni Nabokov. Played in 71 games like Anderson, but recorded only 3 Shutouts. Can be a great player, but surely we all remember how he blew up in the Olympics against Canada for Russia. Is this of concern to Todd McLellan’s Shark team down the stretch?
Prediction: Sharks win…call it 4-5 games
#2 CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS VS. #7 NASHVILLE PREDATORS
2009-10 Head to Head: Blackhawks 4 – 2
Central Division Rivals Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators meet in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on the heels of two largely successful seasons for both franchises. Nashville has qualified for the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 seasons, finishing 7th in the West with an even 100 points…which says something about the strength of hockey in the Western Conference! Chicago had a stellar year, setting franchise records in wins (52) and points (112), while locking up key players Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane to 5 year contract extensions and Norris Trophy candidate D Duncan Keith to a 12 year extension. Both teams play excellent hockey, and there could be potential for one or two high scoring affairs during this series, although, it’s probably Chicago that will do most of the scoring in those games!
Key Players: For the ‘Hawks, It’s no secret that Toews, Kane, and Keith will be relied upon to spearhead their attack, but the key to their success has been balance. And if the top guns misfire, it’s up to guys like Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg to pick up the slack. Nashville had only 2 guys reach 20+ goals this season, Martin Erat (21), and surprise top scorer Patric Hornqvist (30). If they want to win, those guys have to score. Hornqvist tied for the team lead with 51 points. How did this team get 100 points with such limited scoring? Goaltending. Pekka Rinne will start in goal, but they have a perfectly capable backup in Dan Ellis, who posted a .909 save % during the season (Rinne had .911%). Shea Weber shoots the puck so hard that his own teammates are too scared to stand in front of the opposing goalie on Power Play’s!
X-Factors: If Chicago are to go deep into the playoffs, they will need their goaltending to step it up a notch. Antti Niemi looks as though he’s secured the #1 sweater, although he only played in 39 games this season, while would-be starter Cristobal Huet played in 48, but only had a Save % of .895. Doesn’t exactly bode confidence does it? For Nashville, I’m plunking for Head Coach Barry Trotz. Small payroll, limited scoring and talent, but will he find the correct line combinations to stifle the balanced scoring attack of Chicago. Having the leadership of Captain Jason Arnott will also help out a little bit, who just returned after missing 8 games with a head injury.
Prediction: Chicago in 6
#3 VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS. #6 LOS ANGELES KINGS
2009-10 Head to Head: Canucks 3-1
Vancouver enters the Stanley Cup Playoffs with enough scoring, grit, tenacity, and goaltending to make a surprise run in the Western Conference. They have arguably the best 1st line in hockey with Alex Burrows complementing the Sedin twins. Henrik Sedin won the Art Ross Trophy by amassing 112 points (29 G, 83A), beating his previous career high of 82 last season. Daniel Sedin also notched a career high in points (85), while Burrows led the team with 35 goals. Behind them is Ryan Kesler, who gained a lot of new fans, myself included, with his hard nose play in the Olympics, and he certainly can find the goal, notching 25 goals himself. Mikael Samuelsson and Mason Raymond also reached the 25+ goal plateau. Roberto Luongo had another excellent season, and will be boosted by rescuing Canada’s gold medal hopes in the Olympics in his “hometown”. Standing in their way are the Los Angeles Kings. Qualifying for the postseason for the first time since 2002, will the Kings be able to put up much of a fight against the favored Canucks. Ryan Smyth was a great Free Agent pickup, as he gets in the face of goaltenders on the King PP, and notched up 22 goals. Anze Kopitar is the superstar who will be counted on to change games in the Kings favor, while Wayne Simmonds and Captain Dustin Brown can score and grind out opponents. Drew Doughty is the key man on the blue line.
Key Players: For Vancouver, look no further than Henrik Sedin. The man is a magician with a puck and can find a player in any position on the ice, especially his brother Daniel. Los Angeles needs it’s own magician to counter, so step up to the plate Anze Kopitar. Great scorer (34G, 81Pts), and great hands for the gifted youngster, but he was only a +6 on the season. LA needs him to be better on the ice for them to have a chance to win.
X-Factors: For Vancouver, I’m going for Alex Burrows. He led the Canucks with 35 goals, like I stated earlier on, but since the Sedin’s are more privy to making beautiful passes, it’s up to Burrows to continue to put the pucks in the net. For Los Angeles, there can be only one candidate, and that’s Jonathan Quick. Sure, he played great during the year and finished with 39 wins, but alarm bells have been ringing out in Hollywood. He’s played 72 games this season, and down the stretch, had 5 chances to win his 40th game, but went 0-3-2. Coach Terry Murray started Erik Ensberg in net to end the season in Colorado, and was rewarded with a 2-1 OT win. Will Quick even start in the playoffs for the Kings? Who knows…but what I do know is that the boy hasn’t won a game since March 22.
Prediction: The Kings might steal a game, or two…but the Canucks advance
#4 PHOENIX COYOTES VS. #5 DETROIT RED WINGS
2009-10 Head to Head: Tied, 2-2
The two most interesting team stories in the 2009-10 NHL season square off in an unlikely playoff matchup. Detroit floundered for much of the season, being on the outside looking in, and there was genuine concern that they would miss the playoffs! However, after the Olympic Break, the team got healthy, and, wouldn’t you know it, started to win hockey games. They have an intelligent coach in Mike Babcock, who overcame immense national pressure to mastermind the gold medal victory for Canada in February, and was able to rally this Wings team together, after a change in goal (more on that in a minute) to propel the Red Wings from 9th place to 5th in seemingly no time. As for Phoenix, you can do nothing but tip your had to Dave Tippett’s hockey club. From the brink of financial ruin and relocation, to the playoffs in less than a year, the Coyotes have been nothing short of a sensational sports story. Of course the detractors point out how the team is successful while being owned by the NHL, but take nothing away from them. On a side note, how funny would it be, if Phoenix won the Stanley Cup, to see Gary Bettman present the Stanley Cup to…HIMSELF?!?!?!?!?!
Key Players: Captain Coyote Shane Doan has the leadership and grit to rally his team around him and lead them further into the playoffs…should they get lucky, that is. There are some goal scorers in the form of Lee Stempniak, Wojtek Wolski, and Radim Vrbata. But their hopes lie solely on Ilya Bryzgalov. The Russian netminder played 68 games this season, posting a 2.29GAA and .920 Save %. Between him and backup Jason LaBarbera, Phoenix posted the 3rd best team GAA (2.34) and Save % (.919) in the entire NHL. Detroit has the usual suspects in their line up: Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom, and Tomas Holmstrom to name a few. They’ve all been there and done that.
X-Factors: The Forwards of Phoenix are my X-Factors? Why? Because who will score the timely goals for them? They registered 211 goals during the season, which was 7th lowest in the NHL, and 2nd lowest amongst playoff teams; only the Boston Bruins scored fewer goals (196). For Detroit, it’s G Jimmy Howard. He played in just 9 NHL games before this season, but since taking the starting reins from Chris Osgood, he registered 37 wins, 2.26 GAA, and a .924 Save %. The kid, however, is not playoff tested. Will he handle the pressure?
Prediction: This is a tough one to call….Wings in 6.
Join me tomorrow as I preview the Eastern Conference. Until then, take care!
