The NHL playoffs start on Wednesday, and playoff previews and predictions will be pumped out fast and furious on every sports show and plastered all over the internet. The best part about predictions is not knowing what will happen until the teams hit the ice. Time to get predicting.
San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (8)
The Sharks have once again won the Western Conference, and while their season wasn't as smooth as in years past, they are still one of the favorites to go all the way, on paper that is. With the addition of Dany Heatley in the offseason, the Sharks added more scoring, but was that really what they needed? For the past few playoffs, it seems this team has been void of the heart and drive to push them over the edge. They lack that extra level it takes to advance in the NHL postseason. Will this be the year? While it remains to be seen if they can make it to the finals, they will get past the first round. The Colorado Avalanche have been a huge surprise this season, a team full of young stars in waiting. They have struggled as of late and are missing key scorer Peter Mueller who is out with a concussion. As fun as it would be to see underrated Craig Anderson and the Avs go deep, they just don't have the experience that the Sharks do. It will be a fun series, but San Jose will prevail.
Bold Prediction: San Jose Sharks in 5 games
Chicago Blackhawks (2) vs. Nashville Predators (7)
The Preds are another team fans would love to see advance just because it seemed so unlikely they'd even be in the postseason. The actually hold the edge in goaltending in this series, as Pekka Rinne has had a far better campaign than Cristobal Huet and Antti Niemi. Goaltending questions will likely plague Chicago as long as they hang around, but they have the defense and lethal offence that's needed to go deep. They have too much firepower up front for the Preds to counter, and they are on a mission this season to go all the way. Nashville will give them a run for their money though, because they have a pretty strong defense core of themselves. This is one series with upset written all over it, but in the end, the 'Hawks will come out on top.
Bold Prediction: Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games
Vancouver Canucks (3) vs. Los Angeles Kings (6)
It seems there is a cinderella story in every Western Conference match-up. The Los Angeles Kings haven't made the playoffs since the 2001-02 season, and Kings fans are absolutely thrilled with seeing their team back in the postseason. They haven't lit it up as of late, and have struggled mightily at times this season. Their goaltender Jonathan Quick in unproven, having never played in a playoff game. They have the veteran shoulders of Ryan Smyth to lean on, and could surprise people. But the Vancouver Canucks are a determined bunch. Stars Henrik and Daniel Sedin have had career years. Alex Burrows is a 30 goal scorer. Roberto Luongo wants to shed a shaky playoff reputation and would love to end a gold medal winning year with a Stanley Cup. But the Vancouver defense is depleted with injury, and they haven't been able to make it over the hump in recent years. Will the Kings shock everyone and knock off Canada's best hope for the Cup? Probably not.
Bold Prediction: Vancouver Canucks in 5 games
Phoenix Coyotes (4) vs. Detroit Red Wings (5)
There was a time this season where it looked like perennial playoff success story Detroit might actually miss the playoffs. But a strong post Olympic run skyrocketed them into the 5th seed in the conference. Their stars are healthy and rested, and their goaltending led by Jimmy Howard is surprisingly strong. No team knows what it takes to win in the playoffs like the Detroit Red Wings, and they are looking to avenge a loss in the Cup finals last year. But what about the biggest surprise of the season, the NHL owned Phoenix Coyotes? Picked by many hockey pundits to finish dead last, the Coyotes have enjoyed their most successful season since moving from Winnipeg, grabbing 107 points for the forth best record in the entire NHL. With questions sill surrounding their future, and if they will remain in Phoenix, the team is looking to prove everyone wrong by capturing the franchise's first Stanley Cup. But in their way are the mighty Detroit Red Wings. This series could be fairly even, but it could also be a blowout. The Coyotes may hold the edge in goal however, with Vezina quality netminder Ilya Byrzgalov.
Bold Prediction: Phoenix Coyotes in 7 games
Marcia Di Michele - In addition to Suite101, Marcy is also a writer for TheHockeyWriters.com and blogs for Sports Illustrated's Fannation page. Marcy has been ...
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