2104 Hockey Playoffs - The Year of the Duck?

Visual Representation of the Western Conference Playoffs

The Western Conference;

The best way to dissect the Western Conference is to imagine a gathering of high octane muscle cars, the kind that would make Vin Diesel wet his pants in glee. Then imagine all those cars entering a demolition derby, smashing the shit out of each other in an attempt to be the last one standing. Then the winner of which gets to meet Jarome Iginla and the Boston Bruins for the Stanley Cup.

That's what the Western Conference is like; a hockey royal rumble full of talented teams that are Stanley Cup contenders yet due to their location have to eliminate each other to get to the final prize. Half of these first round match ups would have been great Stanley Cup Finals in a perfect world. They are going to be beating the shit out of each other in the first round only to still go at it against two more opponents before they finally get a chance to meet what should be a relatively healthy Eastern opponent.




San Jose vs Los Angeles

San Jose Sharks - The Sharks always seem to be pretenders to being a contender. They are always good for one or two rounds according to every analyst everywhere but they have to go up against the always tough former Stanley Cup champions LA Kings and especially Jonathon Quick. Joe Thornton is back into beard-growing form and fresh off that Olympic snub. Will that make a difference?

The LA Kings - they have that identity that all teams (read; Toronto) crave; stellar goaltending, strong defense, punishing offensive corps with select offensive threats. Their game is preventing goals and punishing the other team for thinking that they should even be allowed on their side of the rink. If San Jose is going to beat them, they will need to be prepared to be nursing ice packs after every game.


Playoff Prediction;

Despite the annual 'Go Joe' mantra from the Shark faithful, the Sharks are not entering this contest secure in net as starter Niemi has been shaky down the stretch. And then on the other side there is Johnathon Quick. I think this will be equivalent to the LA/Blues series last year and probably be the best series you won't see. While my brain says LA, I'm going to go with the Sharks in seven.


Anaheim Ducks vs. The Dallas Stars

Anaheim Ducks - From it's Mighty Franchise ashes and the trading of Bobby Ryan, the Ducks picked up where they left off last year, being utterly dominant in the regular season. Getzlaf and Perry continue to lead the team offensively and they have such depth in net it's almost 2013 Canuck-esque sickening. Coach Boudreau has made hockey fun again in Anaheim and it shows on the goals for column.

Dallas Stars - well, somebody had to finish eighth...

Playoff Prediction; Anaheim will be well-rested after playing the Stars in the first round. The only reason the Stars are in the playoffs are because all the Western Canadian teams decided to take a break this year. Shut down Seguin and Benn and there isn't much else to the Stars. Ducks in four. 

Chicago vs. St. Louis

Chicago Blackhawks - defending Stanley Cup Champions. Toews, Kane, Hossa, Keith, Seabrook, Crawford. And that's just their line-up on team bowling night. While this also has the potential to be Stanley Cup worthy series, if the Blues don't ice their best line up, it's coming up Blackhawks, if they do, Blackhawks in seven.

St. Louis Blues - at the start of the season the Blues looked to be on a straight drive to the Cup. Then they picked up all-star goalie Ryan Miller at the trade deadline and people were all like 'whaa?'. This was supposed to be the 2013 Iginla feel good story of the year, finally giving a consummate professional and all-star a legitimate shot at winning the Cup at least once before he retires. St. Louis also hosts a stellar back-end of defensive players but will it be enough to silence Chelsea Dagger?  

Playoff Prediction; 

In what may turn out to be the Battle of the Injury Lists, the Blues have been decimated over the last few weeks of the season with a variety of injuries to key players and lost their last six games of the season to allow the Colorado Avalanche to secure first place. Chicago has sat all-stars Toews and Kane for the last few weeks, either as a reward or a ploy to make St. Louis has a chance against them. Fun fact is that Las Vegas bookies have made the Blues the odds-on favourite to win the west, meaning that Las Vegas bookies still don't really understand hockey.Chicago in five. 

Colorado vs Minnesota

Colorado Avalanche - the feel-good surprise of the year, the Avalanche's return to the top of the rankings guarantees Patrick Roy's victory in Coach of the Year sweepstakes. Add in a young, exciting core group of talented players, a grizzled 'been-there, done-that' Cup winner in goal and behind the bench and if there is any team that is going to be labelled the Cinderella team this playoffs, it's the Avalanche.

Minnesota Wild - Like the Stars, but only with a passionate fan base that knows hockey. The Wild have also surprised everyone this year just in making the playoffs, mainly because of the drama around Josh Harding's unscheduled mid-season retirement due to illness and the revolving door of goalies they've had in net which has included everyone but the guy at the 7/11. If there is any team that is going to be labelled Cinderella team this playoffs, it's the Wild.




Playoff prediction;

There is always a Cinderella team that surprises by getting past the first round against a far superior opponent. Looking at the other wild cards, Minnesota looks to be the favourite; they have a veteran core of players, have battled adversity all year long and have a nasty tendency to stay competitive and they are going against a relatively inexperienced group of players that have never been in the playoffs. The Avalanche may be so giggity-giggity from finally just playing for something in April that they also qualify as a Cinderella team if they get past the first round. So who's the true Cinderella? Minny in seven.