Stanley Cup Playoffs: Western Conference

As we enter into an exciting time in American sports with the start of baseball season and the stretch run of the NBA season, we cannot forget about the NHL post-season. While the regular season doesn't get nearly the publicity it deserves in America, ESPN actually pays a pretty decent amount of attention to professional hockey during the post-season.

I figured I would step up and take the challenge of predicting the Western Conference's piece of the pie. The Canucks had a great year, but can they handle the pressure of being the #1 seed? Can they handle the pressure of Canada not winning a Cup since the Montreal Canadians in 1993?


Truth be told, I haven't really followed the NHL this season any closer than the Thursday night "shot-a-goal" games of EA Sports' NHL 11 over on Cramer but, contrary to popular belief, I am not a dumbass when it comes to who could win it all so here goes:

#1 Vancouver Canucks vs. #8 Chicago Blackhawks

The two squads have faced each other the last two post-seasons with Blackhawks taking the series each time. Not so fast though 'Hawks fans, I think that spells - advantage Canucks. The Sedin brothers are the hottest set of twins since Mary Kate and Ashley, and those two will have something to say. The Canucks are also impossible to beat when they get up early. You can attribute that to netminder Roberto Luongo. I think the 'Hawks have enough offense to make it a series though. Canucks 4-3. If the Blackhawks win I'll puke.

#2 San Jose Sharks vs. #7 Los Angeles Kings

I am fan of both of these division rivals but with Anze Kopitar on the shelf, it might get ugly. The Sharks have a ton of depth at center and feature a guy at that position from Plover, WI named Joe Pavelski who had a HUGE 2010 post-season leading the team to the conference finals. The inexperienced Kings could be in for a long series, or short one depending on how you look at it. Sharks 4-1 


#3 Detroit Red Wings vs. #6 Phoenix Coyotes


Red Wings star Henrik Zetterberg has come out this morning and said that he will miss at least the first game of their series with the Phoenix Coyotes. I wonder how big of a factor that could be considering he had 80 points this year. The Coyotes' strength is their goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. The franchise's winningest goaltender is playing very well and we all know what a hot goaltender can do for a team. I like the Coyotes in this one. Coyotes 4-3


#4 Anaheim Ducks vs. #5 Nashville Predators


The Predators also have a lights-out netminder with Pekka Rinne but I don't know if a brick wall could stop Anaheim top line of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaff and Bobby Ryan. Corey Perry is the league's only 50+ goal scorer this year and is worthy of the MVP. Teemu Selanne is like a fine wine with 80 points as well in 2010-2011. If the Predators can play the shut-down D they showed against the 'Hawks last season, the series could be great. Ducks 4-2


Later rounds to come boys.