Post by League Commish (Hurricanes GM) on May 5, 2013 12:53:19 GMT -5
(1) Vancouver Canucks versus (8) Dallas Stars
VAN (112 PTS) 53-23-6 - RECORD - 43-33-6 (92 PTS) DAL
VAN (3.02 GFPG) 248 - GF - 231 (2.82 GFPG) DAL
VAN (2.60 GAPG) 213 - GA - 228 (2.78 GAPG) DAL
VAN 17.1% - PP - 24.6% DAL
VAN 80.2% - PK - 81.0% DAL
Season Meetings
VAN 3 - 2 DAL
VAN 3 - 1 DAL
VAN 4 - 3 DAL
VAN 3 - 2 DAL
VAN (112 PTS) 53-23-6 - RECORD - 43-33-6 (92 PTS) DAL
VAN (3.02 GFPG) 248 - GF - 231 (2.82 GFPG) DAL
VAN (2.60 GAPG) 213 - GA - 228 (2.78 GAPG) DAL
VAN 17.1% - PP - 24.6% DAL
VAN 80.2% - PK - 81.0% DAL
Season Meetings
VAN 3 - 2 DAL
VAN 3 - 1 DAL
VAN 4 - 3 DAL
VAN 3 - 2 DAL
The Vancouver Canucks are coming off of an incredible season in which they edged out the Pittsburgh Penguins by just one point to capture the President's Trophy with 112 points. The Dallas Stars, however, snuck into the 8th seed down the stretch after a change of GMs, besting the Flames by just 3 points to break their five year playoff drought. All four season meetings were one goal games, so despite a close, tight checking series despite the difference in standings. The Stars have a huge advantage in the powerplay department, and that could make a big difference.
Key Players for Vancouver
Roberto Luongo - He'll need to shut the door to keep the Canucks in the series.
The Sedin Twins - They're the top guns for the Canucks, they'll need them to get back to their league leading form after a slow season.
Martin Havlat - A dangerous scorer, Havlat finished with a career low 38 points in 78 games. We know he's capable of much more, and he could cause alot of trouble for Lundqvist if he can find his scoring touch again.
Key Players for Dallas
Henrik Lundqvist - As one of the most skilled goaltenders in the league, Lundqvist will need to be on his game to shut down a talented Vancouver offense.
Ryan O'Reilly - O'Reilly led the team in points but will also be relied upon to shutdown the opposition.
Jamie Benn - Benn is capable of putting up 40 goals. He finished the year with a respectable 25, but you have to think the Stars will be expecting more out of their sniper in this series.
Prediction
4-2 Vancouver win with a few games heading into OT. Should be a tight series despite the seed difference.
(2) St. Louis Blues versus (7) Los Angeles Kings
STL (110 PTS) 51-23-8 - RECORD - 46-28-8 (100 PTS) LAK
STL (2.89 GFPG) 237 - GF - 234 (2.85 GPFG) LAK
STL (2.32 GAPG) 190 - GA - 188 (2.29 GAPG) LAK
STL 18.3% - PP - 21.0% LAK
STL 88.5% - PK - 87.0% LAK
Season Meetings
STL 3 - 5 LAK
STL 2 - 1 LAK
STL 2 - 1 LAK
STL 1 - 2 LAK
STL (110 PTS) 51-23-8 - RECORD - 46-28-8 (100 PTS) LAK
STL (2.89 GFPG) 237 - GF - 234 (2.85 GPFG) LAK
STL (2.32 GAPG) 190 - GA - 188 (2.29 GAPG) LAK
STL 18.3% - PP - 21.0% LAK
STL 88.5% - PK - 87.0% LAK
Season Meetings
STL 3 - 5 LAK
STL 2 - 1 LAK
STL 2 - 1 LAK
STL 1 - 2 LAK
This series features two of the top three teams in the Western Conference for goals against, so don't expect to see alot of scoring, as the season series mostly shows. This could turn into a specialty teams match, as both teams have excellent penalty kills and respectable powerplays as well. Two years removed from a cup victory, the Kings will need to be hungry if they wish to take down the St. Louis team which has been built for the bump and grind of the playoffs.
Key Players for St. Louis
Brian Elliott/Jaroslav Halak - Regardless of who is starting, these two goaltenders are good enough to carry the Blues to a series win if they play their game.
Jarome Iginla - In the twilight of his career, Iginla put up an excellent 74 point series and should be hungry for a taste of Lord Stanley.
David Backes - Backes will be relied upon for both offense and shutting down the King's scorers.
Key Players for Los Angeles
Jonathan Quick - With a Conn Smythe trophy to his name and a series that should be tight and low scoring, Quick will need to be at the top of his game.
Dustin Brown - Another hero from the King's cup run, Brown led the team with 66 points in 76 games. He'll need to continue his great play.
Travis Zajac - Zajac came across in the trade for Kopitar. He'll have big shoes to fill as the number one pivot in the post season for LA.
Prediction
4-3 St. Louis but I honestly think it could go either way. The Kings are VERY good for a 7th seed.
(3) San Jose Sharks versus (6) Minnesota Wild
SJS (106 PTS) 48-24-10 - RECORD - 49-29-4 (102 PTS) MIN
SJS (2.96 GFPG) 243 - GF - 248 (3.02 GFPG) MIN
SJS (2.39 GAPG) 196 - GA - 205 (2.50 GAPG) MIN
SJS 15.0% - PP - 21.1% MIN
SJS 83.0% - PK - 81.6% MIN
Season Meetings
SJS 4 - 0 MIN
SJS 3 - 5 MIN
SJS 3 - 2 MIN
SJS 3 - 1 MIN
SJS (106 PTS) 48-24-10 - RECORD - 49-29-4 (102 PTS) MIN
SJS (2.96 GFPG) 243 - GF - 248 (3.02 GFPG) MIN
SJS (2.39 GAPG) 196 - GA - 205 (2.50 GAPG) MIN
SJS 15.0% - PP - 21.1% MIN
SJS 83.0% - PK - 81.6% MIN
Season Meetings
SJS 4 - 0 MIN
SJS 3 - 5 MIN
SJS 3 - 2 MIN
SJS 3 - 1 MIN
The Sharks captured the Pacific Division without alot of competition from other teams besides the Kings. The Wil were in the hunt for the Northwest but ultimately couldn't keep up the pace of the Canucks. The Sharks had the advantage for the most part in the season series, but anything can happen in the playoffs. The Wild will need to show up and play tough to keep the Sharks snipers at bay, while San Jose will need to find a way to shut down Minnesota's super powered top line.
Key Players for San Jose
Patrick Marleau - The captain, Marleau led the team in the regular season and he'll need to do the same in the post season.
Ryan Miller - Miller put up 33 wins this year, he'll need to be in top form to shut down the Datsyuk line.
Victor hedman - The number one guy on the Sharks defense, he'll log big minutes in an effort to keep the Wild's stars in check.
Key Players for Minnesota
Josh Harding - While unproven in playoff hockey, Harding had a decent enough season. He'll need to find another gear if the Wild want to beat the Sharks.
Parise/Datsyuk/Heatley - Alot of the Wild's offense comes from Datsyuk's line along side Parise and Heatley. They'll be checked hard but they'll need to come through.
Mikael Granlund - Granlund had a breakthrough season with 31 goals. He's still young, but he can cause some damage, and the Wild may need it if their top line gets shut down.
Prediction
4 - 2 Minnesota. I like the Wild in this series for the sheer star power. I think that if the Sharks can shut down that line and Harding struggles, this series could easily go the other way for the high seed.
(4) Edmonton Oilers versus (5) Chicago Blackhawks
EDM (112 PTS) 54-25-3 - RECORD - 52-27-3 (92 PTS) CHI
EDM (3.04 GFPG) 249 - GF - 245 (2.99 GFPG) CHI
EDM (2.39 GAPG) 196 - GA - 188 (2.29 GAPG) CHI
EDM 22.2% - PP - 21.9% CHI
EDM 84.8% - PK - 79.80% CHI
Season Meetings
EDM 1 - 3 CHI
EDM 2 - 4 CHI
EDM 3 - 2 CHI
EDM 2 - 4 CHI
EDM (112 PTS) 54-25-3 - RECORD - 52-27-3 (92 PTS) CHI
EDM (3.04 GFPG) 249 - GF - 245 (2.99 GFPG) CHI
EDM (2.39 GAPG) 196 - GA - 188 (2.29 GAPG) CHI
EDM 22.2% - PP - 21.9% CHI
EDM 84.8% - PK - 79.80% CHI
Season Meetings
EDM 1 - 3 CHI
EDM 2 - 4 CHI
EDM 3 - 2 CHI
EDM 2 - 4 CHI
Both of these Western juggernauts fell just behind their division leaders, but should realistically be the 3rd/4th seeds if not for the seeding system. It's a rematch from last year's playoff semi finals which the Hawks took in 5 games. The Blackhawks will be without several star players due to injuries, but they're still a deep team. The Oilers can't underestimate them like they may have last year, but I expect a more competitive series from Edmonton anyways.
Key Players for Edmonton
Jonathan Toews - The Oilers come and go as Jonathan Toews does. Facing his former team for the second year straight, he'll need to come up big.
Jonathern Bernier - The Hawks have alot of star power, Bernier will need to be in the same form that captured him last year's Vezina trophy.
Alexander Radulov - The streaky Russian led his team with 75 points this year. They'll need him to show up and be consistent in the playoffs.
Key Players for Chicago
Colin Wilson/Mark McNeill - With injuries to Eberle and Strome, these two will need to step up their games to fill the voids left behind by the injured stars.
Taylor Hall - Hall led the Hawks in scoring this season and will need to continue his near PPG pace in the playoffs.
Ryan Callahan - Another guy who may need to step up is Callahan. He's a big game player who's excelled as a captain before, they'll need him to succeed.
Prediction
4-3 Chicago, but Edmonton has all of the tools to win this as well. I feel like even with the injuries, Chicago is a little bit deeper, but we'll see what happens.