The Eastern Conference was given a quick look yesterday, which is only fitting, since most of the games tonight take place there. Today, the Western Conference gets its time to shine, with a quick look at their first round playoff match-ups.
#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Anaheim Ducks
For the last month of the season, teams were vying to try and avoid the final playoff spot. While playing the defending champion Red Wings may not seem like much of a victory, the Red Wings still aren't the President's Trophy-winning San Jose Sharks, and the Sharks are hungry to prove that they can actually make it all the way to the Cup. The Sharks come in with a powerful offense and some great goaltending. Meanwhile, the Ducks put together a bit of a hot streak near the end of the season, but their mountain got even tougher with the information that Jean-Sebastien Giguere will miss at least the first game of the series. In a California series, the Sharks should take this one handily, refusing to wilt under the playoff lights this early, as they send the Ducks home in six games.
#2 Detroit Red Wings vs. #7 Columbus Blue Jackets
One of the teams that "won" the chance to avoid San Jose for one round is the Columbus Blue Jackets, who are going to the playoffs for the first time in their history. Unfortunately for Columbus, they're running into the defending champions. Detroit is a high-flying team that challenged San Jose for #1 throughout the season, and they simply outskate their opponents. The biggest problem for the Wings this season has been in net, simply because neither Chris Osgood nor Ty Conklin have been perfect throughout the year. Columbus will come in flying high, but the Red Wings should be able to skate circles around them. Ultimately, the Blue Jackets will challenge, but the Red Wings will win the series in six.
#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 St. Louis Blues
The Vancouver Canucks quietly assembled a division-winning season. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Blues appeared ready to sneak the #1 draft pick away from the New York Islanders before they came roaring back. Both teams are on incredible hot streaks, and both have had to face adversity throughout the season. Vancouver has a number of players at the end of their contracts, while St. Louis is looking to give their young guns a taste of May (and June) hockey. The Canucks just aren't going to be able to derail the St. Louis Blues train as they fall in five games.
#4 Chicago Blackhawks vs. #5 Calgary Flames
At the trade deadline, who expected that the Calgary Flames wouldn't even have home-ice advantage. Big acquisitions like Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold immediately paid dividends, and the Flames had a huge lead over Vancouver to take the Northwest division. Then came what may have been Calgary's longest month, as they watched the Canucks creep up, and watched themselves give away the lead. Now they have to face a Chicago Blackhawks team that was very stingy at home, and is loaded with young talent. Toews and Kane are starting to really find their weaponry, and the Blackhawks also have great goaltending in Nikolai Khabibulin. The Flames are reeling, and the only reason that they're going to make it to a fifth game is because their home arena is just so incredibly unforgiving to visiting teams. Blackhawks skate into the second round after five games.
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