Unfinished Busniess First Round Playoff Preview: Western Conference

#1 San Jose Sharks vs. #8 Colorado Avalanche
The Sharks are the league second worst choke artists of the past decade (after Ottawa, of course). They failed to make it out of the first round last season after winning the President's Trophy. They haven't made it out of the second round since the lockout in spite of earning at least 107 points in the past three tries and a respectable 99 points in 2005-06. And the only time that they made the conference finals (2003-04), they lost to far less talented Calgary Flames team. Joe Thornton has never proven himself to be a playoff performer. Egveni Nabakov has been vastly inconsistent in past playoffs and wilted for Russia during a playoff-like situation during the Olympics. Patrick Marleau has never been a world-beater in post-season. All of this is true. But what's also true is that the Colorado Avalanche are completely gassed. Peter Mueller is out with a concussion and super-rookie Matt Duchene is only tonight returning returning from injury that kept him out of the last game of the season. I know that Joe Sacco doesn't trust Peter Bujai (and with good reason) but would have killed them to sign/trade for a servicable backup? Craig Anderson looked downright tired down the stretch in goal. The Avs were expected to finish last in the West (and the NHL). That they're even in the playoffs makes this season a success. But this is it for men in Burgundy and White. The San Jose Sharks might be the West's best chokers and still might lose to a team that they should beat. But that team won't be Colorado.

Prediction: Sharks in four


#2 Chicago Black Hawks vs. #7 Nashville Predators
Top to bottom, Chicago could have the best team in the Western Conference. They're stacked on the first line, have arguably the best defense in the NHL, can send out a pair of tough, shut-down units on the 3rd/4th lines and it looks like they've finally found an NHL goaltender in Antti Niemi. The only reason that I'm not calling for a sweep is the amount of respect I have for Nashville defence/goaltending combination. I think that they can shut the Hawks down for one night in Nashville to save face. But only one night. This one's over before it even starts.

Prediction: Hawks in five


#3 Vancouver Canucks vs. #6 Los Angeles Kings
I preface this prediction by declaring my anti-Canucks bias out in the open for all to see. I fucking hate this team, organization, its fans and pretty much everything it stands for. It was this bias that clouded my judgment at the beginning of the season so much that I called for Vancouver to miss the playoffs. However, I'm not blinded so much my rage to not give these devils their due. The Sedins have emerged as elite (and vastly underpaid) talents in the league. Heck, Henrik was instrumental in winning me my Fantasy Hockey league. These two were able to turn a mediocre whiner into 30 goal scoring whiner and slightly under paid centre into vastly overpaid centre. On defence, somehow they've put together a decent combination with former San Jose Sharks, head hunters, drunks, 9th rounders and Alex Edler. But truthfully this team comes down to their captain in goal, Roberto Luongo and which version of Bobby Lou show up. If it's the one that was steady for Vancouver prior to the Olympics and Team Canada during the Games, Vancouver should be fine. But if it's the one that allowed four goals to Colorado, Nashville and Detroit as well as EIGHT to the Los Angeles Kings, then it will be curtains for Vancouver. Especially because Los Angeles quietly has a very good goaltender in Jonathan Quick, a great defensive pairing in Doughty and Johnson (Drew Doughty himself has emerged as one of the three best d-man in the NHL) and sneaky forward unit that scores by committee (seven forwards with at least 15 goals, led Kopitar with 34). Call it wishful thinking; call it negative if you want but I see Bad Luongo making more than one appearance in this series.

Predictions: Kings in seven


#4 Phoenix Coyotes vs. #5 Detroit Red Wings
I don't have a lot to say other than the Detroit Red Wings are the hottest team in the NHL since the Olympic break. The Wings are 15-3-3 since returning, beating such playoff teams as Colorado, Chicago (twice), Vancouver, Buffalo, Nashville (twice) and Pittsburgh. Jimmy Howard has become the short and the long term replacement for Chris Osgood and is the choice of many writers for the Rookie of the Year. No one has been great but no one has needed to be. Mike Babcock's team is veteran laden and talented at every facet of the game. It would be great to talk more about Phoenix's feel good season continuing into the playoffs but they've drawn the worst possible opponents. The Red Wings know how to win. They will put on a clinic against the Coyotes.

Prediction: Red Wings in five