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Predictions for the Western Conference

Wednesday sparked the beginning of the NHL’s First Round of playoffs for the 2009 Stanley Cup. The Western Conference boasts last year’s Stanley Cup winners, the Detroit Red Wings. But beyond that, the West will play some of the top players in the league, point to some incredible reversals of fortune, and pit youthful talent against aging experience.

At Instant Action Sports, we brought you analyses and predictions for the Stanley Cup’s Eastern Conference. Now, we’ve assembled the predictions and picks from the hockey experts at ESPN, FOX Sports, Bleacher Report, Sports.net, and of course, Instant Action, to take a look at this year’s Western Conference.

#1 SAN JOSE vs. #8 ANAHEIM

The game between San Jose and Anaheim pits a hot team with elite players against a more experienced and overall solid team. The game will depend on whether the Ducks can intimidate San Jose. Either way, it won’t be an easy series.

The Sharks have been vying for a chance at the Stanley Cup for five seasons. They have a nasty habit of enjoying good regular seasons then bowing out early during the postseason. This year, however, they come to the playoffs having tucked away the President’s Cup and having the best record in their franchise’s history. The Sharks may lack superstars, but they have a respectable goalie – Evgenie Nabokov has experience and a .917 save percentage in 59 games – and a strong top line – Joe Thornptom, Patrick Marleau, and Devin Setoguchi. Their second and bluelines are deep and solid. They also brag 3rd place in the NHL’s overall power play and 5th in penalty kill. But they will need to keep an eye on players returning from injuries this season – playoffs just ain’t the place to get back in shape.

Although the Ducks may have had a weak start this year, they were able to strengthen up by the late season to make eighth seed. They have retained some of the most important players since their last Stanley Cup win two years ago, an experienced group of players that won’t flag under playoff pressure. And Anaheim’s top line has been scorching lately, relying on Ryan Getzlaf centering Bobby Ryan and Corey Perry. Getzlaf, by the way, has had an astounding 14 points in his last eight games. Although the team is ranked low for penalty kill – only 23rd in the NHL—they have a strong power play at 4th in the league. And while the Ducks’ goalie, Jonas Hiller, has no playoff experience, his performance this season has nonetheless earned him a starting spot.

Anaheim will have to avoid unnecessary penalties to beat the Sharks; they will also have to overwhelm the Sharks’ brittle confidence. The Ducks will put up a fight, but most of the experts point to the Sharks as the winners in a close series—between 5 and 7 games.

#2 DETROIT vs. #7 COLUMBUS

Last year, Detroit won the Stanley Cup; this year, Detroit is going for it again. It is a rare thing for a team to win two consecutive years in a row, but the team is hot. The Wings lay claim to three of the NHL’s top forwards, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Marian Hossa. And with players like Johan Franzen and Tomas Holmstrom, they also have depth in the front. They hold onto two of the league’s most talented defenders with Nicklas Lindstrom and Brian Rafalski. Their downfall, though, is at the net. Neither of the goalies – Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin – has had a stellar season this year. Osgood has had some electric games, with last year’s three shutouts and a 1.55GA, and Conklin has made some spectacular saves while with the Penguins, but neither has proven stable.

Columbus, on the other hand, lays claim to a rookie superstar, Steve Mason, who has led the team to win after win. With a 2.29 GAA and a .916 save percentage, he finished the season second only to Tim Thomas. As we saw in Capitals-Rangers opening game Wednesday, a strong goalie can save a game – and, in the case of the Blue Jackets, maybe even a series. If the Jackets have a chance against the Wings, it lies in Steve Mason.

The consensus goes with Detroit, but it may be close.

#3 VANCOUVER vs. #6 ST. LOUIS

The game between the Canucks and Blues brings a surprise twist: Vancouver has been banging on the door for years while St. Louis stumbled forward from mediocrity last year to the playoffs in this one. The series opened on Wednesday, and the Canucks claimed the first game 2-1.

The season changed for the Canucks when superstar goaltender Roberto Luongo returned from his injury. Since March 4, the team went 12-5-2 with a revived offense, defense, and of course, goalie. Luongo set a record for the franchise with 9 shutouts, even though he missed 24 games. On Wednesday night, Luongo managed some 25 saves, and will be a key player in the next games in the series. But Luongo isn’t the only star on the team. With Alexandre Burrows, Daniel Sedin, and Henrik Sedin on the top line, and Ryan Kesler, Mats Sundin, and Pavol Demitra on the second, the Canucks gained a scoring attack on two lines.

St. Louis was a shocker; the experts thought little of the Blues, but they rocketed forward with Chris Mason, a starting goalie who has had an amazing 6 shutouts in only 57 games and a .916 save percentage. Mason managed to finish Wednesday’s game with 29 saves. The lineup, though, lacks dazzle, especially with Paul Kariya out since November 4 for two hip surgeries. (He may be cleared for play within the week.) But with Keith Tkachuck, Brad Boyes, David Backes, Andy McDonald, and David Perron, St. Louis has a solid offense.

In the top ten in both penalty killing and power plays – 3rd and 8th, respectively – St. Louis appears to have an edge on Vancouver. But that didn’t play out Wednesday night. The Canucks, ranking far below St. Louis in special teams, were able to stop six of St. Louis’s seven power plays. Though the Blues have talent, the Canucks have a little more—and Luongo. The consensus goes to Vancouver, though the series will be a tough one for them.

#4 CHICAGO vs. #5 CALGARY

The game will set the Blackhawks against a deeper, more experienced team in the Flames. The matchup may be in the Blackhawks’ favor; the team outscored Calgary overall and in a couple of games at the United Center. Calgary, however, has far more playoff experience, attending the last 5 consecutive postseason events. In order to win, the Blackhawks will need to keep their heads.

Chicago has in its grasp one of the top lines in the NHL, with Patrick Sharp, Jonathan Teows, and, of course, Patrick Kane. Martin Havlat, one of the strongest on Chicago’s offense, boasted career highs this season with 48 assists and 77 points. Goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, who may have given a very underwhelming performance in his first three seasons, is now giving the Blackhawks an elite performance, with a 2.33 GAA and a .919 save percentage.

The Flames are armed with talent, toughness, and experience that will make them a challenge for the Blackhawks. Their ranking as 4th best in the league for penalty killing pushed them into the playoffs. Several important players have been missing this season, though, including Dion Phaneuf, Mark Giordano, Cory Sarich, and Robyn Regehr, and may also miss the playoffs. Many hope that Mikka Kiprusoff will save Calgary, but he has failed to stun this season. Calgary’s major bonus is its playoff experience; the team will have to overwhelm Chicago to make it through the series. Most critics, however, think the Blackhawks will win out.