Western Conference Match-ups (regular season seed in brackets)
Vancouver Canucks (1) vs. Nashville Predators (5)
Season Series: Tied 2-2-0
Vancouver and Nashville are both coming off a high, each winning their first-round series with considerable difficulty. The Canucks dumped the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in seven games after almost blowing a 3-0 series lead. The Predators beat Anaheim in six games to win their first ever playoff round in franchise history.
Both teams have potential Vezina Trophy winners in net. Nashville's Pekka Rinne and Vancouver's Roberto Luongo are both competing against Boston's Tim Thomas for the prestigious honour. Neither Rinne or Luongo played particularly well in the first round, with goals against-averages well above their regular season totals, so the series 'X' factor could very well come between the masked man in the crease.
Unfortunately for the Predators, it probably won't be that easy because even with top-flight netminding, their offense just isn't half as strong as the Canucks. Nashville was the worst penalty killing team in the first round, killing off just 63.6 per cent of the times they were shorthanded. That's a huge area of concern because Vancouver has the best power play in the NHL.
Ryan Kesler didn't score once against Chicago, despite netting 41 in the regular season, so he's bound to step up offensively.
Nashville's Mike Fisher played extremely well against Anaheim with six points and the same level of play will be needed against the No. 1 seeded Canucks. Jordin Tootoo and Joel Ward each chipped in unexpectedly with five points apiece.
Players to Watch
Alexandre Burrows (VAN)
Burrows scored the series clincher in overtime in Game 7 against Chicago, much to the relief of Canucks fans. Perhaps there couldn't have had been anyone more relieved than Luongo, who came under fire for disastrous showings in Games 4 and 5. Luongo bounced back and played well in Game 7.
Despite being relegated to the second line with Kesler and Chris Higgins, Burrows gives the team more balance than if he remained playing alongside the Sedins. Burrows scored three goals and earned six points in seven games.
Shea Weber (NAS)
Nashville boasts one of the best defencemen in the world in captain Shea Weber. Weber recorded five points and averaged over 26 minutes of ice time against the Ducks. His ice time certainly won't decrease against Vancouver.
Outcome: Canucks in six
San Jose Sharks (2) vs. Detroit Red Wings (3)
Season Series: San Jose 3-1-0
The Sharks defeated Detroit in five games last season to reach the Western Conference Finals, where they ultimately lost to Chicago.
San Jose had five players notch more than 60 points during the regular season and the offensive ability didn't leave them, as they led the first-round averaging 38.2 shots-per-game. Detroit averaged 4.5 goals-per-game against Phoenix.
Something will have to give. The Sharks power play scored just twice in 23 chances (8.7 per cent) against Los Angeles. The Red Wings penalty kill was awful, allowing six goals on 18 opportunities (66.7 per cent) to the Coyotes, including a dreadful 40 per cent on the road. Oddly enough, San Jose didn't score on any of their 11 power plays on home ice.
If the Antti Niemi of second half of the regular season shows up, Detroit could be in trouble. But if the Niemi of the first round appears (3.99 goals against-average and .863 SV%), the Red Wings will have the obvious upper hand.
Jimmy Howard played well against Phoenix, despite a rather ordinary regular season.
Players to Watch
Ryane Clowe (SJ)
Clowe led the Sharks in scoring with seven points against the inexperienced Kings. The big winger has size and offensive ability that few Red Wings can match physically.
Henrik Zetterberg (DET)
Zetterberg missed the entire first round against Phoenix with a knee injury but should be ready to go for Game 1. The addition of Zetterberg is monumental to the Red Wings offence, so his health and whether he plays up to par could decide the outcome between two of the best teams in the league.
Outcome: Sharks in seven
Thomas Cranston - Thomas Cranston is a graduate of the Journalism (Print) program at Durham College (Oshawa, Ontario, Canada). He is passionate about a wide ...
