Western Quarterfinals Preview 2008

Detroit Red Wings (1) vs Nashville Predators (8)

Records

Detroit: 53-21-7 (113 pts) Home: 28-9-3 Away: 25-12-4
Nashville: 41-32-9 (91 pts) Home: 23-14-4 Away: 18-18-5

Head-to-Head

Nov 7, 2007 - DET 3 NSH 2 (SO)
Nov 22, 2007 - DET 2 NSH 3
Dec 10, 2007 - DET 2 NSH 1
Feb 12, 2008 - DET 2 NSH 4
Mar 9, 2008 - DET 4 NSH 3
Mar 15, 2008 - DET 1 NSH 3
Mar 20, 2008 - DET 6 NSH 3
Mar 30, 2008 - DET 1 NSH 0 (OT)
Detroit won season series 5-3.

Fights

None

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE Detroit
Scoring: EDGE Detroit
Defense: EDGE Detroit
Coaching: EDGE Detroit
Grit: EDGE Nashville

Schedule

Thurs, April 10, 2008
Sat, April 12, 2008
Mon, April 14, 2008
Wed, April 16, 2008
Fri, April 18, 2008
Sun, April 20, 2008
Tues, April 22, 2008

Prediction

Of all the potential first round match-ups, Detroit probably didn't want to face a divisional opponent. The Wings were phenomenal playing teams outside of the Central, but Nashville put up a respectable three wins against the best record in the league. There are still questions about Detroit's goaltending, but can Dan Ellis and Chris Mason do any better? Nashville's only chance is to crush the Wings forwards without taking too many penalties. Detroit's offense and defense is too good. Wings in 5 or 6.

David's Pick

Nashville plays Detroit hard, and for a 1-8 matchup, the Wings don't look like they'll blow away the lower seed, but they do look like they can make it to the second round. Wings in 6.

San Jose Sharks (2) vs Calgary Flames (7)

Records

San Jose: 49-23-10 (108 pts) Home: 22-13-6 Away: 27-10-4
Calgary: 43-31-8 (94 pts) Home: 21-11-9 Away: 21-19-1

Head-to-Head

Oct 22, 2007 - SJ 4 CGY 1
Jan 3, 2008 - SJ 2 CGY 3 (OT)
Jan 30, 2008 - SJ 4 CGY 5
Feb 12, 2008 - SJ 3 CGY 4 (OT)
Calgary won season series 3-1.

Fights

Oct 22, 2007 - Alexei Semenov vs Eric Godard
Oct 22, 2007 - Doug Murray vs Eric Godard
Jan 30, 2008 - Mike Grier vs Owen Nolan

Lineup

Goaltending: DRAW
Scoring: DRAW
Defense: EDGE San Jose
Coaching: DRAW
Grit: EDGE Calgary

Schedule

Wed, April 9, 2008
Thurs, April 10, 2008
Sun, April 13, 2008
Tues, April 15, 2008
Thurs, April 17, 2008
Sun, April 20, 2008
Tues, April 22, 2008

Prediction

I really feel this is Calgary's series to win or lose. If they're gonna come out sluggish, take penalties and rely on Jarome Iginla to provide all the offence, Jumbo Joe and the Sharks will roll over them. San Jose has been incredible since acquiring Brian Campbell at the trade deadline, and Evgeny Nabakov has put in a career year. If the Flames come out and play fast, hard hockey like they can, they become a very tough team to beat in a 7-game series. San Jose really lacks secondary scoring and Calgary is capable of shutting Joe Thornton down. That will be the key to Calgary's success. Homer pick here, Flames with the upset in 6.

David's Pick

The Sharks seem quiet, but they've built this team for the playoffs more than any other year. The Flames just don't have the depth, and although it would be fun to see the Flames make it to the second round, I'm going with the Sharks in 5.

Minnesota Wild (3) vs Colorado Avalanche (6)

Records

Minnesota: 44-28-10 (98 pts) Home: 25-11-5 Away: 19-17-5
Colorado: 44-31-7 (95 pts) Home: 27-12-2 Away: 17-19-5

Head-to-Head

Oct 21, 2007 - MIN 3 COL 2
Oct 28, 2007 - MIN 1 COL 3
Nov 11, 2007 - MIN 2 COL 4
Nov 18, 2007 - MIN 4 COL 1
Jan 24 - MIN 3 COL 2
Mar 17 - MIN 3 COL 1
Mar 30 - MIN 3 COL 2 (OT)
Apr 6 - MIN 3 COL 4 (SO)
Minnesota wins season series 5-3.

Fights

Nov 11, 2007 - Aaron Voros vs Jeff Finger
Apr 6, 2008 - Marian Gaborik vs Ian Laperriere

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE Minnesota
Scoring: EDGE Colorado
Defense: DRAW
Coaching: EDGE Minnesota
Grit: EDGE Minnesota

Schedule

Wed, April 9, 2008
Fri. April 11, 2008
Mon, April 14, 2008
Tues, April 15, 2008
Thurs, April 17, 2008
Sat, April 19, 2008
Tues, April 22, 2008

Prediction

There's a new king of the always competitive Northwest Division. Coming off a physical thrashing of the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Wild have added Chris Simon and Todd Fedoruk. Can their physical advantage be a deciding factor? The Avs have got a healthy Joe Sakic back and added the oft-injured Peter Forsberg. So far, both have looked really good. I'm picking the Avalanche in what I guess you'd call an upset. All that experience is gonna come in real handy. Avs in 6.

David's Pick

Home ice should help in this divisional match-up, or maybe I just want the Wild's "make us tougher" moves to work so much, I'm picking them to win. It's going to be a tough one, in what could actually be the most even series in the first round. Wild in 7.

Anaheim Ducks (4) vs Dallas Stars (5)

Records

Anaheim: 46-27-8 (100 pts) Home: 27-9-4 Away: 19-18-4
Dallas: 44-30-7 (95 pts) Home: 22-16-2 Away: 22-14-5

Head-to-Head

Oct 20, 2007 - ANA 1 DAL 3
Nov 5, 2007 - ANA 0 DAL 5
Nov 21, 2007 - ANA 1 DAL 2
Jan 15, 2008 - ANA 4 DAL 2
Jan 20, 2008 - ANA 2 DAL 5
Feb 15, 2008 - ANA 2 DAL 4
Mar 19, 2008 - ANA 2 DAL 1
Mar 30, 2008 - ANA 3 DAL 2 (SO)
Dallas won season series 5-3.

Fights

Oct 20, 2007 - George Parros vs Todd Fedoruk
Nov 5, 2007 - Brad May vs Krys Barch
Nov 21, 2007 - Brad May vs Krys Barch
Jan 15, 2008 - Brad May vs Krys Barch
Feb 15, 2008 - Chris Kunitz vs Steve Ott
Feb 15, 2008 - Travis Moen vs Krys Barch
Mar 19, 2008 - Brad May vs Krys Barch
Mar 30, 2008 - Sean O'Donnell vs B.J. Crombeen

Lineup

Goaltending: EDGE Anaheim
Scoring: EDGE Dallas
Defense: EDGE Anaheim
Coaching: DRAW
Grit: EDGE Anaheim

Schedule

Thurs, April 10, 2008
Sat, April 12, 2008
Tues, April 15, 2008
Thurs, April 17, 2008
Fri, April 18, 2008
Sun, April 20, 2008
Tues, April 22, 2008

Prediction

Anaheim looks like a team ready to repeat. Teemu and Neids are back and they're still the tough team that went all the way last year. Dallas is a very good team, but at this point, I don't see a team beating Anaheim in a 7-game series. Anaheim is too scary and missing Zubov will really hurt. Anaheim in 5.

David's Pick

Anaheim had a few low moments this season, but they're still the champs and this team is very similar to the one that won the Cup a year ago. Ducks in 5, and I hope Krys Barch and Brad May can find each other once (ok, ok, once a game).