Dwight’s Playoff Preview – Round 1

On the heels of one of the greatest playoff races in National Hockey League history, hockey fans everywhere were asking themselves "Can it get any better than this?" Oh, it can. It will. Just turn the television on Wednesday, and leave it on for the next two months, things only get better from here. This year is the year of parity. The Cup is truly up for grabs. Yes, the Detroit Red Wings go in as the favorite to win, but is picking them for a first round win over the Vancouver Canucks a slam dunk? If your answer is no, then you agree that predicting this year’s champion is very risky business. There is no in between this year. It’s genius or dunce for those willing to stick there necks out and call ’em so, cross your fingers for me as I start with the first round.

Western Conference

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Vancouver Canucks

The Red Wings were by far the best team this year, they deserve a ton of
credit for the season they have had. Now the real fun begins. This assembly of
savvy, veteran superstars will now see what they are collectively made of. The
piss and vinegar Vancouver Canucks are in Hockeytown, and just itching for a
stage. The Canucks are in the midst of a special run, they are playing like a
finely tuned machine and they like their odds. The current run of brilliance for
the Canucks will be enough to get them a huge split from raucous Joe Louis
Arena. The loss at home will act as the dreaded wake up call for the Wings, and
there is your series folks. The Red Wing line-up is riddled with playoff proven
stars who know what is at stake. In the end they will shake the Canucks, but
it’s gonna take some guts, guts that we haven’t yet seen from this team.
Vancouver on the other hand, is full of guts. They are just good enough to think
they can play with the Wings, and just young enough to not care about what that
means. They are ready for this series.
Prediction- Detroit in 7
Hero- Sergei Fedorov

(2) Colorado Avalanche vs. (7) Los Angeles Kings

We meet again. There are a few things different this time, other than the
fact that it’s only the first round this year. The Avalanche are missing some of
the depth they had last year during "Mission 16W", as they are without
the likes of Jon Klemm, Ray Bourque, Milan Hejduk and a have a training camp
Peter Forsberg. Depth like this is the key factor in the second season, as
match-ups, shut downs, and shadows become the norm. I like the team concept that
the Los Angeles Kings bring to the rink. The question mark with this team
remains two-fold. Can Felix Potvin stop the puck? If he can, the next question
becomes, can any team with Jason Allison as their go-to-guy win? When it comes
down to it, as much as I want to pick the upset, two words keep popping up in my
head, "Patrick Roy".
Prediction- Colorado in 6
Hero- Patrick Roy

(3) San Jose Sharks vs. (6) Phoenix Coyotes

The San Jose Sharks have everything a team needs to be successful in the
playoffs. They have a tremendous mix of skill and toughness throughout their
forwards and defencemen. They have a proven regular season goalie, and a great
coach. The only thing left is execution. They have yet to really "do"
anything in their existence, other than oust the Red Wings in a couple of
memorable first round tilts. The Phoenix Coyotes are happy to be in the
playoffs. The Great One’s boys will chalk these up to experience. Don’t get me
wrong, they will fight to try and win this series, but they all know they are in
very deep. They do have Sean Burke, and I hate to beat the goalie drum, but a
guy like Burke can win you a game 2-1, when you get out shot 38-17. I’m not sure
whether the Sharks will execute to the fullest in this series, but I don’t think
Phoenix has enough to make them pay.
Prediction- San Jose in 5
Hero- Owen Nolan

(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Chicago Black Hawks

The Blues have been playing possum all season long. That and the fact that
they have had some key injuries along the way. They have everyone back now, and
are ready to get it going in the playoffs. This team is excellent when they are
on their game, and Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis will run the show. It is much
easier to control a game from the defence position, and that will be the theme
in this series. The Black Hawks have come a long way this year. Hawk pride is
back, and coach Sutter is leading the way. Chicago will make it interesting with
various weapons on forward, but I don’t think they have the total package that
the Blues have. The only thing that could have saved the Black Hawks here is the
old Stadium.
Prediction- St. Louis in 6
Hero- Al MacInnis

Eastern Conference

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (8) Montreal Canadiens

I can’t wait for this one. It can never be as good as it was in the days of
Lafleur, Dryden, Gainey, Carbonneau, O’Reilly, Park, Middleton and Bourque. It
can’t be. But this series will be a good one, with new heroes like Koivu,
Theodore and Thornton. I like the team that the Bruins have assembled through
drafts and trades, and feel that they really have an offensive juggernaut. The
playoffs are more about defence and goaltending and that’s the reason I swayed
towards picking Theodore and the Habs in this one. However, my sources in the
east tell me that Montreal does not have nearly enough scoring to win this
series. All this talk about big Bruin wingers, and down low advantages has
changed me to the Bruins side. It’s gonna be close though. Jose knows.
Prediction- Boston in 7
Hero- Bill Guerin

(2) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (7) Ottawa Senators

I do not want to sound like Grapes here, but Ottawa is not tough enough to
win this series. They have a good skill team. They have a team that will grow to
be tougher in the future, but this is the worst match up for them going in.
Philadelphia is tough. Guys like Primeau, Richardson, Brashear and McAllister
play for keeps. In the playoffs, they don’t care who you are or where you came
from. If you don’t wear the Flying P, they’ll hurt ya. The thing about the
Flyers tough players is that they can log a regular shift and then some. It
comes from the top. Bobby Clarke was filthy and ruthless as a player. When the
going gets tough in this series, the Senators may not be able to last. Of course
toughness does not score goals, but it sure sets the tone for whether or not the
goal scorers want to pay the price. I think this series might be the stinker of
round one.
Prediction- Flyers in 5
Hero- Adam Oates

(3) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (6) New Jersey Devils

Yep, it’s official Lou Lamorello is the Devil. Just when you think the Devils
are gonna pull a Dallas Stars and crumble, he goes and robs the Stars and makes
his team a favorite in the East. Joe Nieuwendyk is a clutch player, and will be
until the day he hangs ’em up. Since the trade that also brought the Devils
Jamie Langenbrunner, another clutch guy, the Devils have not looked back. I also
think that, much like St. Louis in the west, the Devils have been playing
possum. Carolina on the other hand, have not decided whether they can contend or
not. You just don’t know with this team. Will the supporting cast be enough to
help Ron Francis get one last kick? I don’t think it will. Scott Stevens will
see to that.
Prediction- New Jersey in 5
Hero- Patrick Elias

(4) Toronto Maple Leafs vs. (5) New York Islanders

This series takes the cake as the "wild card" series. These teams
are very evenly matched in many areas of the game, and questions reign as to who
is gonna make the difference here. Is Sundin ready to shake Peca, unlike years
past against Buffalo? Is Yashin ready to shake Corson, unlike years past with
Ottawa? Is Cujo healthy? Are any of the Leafs healthy? So many questions swirl
around the centre of the hockey universe, that the Islanders don’t realize
they’ve stepped into the eye of a tornado. My take is that it will ultimately
come down to team depth and experience, and the Leafs get the nod in both. It is
going to be a very tactical and physical series, and that brings us to the
Leafs’ Dimitri Yushkevich. If something can be worked out and Yushkevich can
play, the Leafs will widen their edge.
Prediction- Toronto in 6
Hero- Alex Mogilny

Stay tuned for Round 2 predictions! Enjoy the games!