WESTERN CONFERENCE PREVIEW
1. Detroit Red Wings
(48-21-11-2, 109 points)
vs.
8. Nashville Predators
(38-29-11-4, 91 points)
Schedule: Tonight, Sat., Sun., Tue. (April 15, 17, 19, if necessary).
* Head-to-head: Nashville, 3-2-0-1.
* Series preview: The Red Wings struggled in their first three games against Nashville, all losses, but then won the next three by a combined, 13-3. A sprained ankle has plagued Detroit goaltender Curtis Joseph, which may thrust former King Manny Legace into the spotlight. The Red Wings, though, have enough playoff-tested veterans -- Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull, Brendan Shanahan, Chris Chelios, Kris Draper -- to keep playing into June. Another first-round exit by the Red Wings -- who were swept by the Mighty Ducks last season -- would be unacceptable for Detroit fans. The Predators, in the playoffs for the first time, have two of the league’s highest-scoring defensemen, Marek Zidlicky and Kimmo Timonen.
* Late-season acquisitions: Det: Center Robert Lang (Wash.); Nash: Winger Steve Sullivan (Chi.), center Sergei Zholtok (Minn.), defenseman Brad Bombardir (Minn.), defenseman Shane Hnidy (Ott.).
* Key injuries: Det: Joseph (ankle), defenseman Mathieu Dandenault (foot), defenseman Jason Woolley (back); Nash: Winger Rem Murray (neck).
* Goaltenders’ postseason records: Det: Joseph 58-62, 2.51 GAA; Legace 0-0, 5.68; Nash: Tomas Vokoun 0-0, 0.0.
* Coaches’ postseason records: Det: Dave Lewis 0-4; Nash: Barry Trotz 0-0.
* Prediction: Detroit in five.
*
2. San Jose Sharks
(43-21-12-6, 104 points)
vs.
7. St. Louis Blues
(39-30-11-2, 91 points)
Schedule: Thurs., Sat., Mon., Tues.
(April 15, 17, 19 if necessary).
* Head-to-head: San Jose, 2-1-0-1.
* Series preview: The Sharks started out 1-5-4 but became the West’s biggest surprise, thanks to solid goaltending and rising star forwards Patrick Marleau and Jonathan Cheechoo. Ron Wilson should get serious consideration for coach of the year after turning around a team that finished last in the Pacific Division a year ago. The Sharks got one final boost Sunday by scoring twice in the last 20 seconds and scoring again in overtime to beat the Kings, 4-3. The Blues had to rally with a 10-4-3 finish after enduring a 9-21-6 slump. The Blues kept alive pro sports’ longest playoff streak by making the postseason for the 25th consecutive season, but their offense has been too inconsistent to give them a chance against the Sharks. Keith Tkachuk and Pavol Demitra are the only Blues with more than 16 goals.
* Late-season acquisitions: SJ: Center Curtis Brown (Buf.), defenseman Jason Marshall (Minn.); St.L: Winger Brian Savage (Pho.), center Mike Sillinger (Pho.).
* Key injuries: SJ: Winger Marco Sturm (ankle). St.L: Defenseman Al MacInnis (eye), defenseman Barret Jackman (shoulder), defenseman Alexander Khavanov (foot).
* Goaltenders’ postseason records: SJ: Evgeni Nabokov 8-8, 2.59 GAA; St.L: Chris Osgood 44-33, 2.23.
* Coaches’ postseason records: SJ: Ron Wilson 19-24; St.L: Mike Kitchen 0-0.
* Prediction: San Jose in five.
*
3. Vancouver Canucks
(43-24-10-5, 101 points)
vs.
6. Calgary Flames
(42-30-7-3, 94 points)
Schedule: Tonight, Fri., Sun., Tues.
(April 15, 17, 19 if necessary).
* Head-to-head: Vancouver, 3-2-1-0.
* Series preview: The Canucks stumbled for a bit after Todd Bertuzzi’s season-ending suspension, but they won their final six games. High-scoring left wing Markus Naslund has been hampered by a hyperextended elbow, which means much of Vancouver’s hopes could ride on the shoulders of goaltender Dan Cloutier. Cloutier finished strong by allowing only seven goals in Vancouver’s last six games. Calgary, which hasn’t won a playoff series since 1989, might be the league’s toughest team thanks to penalty-box denizens Chris Simon and Kryzysztof Oliwa. Other than that, the Flames rely on marquee players Jarome Iginla, who again broke the 40-goal plateau, and goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, who single-handedly won several games.
* Late-season acquisitions: Van: Wingers Martin Rucinsky (NYR) and Geoff Sanderson (Columbus), defenseman Marc Bergevin (Pitt.); Cal: Wingers Chris Simon (NYR), Marcus Nilson (Flor.) and Ville Nieminen (Chi.).
* Key injuries: Van: Center Magnus Arvedson (knee). Cal: Center Stephane Yelle (hip).
* Goaltenders’ postseason records: Van: Dan Cloutier 9-12, 3.43 GAA; Cal: Miikka Kiprusoff 1-1, 1.91 GAA.
* Coaches’ postseason records: Van: Marc Crawford 40-36; Cal: Darryl Sutter 29-39.
* Prediction: Calgary in six.
*
4. Colorado Avalanche
(40-22-13-7, 100 points)
vs.
5. Dallas Stars
(41-26-13-2, 97 points)
Schedule: Tonight, Fri., Mon., April 14.
(April 17, 18, 20 if necessary).
* Head-to-head: Colorado, 3-1-0-0.
* Series preview: These are teams going in different directions. The Avalanche slumped at the end of the season. Heralded acquisition Teemu Selanne went 19 consecutive games without a point toward the end and Paul Kariya, who had a career-low 11 goals, is out because of a sprained ankle. Dallas started terribly but improved when goaltender Marty Turco found his groove. Leading scorer Bill Guerin had 33 goals and 33 assists for the Stars.
* Late-season acquisitions: Colo: Goaltender Tommy Salo (Edm.), winger Matthew Barnaby (NYR), center Chris Gratton (Pho.), defensemen Bob Boughner (Car.), Ossi Vaananen (Pho.) and Kurt Sauer (Mighty Ducks). Dal: Defenseman Chris Therien (Phil.), winger Valeri Bure (Flor.).
* Key injuries: Colo: Kariya (ankle), Sauer (groin), winger Alex Tanguay (knee), center Andrei Nikolishin (back). Dal: Center Jason Arnott (groin), defenseman Jon Klemm (groin), winger Scott Young (back).
* Goaltenders’ postseason records: Colo: David Aebischer 0-0, 1.76 GAA; Tommy Salo 5-16, 2.60. Dal: Marty Turco 6-6, 1.88.
* Coaches’ postseason records: Colo: Tony Granato 3-4. Dal: Dave Tippett 6-6.
* Prediction: Dallas in seven.
