Stanley Cup Playoffs : Western Conference 1st Round Preview
Anaheim Ducks (2) vs Detroit Red Wings (7)
Season Series: Red Wings 2-1-0
| Feb. 15 -- Ducks win 5-2 at Detroit | |||
| Mar. 22 -- Red Wings win 5-1 at Anaheim | |||
| Mar. 24 -- Red Wings win 2-1 at Anaheim |
Series Schedule:
| Tue 4/30/13 | 9:30 P.M. | DET @ ANA |
| Thur 5/2/13 | 9 P.M. | DET @ ANA |
| Sat 5/4/13 | 6:30 P.M. | ANA @ DET |
| Mon 5/6/13 | 8 P.M. | ANA @ DET |
| *Wed 5/8/13 | 9 P.M. | DET @ ANA |
| *Fri 5/10/13 | TBD | ANA @ DET |
| *Sun 5/12/13 | TBD | DET @ ANA |
Anaheim Ducks
SB Nation Blog(s): Anaheim Calling, Battle of California
Regular Season Record: 30-12-6 • 66 Pts
Leading Scorers:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Ryan Getzlaf | 44 | 15 | 34 | 49 | 14 |
| Corey Perry | 44 | 15 | 21 | 36 | 10 |
| Bobby Ryan | 46 | 11 | 19 | 30 | 3 |
| Saku Koivu | 47 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 4 |
| Teemu Selanne | 46 | 12 | 12 | 24 | -10 |
Goaltender(s):
Viktor Fasth 15-6-2, .921 save %, 2.18 GAA, 4 SO
Jonas Hiller 15-6-4, .913 save %, 2.36 GAA, 1 SO
Ex-Blackhawks Factor:
Detroit Red Wings:
SB Nation Blog: Winging It In Motown
Regular Season Record: 24-16-8 • 56 Pts
Leading Scorers:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Pavel Datsyuk | 47 | 15 | 34 | 49 | 21 |
| Henrik Zetterberg | 46 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 2 |
| Johan Franzen | 41 | 14 | 17 | 31 | 13 |
| Niklas Kronwall | 48 | 5 | 24 | 29 | -5 |
| Damien Brunner | 44 | 12 | 14 | 26 | -6 |
Goaltender:
Jimmy Howard 21-13-7, .923 save %, 2.13 GAA, 5 SO
Ex-Blackhawks Factor:
Storyline/Prediction
These two teams are no strangers to each other in post season play. The Ducks got out to a fantastic start and coasted into the 2nd seed. The Red Wings did not extend the playoff streak to 22 straight years until the final night of the season. Goaltender Jimmy Howard is one of the main reasons the Wings were able to claim the 7th seed. Since signing his new contract extension, he has played very well. The Ducks still have not said who their starting goaltender is between Viktor Fasthe and Jonas Hiller. Fasthe has never played in a playoff game and Hiller has just 13 games of post season experience. The team that gets more secondary scoring is going to come out on top. Anaheim really needs Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne to break out of their funks. If they don't it could be a very disappointing end to a successful season. Red Wings in 7
Vancover Canucks (3) vs San Jose Sharks (6)
Season Series: Sharks 3-0-0
| Jan. 27 -- Sharks win 4-1 at San Jose | |||
| Mar. 05 -- Sharks win 3-2 at Vancouver (SO) | |||
| Apr. 01 -- Sharks win 3-2 at San Jose |
Series Schedule:
| Weds 5/1/13 | 9:30 P.M. | SJS @ VAN |
| Fri 3/13 | 9 P.M. | SJS @ VAN |
| Sun 5/5/13 | 9 P.M. | VAN @ SJS |
| Tue 5/7/13 | 9 P.M. | VAN @ SJS |
| *Thur 5/9/13 | 9 P.M. | SJS @ VAN |
| *Sat 5/11/13 | TBD | VAN @ SJS |
| *Mon 5/13/13 | TBD | SJS @ VAN |
SB Nation Blog: Nucks Misconduct
Regular Season Record: 26-15-7 • 59 Pts
Leading Scorers:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Henrik Sedin | 48 | 11 | 34 | 45 | 19 |
| Daniel Sedin | 47 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 12 |
| Jannik Hansen | 47 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 12 |
| Alexandre Burrows | 47 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 15 |
| Dan Hamhuis | 47 | 4 | 20 | 24 | 9 |
Goaltender(s):
Cory Schneider 17-9-4, .927 save %, 2.11 GAA, 5 SO
Roberto Luongo 9-6-3, .907 save %, 2.56 GAA, 2 SO
Ex-Blackhawks Factor:
San Jose Sharks
SB Nation Blogs: Fear The Fin, Battle of California
Regular Season Record: 25-16-7 • 57 Pts
Leading Scorers:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Joe Thornton | 48 | 7 | 33 | 40 | 6 |
| Logan Couture | 48 | 21 | 16 | 37 | 7 |
| Patrick Marleau | 48 | 17 | 14 | 31 | -2 |
| Joe Pavelski | 48 | 16 | 15 | 31 | 2 |
| Brent Burns | 30 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 0 |
Goaltender:
Antti Niemi 24-12-6, .924 save %, 2.16 GAA, 4 SO
Ex-Blackhawks Factor:
Adam Burish, Antti Niemi, Martin Havlat
Storyline/Prediction
Talk about a series featuring two teams I could care less about! Both teams have been through a roller coaster season. This was supposed to be the year for Cory Schneider to become the number one goalie in Riot City. After the Canucks could not move Roberto Luongo in the off season, which surprised no one, Schneider struggled out of the gate. He was able to reclaim the starting job but a mysterious injury kept him out of the final two games of the regular season. If Schneider is healthy, he will be the starter, that is until Alain Vigneault's itchy trigger finger strikes again. The Sharks started as hot as anyone the first couple weeks of the season. They then found themselves playing some of the worse hockey outside of the state of Florida. They put together a really nice final six weeks of the season to secure the 6th seed. As much as I would love to see another Canucks post season meltdown, and it will happen at some point, it is so hard to cheer for a team that signs the paychecks of Joe Thornton and Raffi Torres. Canucks in 6
St Louis Blues (4) vs Los Angeles Kings (5)
Season Series: Kings 3-0-0
| Feb. 11 -- Kings 4-1 at St. Louis | ||
| Mar. 5 -- Kings 6-4 at Los Angeles | ||
| Mar. 28 -- Kings 4-2 at St. Louis |
Series Schedule:
| Tue 4/30/13 | 7 P.M. | LAK @ STL |
| Thur 5/2/13 | 8:30 P.M. | LAK @ STL |
| Sat 5/4/13 | 9 P.M. | STL @ LAK |
| Mon 5/6/13 | 9 P.M. | STL @ LAK |
| *Wed 5/8/13 | TBD | LAK @ STL |
| *Fri 5/10/13 | TBD | STL @ LAK |
| *Mon 5/13/13 | TBD | LAK @ STL |
St Louis Blues
SB Nation Blog: St Louis Game Time
Regular Season Record: 29-17-2 • 60 Pts
Leading Scorers:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Chris Stewart | 48 | 18 | 18 | 36 | 0 |
| David Backes | 48 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 5 |
| Alex Steen | 40 | 8 | 19 | 27 | 5 |
| Patrik Berglund | 48 | 17 | 8 | 25 | -2 |
| David Perron | 48 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 0 |
Goaltender:
Brian Elliott 14-8-1, .907 save %, 2.28 GAA, 3 SO
Ex-Blackhawk Factor
Los Angeles Kings
SB Nation Blogs: Jewels From The Crown, Battle of California
Regular Season Record: 27-16-5 • 59 Pts
Leading Scorers:
| Player | GP | G | A | PTS | +/- |
| Anze Kopitar | 47 | 10 | 32 | 42 | 14 |
| Jeff Carter | 48 | 26 | 7 | 33 | 0 |
| Justin Williams | 48 | 11 | 22 | 33 | 15 |
| Mike Richards | 48 | 12 | 20 | 32 | -8 |
| Dustin Brown | 46 | 18 | 11 | 29 | 6 |
Goaltender:
Jonathan Quick 18-13-4, .902 save %, 2.45 GAA, 1 SO
Ex-Blackhawks Factor:
Storyline/Prediction
Last season the Blues were victim number two on the Kings rampage towards the Stanley Cup. This series could be the best of the 1st round. These two teams are very evenly matched. They are both big teams that love to be physical. Whoever comes out of this series is be beaten up, that's for sure. The Kings are going into the playoffs playing their best hockey of the season, much like last year. I don't think there are many people in Chicago that wants to see the defending champs, since their style gives the Blackhawks fits. The Kings will need Jonathan Quick to regain his Conn Smythe form if they want to have any shot at repeating. If he can relive his post season play from a year ago, LA is going to be a very tough out. I can not put faith in a team that has David Backes as its captain and boasts Chris Stewart as its leading scorer. Kings in 7
