How they got here:
Detroit - Defeated Nashville in six games.
Calgary - Defeated Vancouver in seven games.
When the Red Wings let up, allowing opponents lots of time with the puck, they suddenly look old and slow. That flaw showed up in several games against the Predators. Then Detroit went back to team defense and puck hogging, a style that sets up loads of scoring chances and makes life easy for whoever is in net. They can play that way because they have more brains and talent than most teams. Robert Lang was the most dangerous Red Wing in round one. But speed and grunt work by players like Kirk Maltby proved just as important.
Health: D Jason Woolley (back), C Mark Mowers (foot) and F Steve Thomas (groin) are day-to-day.
Trouble: For all that skill, Detroit never mustered much of a power play against Nashville.
What a week for the Flames, who finally, barely, subdued Vancouver with a relentless attack-the-puck game. But it cost them, as several Calgary players are injured or hurting. The Flames hope to do what the Predators managed for a few games: skate hard and expose the gaps lurking in the Detroit defense. If Jarome Iginla gets open with the puck, he could win a game or two by himself.
Health: D Denis Gauthier, D Toni Lydman and LW Chris Simon (all listed with lower body injuries) are day-to-day and will not begin the series. C Dean McAmmond (back) and LW Dave Lowry (abdominal) are sidelined indefinitely. C Steven Reinprecht (left shoulder) is out for the season.
Trouble: Without Gauthier and Lydman, the Flames rely on a pair of minor leaguers to supplement the defense.
The Goalies: The one area that appears to favor Calgary. Miikaa Kirusoff was very good against Vancouver. But there were nights on which the Canucks gave him little trouble. Detroit's Curtis Joseph played just two full games against Nashville, and his ankle could give way again at any time.
The Forecast: Joseph looks to redeem a season lost to injury and benchings. Kiprusoff faces the biggest challenge of his MVP-calibre year. After seeing the way Nashville briefly skewered the Wings, everyone figures they can be had. But losing a pair in the opening round was probably the best thing that could happen to Detroit.
The Pick: If the Flames were healthy, they would have a shot. But once Iginla is smothered, Detroit will not need many goals. Detroit in Five.
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (4) Colorado Avalanche
How they got here:
San Jose - Defeated St. Louis in five games.
Colorado - Defeated Dallas in five games.
The Avalanche have kept busy with several trades to improve their third and fourth lines and four-through-six defensemen. The happy result was evident in round one: the usual suspects still supply the goals, but Colorado now puts more trust in everyone on the bench. Against Dallas, for example, Matthew Barnaby saw just as much even-strength ice time as Milan Hejduk. The Avs scored more than any other team in the opening round, playing their best hockey of the season.
Health: LW Paul Kariya (ankle) is sidelined indefinitely. LW Alex Tanguay (leg) will likely play.
Trouble: Can the role players be as effective against the Sharks, who are speedier and deeper than Dallas?
Regardless of what happens this spring, the Sharks are nicely set up for the future. A host of young players - Patrick Marleau, Jonathan Cheechoo and Scott Hannan among the most notable - emerged this year. Add hard-working sorts like Mike Ricci, and you have a four-line team that easily dismantled St. Louis in the first round. Most impressive is the shortage of errors among their six-pack of defensemen. The Sharks are another one of those all-hands-on-deck teams that usually survive into this time of year.
Health: RW Scott Thornton (knee) and C Alyn McCauley (hand/arm) are day-to-day
Trouble: If McCauley can't play, the Avalanche increase an already huge advantage at the center position.
The Goalies: David Aebischer had some busy nights against Dallas, so those waiting for him to crack are still waiting. But San Jose's Evgeni Nabokov is the more experienced man. Their regular season numbers are near identical.
The Forecast: The Avalanche are a little looser on defense, and the Sharks can be stingy with the lead. But the Colorado attack will decide this series. Forsberg, Sakic, Hejduk, Tanguay and Blake blew through Dallas like a hurricane. If the Sharks can shut them down, they are otherwise the stronger team.
The Pick: It's hard to imagine Forsberg and Sakic suddenly running cold. Colorado in Seven.
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