Once again, The Red Wings enter the playoffs as the NHL’s most complete team, ranking near the top in most statistical categories. Detroit seamlessly integrates young players like Jiri Fischer, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, which helps prolong the careers of old soldiers like Yzerman and Chelios. At forward especially, the Wings combination of speed, skill, youth and experience is unmatched.
Health: G Curtis Joseph (ankle) says he can play. D Jason Woolley (back) might be ready.
Trouble: Defensively, the team looked vulnerable on several nights this season, giving up goals in bunches. That’s not good, especially when your playoff goalie is a career backup.
Rather than take the free agent shortcut, The Predators stuck with the program and end up in the playoffs in their sixth season. They are small but fast, with no stars but no glaring minor-leaguers either. Everyone noticed Steve Sullivan’s scoring spree after he arrived from Chicago. But the Predators have several other quality forwards, like Scott Walker.
Health: C Rem Murray (neck) is sidelined indefinitely.
Trouble: Facing a deeply skilled team, Nashville’s troubles begin with a too-small defense corps and a poor penalty kill.
The Goalies: As the Hasek vs. Joseph imbroglio stewed last fall, who would have guessed that Detroit would open the playoffs with Manny Legace in net? He earned it by filling in well for the oft-injured stars. Nashville relies on the inconsistent but often terrific Tomas Vokoun. Combined playoff experience of Legace and Vokoun: 11 minutes.
The Forecast: The Predators will try to stifle Detroit at the red line, and attack with lots of forechecking. The Red Wings defensemen, who look slower and smaller than in past years, could be vulnerable to such harrassment. But ultimately, the talent gap is too wide. After last spring’s shocking four-game sweep at the hands of Anaheim, Detroit will be stoked and ready to roll.
The Pick: Detroit in Four.
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) St. Louis Blues
The Sharks parlayed a rebuilding year into a Pacific Division title. It was best-case scenarios all around. Young players - Marleau, Sturm, McCauley, Cheechoo -had their finest seasons. Veterans – Ricci, Damphouuse, McLaren - rebounded nicely. Even a Rangers' cast-off (Nils Ekman: 22 goals) and a veteran from Europe (Alex Korolyuk: 19 goals) blossomed. The Sharks go with the roll-four-lines, everyone-play-defense approach. Combined with the balanced scoring, it wins games.
Health: RW Scott Parker (hand) is day-to-day. LW Marco Sturm (ankle) is out for the year.
Trouble: A prolonged midseason slump suggests there is a fine line between enthusiasm and chaos.
The Blues are a top-heavy team, with a few great players and not much else. If the stars – Doug Weight, Keith Tkachuk, Pavol Demitra – aren’t scoring, they can’t score at all. Considering they lost Barrett Jackman and Al MacInnis for the entire season, the defense isn’t bad. St. Louis salvaged a playoff spot with a desperate late surge and some good goaltending.
Health: C Eric Boguniecki (neck) RW Mark Rycroft (leg) and D Alex Khavanov (foot) are all day-to-day.
Trouble: How deep can a team be when it trades for the invisible winger, Brian Savage, at the deadline?
The Goalies: The Blues’ Chris Osgood is widely considered a second-tier goaltender, but played his best hockey down the home stretch. San Jose’s Evgeni Nabokov reconfirmed his position as a number-one man with an impressive recovery from a disappointing 2002-03 season.
The Forecast: There isn’t much to like about St. Louis, except their core players. They’re also a wounded animal, a perpetual favorite shoved aside. Chris Pronger has had an up-and-down season after missing a year due to injuries. If he can reclaim his place as one of the NHL’s best defensemen, and if Osgood continues his recent strong play, the Sharks are primed for an upset..
The Pick: Blues in seven.
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