More on Stanley Cup 2002 • Part 1: Up For Grabs • Part 2: Eastern Conference Preview

Join the Discussion "I think the history of Vancouver vs. the Wings shows that Vancouver will lose this one in 5." Foreverjian2

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

This is the marquee match-up of the first round, featuring the NHL's two highest-scoring teams. The Red Wings nailed down first place overall so early that they might have lost their edge. It has been several weeks since the Wings played a meaningful game, and they finished the schedule on a losing skid as coach Scotty Bowman rested some of his best players. Captain Steve Yzerman will play on a wonky knee and Dominik Hasek needs to regain his focus in net.

The Canucks have the NHL's best record since Christmas, but had to fight to make the playoffs because of their poor start. Entering the post-season, Vancouver's top line of Markus Naslund-Brendan Morrison-Todd Bertuzzi is the best in the league. The Vancouver defence has tightened up considerably after a rough start to the season.

So if the Canucks prevail, it would hardly qualify as an upset. Bt Detroit was shocked by Los Angeles in the opening round a year ago and will not be caught off-guard this time. The Wings' poor finish might renew their sense of urgency. More importantly, the Canucks are a young team with one great line while the Wings are deep and experienced. Vancouver has to avoid dumb penalties and win one of the first two games, which would set up a long, bloody, entertaining series. If Hasek is at least adequate the Wings will eke out several one-goal victories and prevail.

Prediction: Detroit in six.
The Key: Can goaltender Dan Cloutier give the Canucks a chance to win each game?

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

Patrick Roy won't quite have to win this series by himself, but the Avalanche will lean on him this spring more than ever before.

Roy picked a good time to have perhaps his best season ever, as Colorado ranked 18th in the NHL in goals scored. They compensated by allowing just 169 goals against, the lowest total in the league. It was a full team effort, but Roy was far and away the MVP.

Scoring won't get any easier in the playoffs. Peter Forsberg is skating, but hasn't played hockey in a year. Milan Hejduk has an abdominal injury. Chris Drury and Alex Tanguay can't seem to score this year. On the plus side, Joe Sakic is back on his game and this team knows how to grind out low-scoring victories.

The final standings suggest a gap between the teams, but L.A. finished just four points behind the Avalanche. Los Angeles relies heavily on its number one line of Adam Deadmarsh, Jason Allison and Zigmund Palffy. The other lines don't score enough, but if one of them can neutralize Sakic the Kings will gain the advantage on offence. L.A. also has a deep, under-rated defence that has steadily improved since the season began. The coaching staff is as good as any.

Colorado has a big edge in goal, often the only edge that matters. If the series goes seven games, Roy will pull his team from the fire. But if the Kings get off to a quick start, their top line generates a few chances and they get an occasional goal from unexpected sources, they can beat the Avs. It may be foolhardy to bet against a future Hall of Fame goaltender coming off his best regular season, but Roy has never returned to the finals in the year following a Stanley Cup win.

Prediction: Los Angeles in six.
The Key: Penalties. Both teams ranked in the top five in penalty killing and power play scoring. Something has to give.

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

Much has been made of Sean Burke's goaltending heroics, which lead the low budget Coyotes to sixth place. But statistically, Shark's goalie Evgeni Nabokov is Burke's equal. Nabokov has the added advantage of playing behind an experienced and playoff-tested team.

The Sharks will play physical, trying to open room for Owen Nolan, Teemu Selanne and Vincent Damphousse to fill the net. If the Coyotes flinch under the punishment, San Jose will win easily. An interesting match-up unfolds at the other end of the ice, where quick Phoenix attackers like Daniel Briere and Daymond Langkow try to outwit the tough San Jose defence. If the Coyotes use their speed they should see their share of power plays. The Sharks take a lot of penalties.

Phoenix has exceeded expectations all year and the Sharks have struggled at times. But San Jose could take a major step forward this spring. If Nabokov has an early bad game all bets are off. Otherwise the Coyotes' underdog ride comes to an end.

Prediction: San Jose in five.
The Key: San Jose's Owen Nolan and Phoenix' Claude Lemieux are barometers for their respective team. Whichever of the two has a better series will likely take his team to the second round.

(4) St. Louis Blues vs. (5) Chicago Blackhawks

Both of these teams enter the playoffs with unproven goaltending, so anything is possible. But the Blues might be getting their act together just in time.

The Blues' troubles are a product of the expectations that come with a hefty payroll. Adding high-priced impact players like Keith Tkachuk and Doug Weight did not produce immediate results. But when the dust settled St. Louis had 43 wins, the same as last year. Only four teams allowed fewer goals, so perhaps goaltender Brent Johnson isn't quite the sieve some make him out to be.

The Blackhawks, back in the playoffs for the first time in five years, can call this season a success without winning another game. They amazed everyone by sustaining a hot start through the dog days of winter, and might be more than a match for St. Louis had they not faltered as the season wound down. Part of the problem is in net, where Jocelyn Thibeault seems to have run out of gas. Steve Passmore has been the better Chicago goalie lately, so who will start Game One is anybody's guess.

If Doug Weight, one of the game's dynamic stars, can be effective returning from a pelvis injury, the Blues are a much better team. It has been great to see another Original Six club rise from the grave. But the Blackhawks peaked too early and the question mark in goal does not help. Chicago will hit hard, but St. Louis can take a hit.

Prediction: St. Louis in five.
The Key: The world class blueline. The Hawks take lots of penalties, and Blues' defensemen Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis can be lethal on the power play.

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