Scores and Analysis as of 4/10

 

Western Conference

 

            The Western Conference is not as a competitive league as the East and it will take a miracle for some of these teams to move on.  The young Nashville Predators have an almost impossible task of the beating the Detroit Red Wings.  The Predators are still a young franchise and have come a long way but nowhere near the Original Six caliber Detroit Red Wings.  The Predators also just plain aren’t as good as the Red Wings; they don’t have the tools to win against them and they aren’t as talented.  It’s almost unfair; almost half of the Red Wings went to the all-star game this year.  All stars such as Henrik Zetterburg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lindstrom, Thomas Holdstrom, Dominik Hasek and more that makes this team unstoppable.   I see the Predators having a near impossible task in front of them.  I thought San Jose has an easy job with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Mike Grier and a great goaltender Evgeni Nabokov.  But the series is now tied a game a piece and it looks like its going to be much closer than I had originally thought.  Calgary hasn’t had any rhythm all season it’s been an up and down season for them they need to play team defense and get Jariome Iginla the puck.  I think Calgary has a chance in this series if they keep up the pressure and intensity.  Colorado versus Minnesota is a great series to watch the games are close and both teams are equally talented.  Colorado is the underdog in this series but could easily pull away with this series.  The Avs need to pressure the Wild more and keep the puck out of their end in order to beat them.  The Avs have great skaters on their team starting with Captain Joe Sakic, Paul Stastny, Milan Hejduk, Adam Foote and a fantastic goalie; Jose Theodore.  The Wild have great stars as well such as Brian Rolston, Marian Gabriek, Mikko Koivu and Martin Skoula.  It will be a very exciting and close series. The last series in the West is Dallas vs. Anaheim which is another great series.  The higher seeded Stars need to stay out of the box and score there goaltending and defense is solid.  With a veteran Captain Mike Modano, Brendan Morrow and Sergei Zubov they should be able to accomplish those tasks.  The Ducks also have some stars like bone crushing defenseman Chris Pronger, Teemu Selanne, Rob and Scott Niedermayor and net minder Jean-Sebastien Giguere.  The Ducks have the defense but I’m not quite sure if the have offense that they need to defeat the Stars.

            I predict four teams to move on to the semi-finals of the Stanley Cup playoffs.  My first prediction is obviously the Red Wings over the Preds.  The Preds just doesn’t have what it takes to beat the Red Wings.  Then I have San Jose beating Calgary but in a close series, three games to two.  This series like I said before is very evenly matched but I predict the Avs will beat the Wild.  I say this because I think the Avalanche have more tools to win a hockey game and they have more experience in playoff situations.  My last prediction is the Stars over the Ducks.  The Stars have more talent and I think a better team then Anaheim.  Week 1 of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs are underway!