Yesterday, I gave my predictions for the Eastern Conference. In the following you will see my Western Conference predictions for the first-round. The powerful 4 are no more. No longer do Detroit, Dallas, St. Louis, and Colorado dominate the Conference. Although Colorado and Detroit are still favorites to face each other in the 3rd round and eventually win the Cup, younger teams have snuck in and have reduced the Western Conference’s powerful 4 to the powerful 2. While teams like San Jose and Chicago have snuck into the 3rd and 4th spots, St. Louis has slipped back and was in jeopardy of missing the playoffs. Dallas, revamped and ready for this season after being swept in the 2nd round by Dallas, failed to even qualify for the postseason. So this year’s postseason is sort of a ‘changing of the guard’. Without further ado, my predictions:

(1)Detroit V. (8)Vancouver

At one point in the season, Vancouver was No. 14. Long forgotten, they managed to amass and incredible amount of points in the 2nd part of the regular season and just made the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. Do they have a chance against Detroit? Almost certainly not. It will take more than the Canucks to stop the juggernaut Red Wings. Although the Canucks posses the league’s No. 2 and No. 3 scorers, Detroit has a better offense. Detroit’s forwards know what it takes to win when it really matters. The defense of Vancouver cannot be compared to that of Detroit’s. The goaltending, though Dan Cloutier has proved himself, is not comparable to that of Detroit’s. Let’s face it, if the Canucks manage to win one game, they should be pretty happy.

Many argue that the Red Wings have been in a terrible slump lately, winless in their last 7. Red Wings fans should not worry about that. Their team clinched the best record in the league a while ago. They have been waiting for the playoffs. Why should they play hard and risk injury when they already secured No. 1 in the league. It doesn’t make sense. Detroit was just playing out its games because they were on the schedule, and that is the only reason.

Many are wondering if a miraculous upset could occur in this series. Don’t count on it. Detroit, though a heavy favorite, was bounced out in the 1st round of the playoffs last season by the Los Angeles kings. They know the dangers of looking too far ahead, and they won’t make that mistake any time soon. If you need further insurance, Detroit is even better now than last season, with more leadership, and Vancouver is, if not weaker, than no better than last season’s Los Angeles Kings.

Prediction: Detroit in 4

Wildcard: Entire Detroit Team Forgets About The Games And Accidentally Goes On Vacation

(2)Colorado V. (7)Los Angeles

Can the Avs repeat again. Of course they can. The Avalanche are probably the team with the best chance of knocking out the Red Wings. However, they must get to the Red Wings first. The Avalanche look as good as they did last year, probably better. Roy is having a career season, the scoring touch is coming back to the Avalanche after a very sluggish start. The defense is good as always. And, the best news of the season for any Avalanche fan came just recently when Forsberg announced he will be back for the playoffs.

As for the Kings, they are running on all cylinders. They have improved since last year. They have added a deadly power play. Adam Deadmarsh, Jason Allison, and Ziggy Pallffy have been leading the team offensively. The ‘no-name’ defense is playing well, and Potvin seems to be back in his groove after a horrid start. Los Angeles poses a real threat to Colorado. If Felix Potvin can elevate his game and win a game or two for the Kings, the offense can and No. 1 power play can do the rest. Colorado has an edge on Los Angeles in defense and goaltending. However, the offense is just slightly better. Forsberg will not be playing his best after being gone for almost a year, so he will not be a factor in the first-round. If you are looking for a serious ‘upset’ in the playoffs, this could be it. However, Colorado should come out of the first-round, barely, bruised and battered after playing a Kings team that means business.

Prediction: Colorado in 7

Wildcard: Felix Potvin

(3)San Jose V. (6)Phoenix

San Jose is on the verge of becoming a super power in the league. They are experienced, skilled, and gritty. They can score, they can check, and they have a great young goaltender who can win games all by himself in Evgeni Nabokov. They have an offense that has been full-power heading into the playoffs, and they will finally get to experience home-ice advantage for the first time in their history. After two season waiting in the wings to bust out, this could be the season. Don’t expect them to be stopped in the first-round by Phoenix.

As for Phoenix, they are a team that has virtually no names, but has been headed by the stellar play of Sean Burke and superb coaching of Bob Francis. They play a team concept, and some how, have managed to get into the playoffs with a young, inexperienced, low profile roster. However, the Coyotes still have a lot of work to do if they want to advance far into the postseason. This won’t be the season where they will crack into the 2nd round for the time in the franchise’s history. San Jose is too good and has too much momentum right now. This series is that Sharks to lose.

Prediction: San Jose in 6

Wildcard: Daymond Langkow, Daniel Briere

(4)St. Louis V. (5)Chicago

This series is almost impossible to predict. On paper, St. Louis should dominate easily. But then again, Chicago shouldn’t even be in the playoffs. But the Blackhawks have proved themselves capable of playing big games against good teams. They have leadership, and they have a lot of skill. Although their defense is somewhat inferior to that of St. Louis, Jocelyn Thibault has proven himself capable of tending the net in the NHL.

St. Louis has been up and down all season. They have struggled every step of the way. At the start of the season, chemistry was a problem. Then, just when things were starting to gel, Doug Weight goes down with a freak groin injury. There is also somewhat of a goalie controversy in St. Louis. Is Brent Johnson ready to carry the team deep into the playoffs? St. Louis, with its roster, should be playing much better, and should beat Chiacgo. However, they have not played to that potential all season, and Chiicago has stayed consistent all season. The Blackhawks are as good as they were in the regular season. St. Louis is better, but they couldn’t show it in the regular season. If St. Louis could play to its capacity, this will be a tough series for Chicago to win. Otherwise, this series will be tight. However, I’ll give St. Louis the benefit of a doubt and assume they will realize they are in the playoffs and will play like they should.

Prediction: St. Louis in 6

Wildcard: Chicago’s Offense