Previewing the First Round: the Western Conference

Since this past weekend, I’ve found myself singing “it’s the most wonderful time of the year” and jumping for joy mostly everywhere I go. You could imagine how awkward the bread aisle of the local Food Emporium was Sunday afternoon when I got giddy remembering that the Kings were eliminated… not that I hold grudges.. but I digress.

Here, we at BSB have broken down the entire first round, and we start early this morning with the Western Conference….

Minnesota Wild vs. St. Louis Blues

Dave’s Pick: STL in 6. Minny has been on a miraculous run after finally solving their goaltending issues. But St. Louis is just a much better team. Better depth, better defense, and just better all around.

Becky’s Pick: STL in 6. The Blues are so hard-hitting, offensively-skilled and deep that they’ll make easy work of the quick-but-shaky Wild. They’re looking to eliminate their first round exit curse, and the small Wild are perfect prey.

Chris’ Pick: STL in 5. The Wild are riding a serious wave into the playoffs but this is where it ends. St Louis are simply bigger, better and deeper. Just looking at the top six forwards for each team and I can’t see how Minnesota can win this series. Dubnyk’s magical ride has to end at some stage. He’s a good goalie playing like Kenny Dryden. That ends against the Blues.

Justin’s Pick: STL in 6. Here’s what I don’t understand.  Minnesota is a good hockey team.  No one looked at them as real contenders until a journeyman goalie got super hot and now all of a sudden they are the ’84 Oilers.  I’m not buying Devan Dubnyk’s resurgence just yet. St. Louis has way too much depth in my opinion and they will finally shake those first round demons.

Kevin’s Pick: STL in 6. I’d pick the Wild against almost anyone else, but this is not a good matchup for Minnesota. The Blues just have too much across the board, and the emergence of Vladimir Tarasenko and Jaden Schwartz has really deepened their offense. Dubnyk will do his best, but Minnesota falls in this series.

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Nashville Predators

Dave’s Pick: CHI in 7. This is such a toss up. Both teams are great. Nashville has the goaltending edge, but Chicago has the experience edge. I give this one to experience, but this goes the distance as well.

Becky’s Pick: CHI in 6. This series is one to watch, even if you haven’t been paying much attention to teams out West. Rinne has been doing an incredible job, and Filip Forsberg is an absolute delight to watch, but I see the Hawks edging out the lack of Predator talent in under 7 games.

Chris’ Pick: CHI in 7. This is the most even series of the first round. A lot will rest on how rusty Patrick Kane is as he comes back from his injury. Will Brandon Saad continue his emergence or will Roman Josi continue to insist he’s actually better than Shea Weber? While the Preds have an edge in goal it’s hard to bet against experience and talent and the Hawks have both.

Justin’s Pick: CHI in 7. This is the toughest series to call for me.  So much depends on Patrick Kane’s health.  Pekka Rinne has the edge on Corey Crawford for me, but I think the Hawks have too much firepower.

Kevin’s Pick: NSH in 7. This is the only one I’m changing since my first gut reaction, and it’s not the way you think. Even with Pat Kane’s return, this Blackhawks team doesn’t quite feel the same. Nashville hit the skids a bit over the last couple of months, but they still have Rinne and a top defense that will be able to contain Chicago’s fearsome forwards.

Winnipeg Jets vs. Anaheim Ducks

Dave’s Pick: ANA in 7. I really don’t like the Ducks in terms of long term success in the playoffs, but I don’t think the Jets are the team that beats them. Anaheim is flawed for sure, but I pick them over Ondrej Pavelec.

Becky’s Pick: WPG in 6. The Jets are on a mission, and they’re going to beat down whoever gets in their way. They’re physical and they’ll take out the Ducks’ shaky goaltending situation. No eye test, no #fancystats, just pure old-fashioned motivation.

Chris’ Pick: ANA in 6. The sheer enthusiasm in Winnipeg will see them steal a game or two but in my opinion the Jets have the weakest goaltending in the playoffs (despite recent form) and the Ducks have better talent up front that has simply underperformed. Anaheim will expect Ryan Kesler to be better than he was in the regular season. If he is, the Ducks have a big advantage down the middle.

Justin’s Pick: ANA in 7. I think the upstart Jets will give the Ducks a tough run in the first round.  I know Anaheim has goaltending issues and their possession numbers and other metrics make their success seem like something of a mirage, but they have a ton of talent, even if the Jets have more heart.

Kevin’s Pick:  WPG in 7 .The Jets have become a different team since the blockbuster Evander Kane trade and just as important acquisition of Lee Stempniak. Believe it or not, Ondrej Pavelec is actually playing great in goal, while the Ducks just lost John Gibson and will be forced to ride with Frederik Andersen.

Calgary Flames vs. Vancouver Canucks

Dave’s Pick: VAN in 6. I don’t know how Calgary made the playoffs. By all measures, they shouldn’t have. But they kept the Kings out, so they are my favorite Western Conference team. I am rooting for them, but I think the luck runs out against Vancouver.

Becky’s Pick: VAN in 6. I don’t see Vancouver getting past the second round, but I didn’t see Calgary getting there, so I guess this one is just gut. The Flames have great young talent, but I think they’ll be surprised by the playoff atmosphere and need time to cultivate before making a deep run. Canucks’ experience takes this one.

Chris’ Pick: CGY in 7. This is a heart over head choice and I’m going with the Flames (it has nothing to do with the Flames pipping the Kings to the post-season, honest.) The Flames have seriously good, young talent up front, energy and some genuinely underrated players (like Kris Russell & TJ Brodie) on the back end. I’m not a #fancystat man so I don’t need to factor that in – ignorance is bliss. If it stays close, could super prospect Sam Bennett make a difference?

Justin’s Pick: VAN in 6. This one is going to be so much fun.  Two teams who no one would have called making the dance in the pre-season squaring off.  Everyone loves the Flames story and underdog status, but I think the ‘Nucks will ultimately be too much.

Kevin’s Pick: CGY in 6. Good luck stopping the Johnny Gaudreau/Sean Monahan/Jiri Hudler line right now. Calgary has gotten surprising defense and goaltending all year and is probably the most stunning playoff team of them all. The Canucks had a nice bounce-back season, but I remain convinced their time is done, while Calgary’s is just starting.