Ahead of the start of the NHL play-offs, Rob McKenzie breaks down each match-up and predicts their outcomes.
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WESTERN CONFERENCE
Dallas Stars v Minnesota Wild
Regular season: Stars first in Central division with 109 points, Wild fifth in Central with 87.
Season series: November 14, 3-2 Stars (OT); November 28, 4-3 Stars (OT); December 21, 6-3 Stars; January 9, 2-1 Wild; February 9, 4-3 Stars (OT).
Game 1: 5.30am Friday (all times UAE)
Breakdown: This will not be the worst hurt that Dallas have ever inflicted on the state of Minnesota — that came in 1993 when the team's mercenary owner took the Minnesota North Stars and spirited them down to Texas, trashing the North along the way. The Wild have been around since 2000/01, when they joined the league as an expansion franchise. It would be a great and karmic payback if the Wild were to win, and Dallas do have weaknesses — the Stars gave up the most goals of any playoff team (230). But the Wild lack offensive firepower whereas the Stars have possibly the league's best forward line in Tyler Seguin, Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza. Seguin has been recovering from a cut to his Achilles tendon but is expected in the lineup for Game 1.
Prediction: Dallas in four
St Louis Blues v Chicago Blackhawks
Regular season: Blues second in Central division with 107 points, Hawks third in Central with 103.
Season series: October 4, 6-5 Blues (OT), October 14, 4-2 Hawks. December 24, 2-0 Hawks; March 9, 3-2 Blues (shoot-out); April 7, 2-1 St Louis (OT).
Game 1: 5.30am Thursday
Breakdown: Under Ken Hitchcock as coach, St Louis have lost in the first round three years in a row — despite having home-ice advantage every time. Not good. Chicago are the opposite, winning 10 of 11 playoff series and two Stanley Cups over the past three seasons. The defending champions possess the best core in the league. Jonathan Toews defines clutch. Patrick Kane led the league in scoring with 106 points. Duncan Keith, who will miss Game 1 due to a suspension for slashing a guy in the face, has the stamina of Secretariat. For their part the Blues do have depth, and a wild card in Vladimir Tarasenko. He has enough talent that, if his teammates do their jobs well enough, and if Chicago somehow stumble, he could take over the series for St Louis. Possibly. Perhaps. Maybe-ish.
Prediction: Chicago in seven.
Anaheim Ducks v Nashville Predators
Regular season: Ducks first in Pacific division with 103 points, Preds fourth in Central with 96.
Season series: October 22, 5-1 Predators; November 1, 4-2 Ducks; November 17, 3-2 Predators.
Game 1: 6.30am Saturday
Breakdown: Poor Nashville. Last year they outplayed Chicago through most of an awesome first-round series but could not kill the endlessly resilient Blackhawks. And in this year's first round they run square into Anaheim, the hottest team in the league since Christmas. But also, poor Anaheim. Their reward for winning the Pacific division is a matchup against a team that, like the Rangers in the east, play — and excel at — a grinding, work-the-boards, defence-first playoff style all season long. Plus Nashville have more scoring punch this spring — the January 6 trade for Ryan Johansen is, after a slow start, proving astute. Nashville also have the more seasoned goalie in Pekka Rinne.
Prediction: Predators in seven. Nashville can do this.
Los Angeles Kings v San Jose Sharks
Regular season: Kings second in Pacific with 102 points; Sharks third in Pacific with 98.
Season series: October 7, 5-1 Sharks; October 22, 4-1 Kings; December 22, 5-3 Sharks; January 24, 3-2 Kings (OT); March 28, 5-2 Sharks.
Game 1: 6.30am Friday
Breakdown: LA are formidable by reputation but they are not as deep as they used to be, especially with winger Marian Gaborik still injured. The season-long loss of Matt Greene to a shoulder injury has weakened the defence, though it does still have a star in Drew Doughty. But why is this team playing Vincent Lecavalier for 13 minutes a night when he couldn't even get on the ice in Philadelphia? Why has Rob Scuderi been patrolling the LA blueline for 17 minutes a game when he was a flop earlier this season with both Pittsburgh and Chicago? Meanwhile the Sharks are stacked and now have the character and cohesion to match their talent.
Prediction: Sharks in seven. This and Ducks-Predators could be the best series of the first round.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Washington Capitals v Philadelphia Flyers
Regular season: Capitals first in Metropolitan division with 120 points, Flyers fifth in Metropolitan with 96.
Season series: November 12, 5-2 Capitals; January 27, 4-3 Flyers (OT); February 7, 3-2 Capitals; March 30, 2-1 Flyers (shoot-out).
Game 1: 3am Friday
Breakdown: Ed Snider, the much-loved founder of the Flyers, died on Monday, two days after the team nailed down a playoff spot. They are going to their postseason and he is going to his. This could inspire the Flyers, who were already the season's feelgood story after overcoming a slow start and low expectations. The Flyers' offence sparked to life after Shayne Gostisbehere made his debut on November 14. The Philly captain Claude Giroux is one of the league's best combinations of talent and leadership and first-year man Dave Hakstol deserves consideration as coach of the year. But now let's get real. Washington have yards (metres) more talent than Philly. The Capitals' offence will overwhelm Philly's defence. Philly will fight hard but there is no area in which they have an advantage over Washington. The Capitals scored 38 more goals than Philly in the regular season and surrendered 25 fewer.
Prediction: Capitals in five
Pittsburgh Penguins versus New York Rangers
Regular season: Penguins second in the Metropolitan division with 104 points; Rangers third with 101.
Season series: February 10, 3-0 Rangers; March 3, 7-1 Pittsburgh; March 13, 5-3 Pittsburgh; March 26, 3-2 Pittsburgh (OT).
Game 1: 4am Thursday
Breakdown: These teams have a history. The recent rise of the Rangers and decline of the Penguins can be traced to their second-round series two years ago, which Pittsburgh led 3-1 until the Rangers, galvanised by the death of Martin St Louis's mother, rallied for the comeback win. Pittsburgh's hopes of turning the table this time around have suffered a setback. Their No 1 keeper, Marc-Andre Fleury, has been out with a concussion — his second of the season — since March 31. His backup, Matt Murray, who had played very well down the stretch, was hurt in the season finale. Whoever the Pengins throw between the pipes, the Rangers will show no mercy and will endeavour to do what they always endeavour to do: chase you down, squeeze you tight, suck the very life out of you.
Prediction: Rangers in six
Florida Panthers v New York Islanders
Regular season: Panthers first in Atlantic division with 103 points, Islanders fourth in Metropolitan with 100.
Season series: November 27, 3-2 Panthers (shoot-out); December 15, 5-1 Panthers; March 14, 3-2 Islanders.
Game 1: 4am Friday
Breakdown: Every hockey fan with a heart would love to see Jaromir Jagr shine for the Panthers in the postseason at age 44. But the real strength of this club is its young core of Aaron Ekblad, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Huberdeau, plus the experience of Roberto Luongo in net. I expect big things of the Panthers next season but for now a first-round win might be as far as they get. The Islanders have a star in John Tavares but their big problem is that No 1 goalie Jaroslav Halak is injured, and so is forward Anders Lee, out with a broken fibula.
Prediction: Panthers in six.
Tampa Bay Lightning v Detroit Red Wings
Regular season: Lightning second in Atlantic with 97 points, Red Wings third in Atlantic with 93.
Season series: October 13, 3-1 Red Wings; November 3, 2-1 Red Wings; February 3, 3-1 Lightning; Mar 22, 6-2 Lightning.
Game 1: 3am Thursday
Breakdown: Tampa began the season with high hopes after reaching the Cup final last year. But they are ravaged by injuries, with forwards Steve Stamkos and Ryan Callahan, and steady defender Anton Stralman, all sidelined. And then in the regular-season finale a cheap shot by Montreal's Greg Pateryn injured Tyler Johnson, whose status for the start of this series is hazy. The Red Wings barely made it into the postseason but did just enough to extend their playoff streak to 25 seasons. Detroit are in good health but Tampa still have advantages. The Lightning have the series' best goalie in Ben Bishop and best defender in Victor Hedman. My hunch is that all their bad luck has them angry and they will grab the Hammer of Grabthar and take out their manifold frustrations on the Wings. Detroit scored the fewest goals (211) of any team that made the playoffs.
Prediction: Tampa in five
