NHL Western Conference playoff capsules
Blackhawks (50-23-9) vs. Nashville Predators (41-29-12)Blackhawks leaders:
Patrick Kane (34-55-89) and Artemi Panarin (31-43-74)
Corey Crawford (.919, 2.55 GAA); Scott Darling (.924, 2.38)
Predators leaders:
Vikor Arvidsson (31-30-61), Ryan Johansen (14-47-61) and Filip Forsberg (31-27-58)
Pekka Rinne (.918, 2.42 GAA)
The skinny: Nashville may be a more dangerous and talented squad than the one the Hawks eliminated in 2015, but the Predators still can't match the firepower that Patrick Kane, Artemi Panarin, Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa and the rest of the Hawks bring to the table. Pekka Rinne is the Predators' best hope for a huge upset, but the veteran goaltender is more likely to disappoint than stand on his head.
Prediction: As long as the Hawks don't give Nashville a lifeline, this series should be over in 5 games.
Minnesota Wild (48-25-8) vs. St. Louis Blues (46-29-7)Wild leaders:
Mikael Granlund (26-43-69) and Eric Staal (27-37-64)
Devan Dubnyk (.923, 2.25)
Blues leaders:
Vladimir Tarasenko (39-36-75)
Jake Allen (.915, 2.42)
The skinny: Minnesota was 43-17-6 after 66 games, then went through a wretched 2-8-2 stretch before righting the ship with 4 straight victories over Colorado (twice), Carolina and Arizona. That's a nice finish, but it came against three of the worst teams in the league. St. Louis, meanwhile, closed the season on a 14-4-2 run.
Prediction: We were all waiting for a Blackhawks-Wild matchup in the second round, but it says here that the Blues oust a reeling Minnesota team in 6.
Anaheim Ducks (46-23-13) vs. Calgary Flames (45-33-4)Ducks leaders:
Ryan Getzlaf (15-58-73) and Ryan Kesler (22-36-58)
John Gibson (.924, 2.22)
Flames leaders:
Johnny Gaudreau (18-43-61) and Sean Monahan (27-31-58)
Brian Elliott (.910, 2.55)
The skinny: With a victory in the regular-season finale, Anaheim claimed its fifth straight Pacific Division title. The Ducks are banged up, though, and will be without top D-man Cam Fowler for 2-6 weeks. He suffered a knee injury on April 4. … Calgary shocked most pundits by making a run to the postseason, but a lack of playoff experience figures to be a problem against Anaheim. The Flames have also lost a whopping 25 straight games at Honda Center in the regular season.
Prediction: Anaheim should be able to escape the first round without Fowler, but the Ducks are in trouble if he's not 100 percent for the second round. Ducks in 6.
Edmonton Oilers (47-26-9) vs. San Jose Sharks (46-29-7)Oilers leaders:
Connor McDavid (30-70-100) and Leon Draisaitl (29-48-77)
Cam Talbot (.919, 2.32)
Sharks leaders:
Brent Burns (29-47-76) and Joe Pavelski (29-39-68)
Martin Jones (.912, 2.40)
The skinny: San Jose reached the Stanley Cup Final last year, but is going to have an extremely difficult time getting past the Oilers if Joe Thornton (knee) and Logan Couture (puck to face) can't play or are ineffective. Meanwhile, the healthy Oilers own the sport's most dynamic player in Connor McDavid. Edmonton coach Todd McLellan also spent seven seasons coaching the Sharks, and that figures to be a significant advantage for the Oilers.
Prediction: These Oilers are reminiscent of the 2008-09 Blackhawks: A team with very little playoff experience, but one that is stacked with high-end talent. A deep run is very possible and it begins here with a 6-game triumph over the Sharks.
- John Dietz
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John Dietz's preseason predictions:
Western Conference final: Blackhawks over Ducks
Eastern Conference final: Canadiens over Capitals
Stanley Cup Final: Blackhawks over Canadiens