Western Conference Round Two Preview

Hi, I’m Jason, sometimes known as @AdamsOnOilers, here to preview your second round Western Conference match-ups. One of the reasons I decided that writing for the Oilers Rig was something that I would be interested in is because I wanted to write for a site that was primarily focused on my beloved (though eternally disappointing) Edmonton Oilers, so it makes perfect sense that my first post at the aforementioned Rig have nothing whatsoever to do with the Oilers.

Yes, today I’m writing about something called the ‘playoffs’. I’m not overly familiar with what this is (apparently, some teams play more than 82 games in a season) and a decade with no Oiler playoffs has left me confused and out of my comfort zone, but hey, why not give it a shot, right?

I managed to go 4-0 on my Eastern Conference previews, and 2-2 on my Western Conference educated guesses, so, again, it makes perfect sense that my inaugural Oilers Rig article is previewing the Western Conference where I took home a .500 record! Right? Right.

St. Louis Blues vs Dallas Stars

The Blues first round series vs their playoff nemesis, the Chicago Blackhawks was exciting, fast paced, punishing hockey, and frankly some of the best hockey that I can remember watching. The Stars and Wild were… um. Also playing in the first round – okay, that’s not entirely fair, as the Wild managed to make their series much more interesting than it really had any right to be. Both teams bring strengths and question marks to this series, so let’s take a look at them for each.

Blues

Strength – Defensive Domination

The Blues entered these playoffs as one of the deepest teams in the league on paper from top to bottom, but nowhere is that depth more evident than on the blueline. Led by workhorse Alex Pietrangelo, and supplemented by Kevin Shattenkirk, super rookie Colton Parayko, and veteran Jay Bouwmeester, the Blues boast perhaps the best top 4 defensive group in the entire NHL.

Question mark – Goaltending

*Sees torches lit up and pitchforks sharpened* – Easy, angry mob, EASY. There’s no doubt that Brian Elliott has had a fantastic season, but goaltenders don’t typically peak at 31 years old. Can Elliott keep it up for the long haul of the playoffs, against some very strong Western Conference opponents? If he can, the remaining seven other teams have very good reason to be worried.

Stars

Strength – Offensive Intimidation

Even without Tyler Seguin for the majority of their first round series against the Wild, the Stars’ remaining big guns were out in full force, led by Jamie Benn and Jason Spezza. Supplemented by Patrick Sharp, John Klingberg, and a host of others, the Stars never seem to struggle to score goals.

Question mark – Also Goaltending

Seems strange to have the same weakness listed for both sides, but I think it’s the truth. While the Stars didn’t struggle to fill the net against the Wild, the duo of Lehtonen and Niemi raised more questions than they answered, posting a .911 and a .870 SV%, respectively. While two roughly equal goalies sharing the crease is a nice idea in the regular season, the playoffs is a different animal, and one of these two needs to rise to the occasion to give the Stars a fighting chance.

JASON’S PREDICTION: BLUES IN SIX

Nashville Predators vs San Jose Sharks

Interesting matchup, this one. Here, you have two teams I would categorize as playoff underachievers going head to head, having knocked off some pretty impressive teams to get there – the Sharks dismantling the Kings in five games, while the Predators needed all seven games to finish off the Ducks in their series. A win would put both of these teams in unfamiliar waters – the Sharks haven’t been to the conference finals since 2010-2011, while a win would assure the Predators of their best playoff result ever.

Sharks

Strength – Kingslayers

After two playoff exits at the hands of the Kings in 2012-13 and 2013-14, the Sharks got a measure of revenge with their convincing five game dispatching of the Kings, and are every bit deserving to be where they are. The Sharks were the better team in nearly every aspect in the first round, and that should give them a much-needed confidence boost. Why much needed, you ask? Well…

Question mark – George Michael

Or, in other terms – Ya Gotta Have Faith, and you have to wonder if the Sharks do. Long given the label of playoff chokers, the Sharks still have a lot to prove to themselves and to the NHL that they’re the real deal to be a legitimate cup threat. Don’t forget, this is largely the same group that saw a 3-0 series lead slip away against the hated Kings (on the way to another Cup). The fact that the Ducks and Kings have hoisted Lord Stanley, and they’re stuck with labels to shed has to hurt.

Predators

Strength – Norris Snubs

The Predators have long had one of the best bluelines in the NHL, but in spite of that – or perhaps because of it – Shea Weber has never gotten the credit he deserves with a Norris trophy, often falling behind Western Conference rival Drew Doughty. I’m sure he’d be perfectly happy with a Cup instead, but thankfully with Roman Josi, Mattias Ekholm, and Ryan Ellis rounding out the top 4, he doesn’t have to chase one alone. Perhaps the only area that Nashville is clearly better than San Jose is that dynamic 2nd pairing of Ekholm and Ellis – the Sharks simply don’t have that kind of depth on their 2nd pairing.

Question Mark – Finnish Machine Sometimes Breaks

Pekka Rinne was good when he needed to be against the Ducks and came up big when it mattered, but the fact remains that a .915 SV% in the first round is pretty average by today’s standards, and Rinne’s .908 during the regular season was good for 19th out of 20 goalies that played 50 or more games, ahead of ‘Hey, fill in for Carey Price, no pressure kid’ Mike Condon. At 33, is Rinne’s body capable of withstanding a long playoff run?

JASON’S PREDICTION – SHARKS IN SIX

Thus ends my Western Conference preview. Love it? Hate it? Neutral, but like to tweet things? Hit me up at @AdamsOnOilers. I don’t always follow back because I suck that way, but if you seem cool and we talk a couple times, I’ll get there.