Thanks For Coming Out, 2013 Los Angeles Kings

After getting over the hurdles of the first round, the defending Cup champions looked as if they were going to be the team to beat in the West. However, their defense-first mentality just wasn't able to stop the top team in regular season, thus making it 15 years since there was a repeat Stanley Cup winner.

Defensive teams need a solid goalie and that's what the Kings have in Jonathan Quick. After a shaky start-- Quick showed off his Conn Smythe ways in the playoffs and proved himself capable to living up to the long-term deal the Kings signed him to, especially after back surgery in the off-season. The question now lies on whether or not Jonathan Bernier wants to stick around, knowing that he won't get a chance any time soon to be the starter. Of course, he's a restricted free agent and the goalie market will be slim pickings...so odds are he'll stay in LA for the short-term.

Offensively, Jeff Carter was the Cy Young winner in the NHL (much more goals than assists) and helped out for filling the net, while Anze Kopitar kept getting better and better. Overall, the Kings were the solid, evenly distributed team that really had scoring by committee. Outside of Carter, (and maybe Dustin Brown), the goal scoring wasn't too spread out-- which is good for useful getting everyone involved, not allowing opponents to focus on one line or player.

On the blue line, there's a lot of valuable RFAs, but only $11M left. Slava Voynov and Jake Muzzin will probably want their money for their performance this past season, but whether they get it in LA is another story. Yet, with buy-out candidates being mulled over, you can bet the Kings will be able to free up the money to make sure their valuable pieces don't get away from there.

Under Dean Lombardi and Darryl Sutter, the Kings look to be in good hands-- so long as neither of them do anything to divide the room and break apart the great chemistry they have. They were hungry again for the Cup, but just ran into a team with a lot of momentum on their side and a little more fire-power than they could handle.

Pointless Playoff Prognostication: Conference Finals

Perfect in the West, squa-douche in the East. So, here we go-- we're looking at the Final Four, who-- oddly enough-- are the last four Cup winners. How about that.

CONFERENCE FINALS
EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) Boston Bruins
Prediction: Bruins in 6
Reason: The Bruins have a lot of life after that first round and the Penguins still look like a vulnerable team-- so the nod goes to the inspired Bruins over the Pens.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (5) Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Blackhawks in 7
Reason: While Jonathan Quick looks like the goalie who stole games for last year's Kings, the offense of the Blackhawks could prove to be too much for the Kings defense-- especially if the Kings get a little listless offensively.

Are The Sharks Circling For McLellan??

After the San Jose Sharks were eliminated, you knew that Todd McLellan was going to be on a short leash if he was retained. Well, with McLellan being retained, but his assistants not-- the question was whether or not the coaches hired would be those of help or possible competition. This time, it could be a little of both.

This past week, the Sharks have hired Stanley Cup winning coach Larry Robinson as their new "associate" coach, while former interim coach for the Phoenix Coyotes and defensive specialist Jim Johnson was hired on Tuesday as an assistant coach. The only thing that would make these hirings more damning for McLellan would be the dreaded "vote of confidence" being given. 

It's a shame that McLellan has to feel this heat, especially after he's appeared it the Conference Finals two of the four seasons he's been at the helm, though the other two playoff appearances have been first round exits. Granted, the additions could help out McLellan-- Robinson helping guide him on the right path to actually make him a coach that can get over that hump the Sharks have seemed to be stuck on. Johnson could be able to even out the penalty kill that was pretty craptastic during the season. This could definitely be a nice little motivator for him with no underlying tone to it.

Yet, it won't stop people like me from speculating on it all, especially when previous coaches in the past haven't been able to get to that next level. Ron Wilson and Darryl Sutter were eventually fired because of bad performances in the playoffs, but you have to believe that McLellan is a guy who has done a lot with this team-- but is it him that's not getting the results or the team not being able to knuckle-down and get the results that are needed to not only make the coach look good-- but make their franchise not look like walkovers. 

But it's the old adage of "you can't fire the players, so you fire the coach." For a team like the Sharks, it's a matter of getting over that seemingly eternal mental block that this team has had when it comes to getting to the Stanley Cup finals. While it's a tough task to accomplish, the reality of the situation is that the Sharks have been overvalued when it comes to being a dominant player for the Stanley Cup. They have a good team, but it's not one that should be given the praise that they have been given over the past couple of seasons. That will be there downfall-- not the coaching, not the players-- it's the hype. 

Thanks For Coming Out, Phoenix Coyotes

It was looking good for the Phoenix Coyotes-- they got another possible owner, they got further than anyone had ever thought and deeper than ever in history; they shocked the world. Then they hit a road block that was the LA Kings and even trying to underhandedly get their shots in, hacking and whacking away; they couldn't get their bounces and are now out-- wondering if they'll be around at the start of the next season.

While many will see this as a valiant boost for the team, it could be the worse thing for them if they under-perform next season. It's one thing for Mike Smith to do this during the second-half of the season, but if he should return to Earth, you know the questions will be there again. The defense in front of Smith was solid, as Rusty Klesla, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Keith Yandle played solidly on both ends of the spectrum.

The offense was not very dominant, but the Coyotes never have relied on that much. However, Ray Whitney and Radim Vrbata were the top dogs for the Coyotes in the regular season, while Antoine Vermette, of all people, led the way in the playoffs. Shane Doan was contributing where he could and did what he could to make his fairytale playoff continue, but it wasn't enough in the end.

Yet, the last memory that the Coyotes will have this playoff season was the end of Game Five and the interviews afterwords. The players swarming to the referees after the Kings game-winning goal, arguing over a non-call half-a-minute earlier, then the hyperbole that came from their mouths talking about it-- it may have left their most hardened of supporters shaking their heads.

While Yandle's comment about the Coyotes not having an owner made them a sitting duck because no one is there to defend them, this far exceeds passion of a team losing to a team pouting over sour grapes. Many saw the true colors of the Coyotes, including Shane Doan, who's intense play was bordering on dirty; but many gave him the benefit of the doubt.

This team needs an owner and whether or not they stay in Arizona, who cares-- but a leadership is needed for this team to actually know they have someone in their corner. Even if they have to move to Kansas City, they need more support from the top down.

Western Conference Finals: (3) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (8) Los Angeles Kings

Two teams that many counted out before it started, two teams who no one thought would get out of the second round, two teams who will now fight to see who will get the Stanley Cup Finals. The Pacific Division will be represented in the Finals for the first time in five years.

Obviously, the big match-up is going to be Jon Quick and Mike Smith-- who will be more frustrating to solve. Smith has had many adventures away from the net, but his recovery and smothering style is going to be tough for the Kings to deal with. While he doesn't have much star help in front of him, Smith and the Coyotes know how to get the job done. Quick has been equally as amazing and really has used his strong defense to help him out in the past couple of series. It should be an interesting chess match for both sides.

Offensively, the Coyotes have gotten a lot from their blue-line with Keith Yandle and Rostislav Klesla providing seven points apiece; but how much space will they see with the Kings covering their points a little better than teams playing before them?? Antoine Vermette has also played very exceptionally well, as has Mikkel Boedker. The Kings have had their big guys be their big guys-- Dustin Brown being the leader they expected him to be, Anze Kopitar has been a great playmaker, while Mike Richards has been getting his magic back from the Flyers 2010 Playoff run. Even Dustin Penner and Justin Williams are getting into it-- and I don't think Jeff Carter has peaked just yet.

In the end, it's a question of how well Dave Tippett and Darryl Sutter coach off each other. Both have been great at the chess match and got the pairings against the top lines perfect. Both are proven in the playoffs and now it's just a matter on who you'd rather have making the big decision when it needs to be made. While Sutter may have more weapons at his disposal, Tippett may have the better cohesive unit around him.

PREDICTION: This one will go the distance, but I think in the end-- the Los Angeles Kings will outlast the West. They have a solid coach who has been there before and changed the team's demeanor. Jon Quick has been amazing and I don't think we've seen the best out of the Kings top stars just yet.

What's Next 2011: San Jose Sharks

While they did win one more game than they did in last season's playoffs-- the Sharks really have some interesting questions to ask themselves, especially when the production of their top stars was so far off of last year's pace.

We'll start there, as the big-three of Patrick Marleau (-10 in points from last year), Dany Heatley (-18), and Joe Thornton (-19) were very off kilter. Luckily, the role players like Joe Pavelski and Ryane Clowe were able to help counterbalance the lack of production that the big-three didn't put up. Rookie Logan Couture was also a pleasant surprise for the Sharks this season; potting 32 goals and 56 points; allowing the Sharks to see that they have a bright future. Another concern for the Sharks is that Heatley was virtually invisible during the playoffs, going goalless in the last eight games, only collecting three assists in those games-- which could create issues for the remaining three years of his contract, which holds a no-movement clause.

Defensively, Dan Boyle had a slight hiccup, but he was able to actually keep the offensive side of things going for the Sharks, while Jason Demers definitely cemented his regular spot for the line-up with his play and leading the team in plus/minus rating. When Ian White came over from Carolina, he provided a solid help, but it's doubtful he'll be back considering how well that Justin Braun played in his 28 games coming up from Worcester. Douglas Murray was again solid for the Sharks (for the most part), while Marc-Edouard Vlasic played stellar in his stay-at-home role he plays.

The goaltending of Antti Niemi was shaky at the start, only putting up only five wins in 12 games in the first two months, but while Antero Niittymaki couldn't overtake the starting gig that was handed to him; Niemi took hold. Niemi showed that he could be a starter in this league and his Stanley Cup victory was no fluke at all. With Niemi locked up long-term, it's his team to guide. Niittymaki only has one more year left, but he probably won't see much time behind Niemi.

I don't know if the Sharks could every wipe off the "choker" label, despite being in the Western Finals for two years straight. The fact is that this is a team that always comes short on expectations, which could be due to the high expectations they have set on them. Whichever way you dice it, the signs of greatness for this team is there-- it's a matter of following through on the actual signs.

Chronic Prognosticator: Conference Finals

It's finally time for the Conference Finals and the Final Four teams couldn't be more.....I guess evenly matched could be a good word for it, but these should be some solid series; though it'll take a lot to match the San Jose/Detroit series or Vancouver/Chicago side.

Well.....let's do it.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
(3) Boston Bruins vs. (5) Tampa Bay Lightning

This will be a chess-match. The fact that both these teams are leading the way in the East proves that defense wins championships. The big issue will be not only trying to figure out each of these goalies-- but also which team can transition better off their defensive strong-point.

When it comes down to it, I think Tampa has a better edge and have shown a little bit more depth in their line-up. Not to say the Bruins don't have that, but who would have thought that Sean Bergenheim would have seven goals and Steve Downie have 10 assists?? Those are two guys who are really helping out beyond the top guys of Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, and Steven Stamkos.

However, the Bruins definitely have a defensive edge with Zdeno Chara and Andrew Ference on the back-end. The fact Timmy Thomas is up for a Vezina should tell you that he's got the credentials to get a team through the worst, but he does have his own bouts of meltdowns.

PREDICTION: Tampa Bay Lightning in Seven Games
WHY??: It'll be a struggle in this series with these two, but I think the Bolts have really shown their gumption with Guy Boucher behind the bench and the long layoff will serve them well in resting a guy like Dwayne Roloson, who is up there and may not have been able to taken the grind of one series after another.

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS
(1) Vancouver Canucks vs. (2) San Jose Sharks

While we had hoped these two would be in their Conference finals-- not many people thought they could actually get to it and face each other. A lot of people on the Twitter even said this could be the first series where both teams would lose-- which I would like to see, actually.

When it comes to the Canucks, it was great for them to get Ryan Kesler back into the fold, but now it's about getting the Sedins into it. This series could be a wide-open event, which could bring in the Sedins nicely-- but if they can't get it going from Game One; it could be another series of commentators questioning them night-after-night.

The Sharks should be happy not to choke a 3-0 lead in the second round, but at the same time-- it's a warning for them. The fact we'll see a Joe Thornton and Kesler match-up in the face-off dot is exciting. The big deal is Ryane Clowe and Logan Couture carrying the Sharks in the scoring, which needs to be a wake-up call for Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley-- who have been virtuall invisible.

PREDICTION: San Jose Sharks in Six Games
WHY??: While the goaltending and defensive breakdown hurt the Sharks psyche a bit-- the fact remains they are getting a lot from their depth guys and can put distance on themselves when needed. Both teams are going to be urged to get their offense going quickly because the minute they rattle the oppositions goalie-- the better the chances to making it a quick series.

Big Buff vs. Alex the Great

There's something about the playoffs that brings out the other side of players that may have been hidden or flown under the radar. John Druce back in 1990 for the Caps, Johan Hedberg in 2001 for the Penguins, and I think Dustin Byfuglien for the Blackhawks would be this year's candidate for breakout star. Yet, even so, there's something about him that's so very endearing that makes you think that he'll have a bit more staying power and longer than a 15-minute outburst than the previous two.

In fact, I would say that the excitement, tenacity, and all around love of the game could be on par with that of Alex Ovechkin.

Sure, it's a reach, I know-- but when you see how he celebrates his goals, how he'll go into any kind of situation to win the small battles, how he can bring energy to most every shift; it kind of mimics Ovechkin's play. Of course, Byfuglien is becoming more and more of a clutch player, which Ovechkin has been knocked for not being-- especially they year with the Olympics and playoffs. Yet, both are big body guys, both have a nose for the net, and both seem to be the folk-heroes in their respective cities. Not only that, but both guys get attention. Ovechkin get it from his skill and point totals; while Byfuglien gets it from the fact he can stir the pot and draw penalties, while not taking as many. He seems to be what Tomas Holmstrom was in the 90s for the Red Wings.

Yes, I know Byfuglien will never score as much as Ovechkin-- that's a given, but his spirit for the games, as well as his versatility to play forward or defense; makes him a valuable commodity and a great team guy for his teammates to feed off of and really get behind if they need a pick-me-up. If the Hawks can win the Cup this year, odds are you'll hear about how Byfuglien was a big reason for the victory. If it's not for his clutch goals, it'll be for stirring the pot and getting the other team off their games because of his antagonistic game-plan.

What's Next: San Jose Sharks 2010

Just when you thought they got over the "choke" label, the question comes back to them. How did a team who looked so good in one round, dominate to the two-time defending Western Conference Champions; look so flat and uninspired when four games away from the Stanley Cup finals. Thus is the enigma of the San Jose Sharks. They had the entire spectrum of emotion this year, but now it ends without the prize and swept by a possible destined team. But, what's going to happen now??

The big question lies about Patrick Marleau and what's going to happen with him. While the turmoil of his captaincy in the summer loomed into this season; he stepped up in the season with a career-high in goals and 2nd best points year in his tenure. In the playoffs, Marleau had eight goals, an eight-game point streak, and 13 points-- but is it enough to get him a new deal?? Probably, if he wants to keep his same wage. While he's consistent, Marleau never had too much explosive scoring prowess, which could help or hinder his leverage. Plus, the Sharks would have to worry about what to do with Joe Thornton who was nothing short of horrific in the playoffs with a minus-11 and only really showed up for the second round, where he got nine of his 12 points in the playoffs. That's right-- only three points in the other 10 games. With one year left on his deal, you have to wonder if the Sharks will press Thornton to move his No-Trade Clause to get money freed up. Luckily-- the likes of Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi, and Ryan Clowe make the future bright for the Sharks with or without the likes of Marleau, Thornton, or Dany Heatley-- who only had 2 goals this playoffs, but doesn't get the heat thanks to the history of Marleau and Thornton.

Defensively, the Sharks are set for the long-haul. With Dan Boyle, Marc-Eduard Vlasic and Jason Demers in the fold for next year and beyond (for the first two, at least), the Sharks will be on the look out to fill out the voids. Rob Blake will probably not be back, but his leadership will have hopefully rubbed off on the young guys and all of that. Who knows what the Sharks could get, but with a lot of key forwards needing new contracts, you may see them build from within or get a couple of fringe defensemen who won't command much of a contract hit on them. With the core group, don't expect much of a shake-up from the Sharks on this front.

What more can be said about Evgeni Nabokov that hasn't been said before. While his number weren't the best, they weren't horrible either. The playoffs saw every side of Nabokov, who couldn't do everything for the Sharks, especially without the support other goalies get. Nabokov could have been gassed after workhorsing it again this year with Thomas Greiss not getting much time behind him and with the Olympics-- but he didn't show it too much. Nabokov is going to be a free agent and it may be wise for the Sharks to re-sign him, especially since the pickings are slim for the free agent market in terms of goalies. For how much and how long-- we'll know in July or earlier.

While the doubt surfaced in the first round, they got erased in the second, but now came back in the Western Final, as the Sharks now move into hearing about the what they could have done better, who could have picked it up, and the other questions they've endured during the last few seasons already. I'm sure they'll take it in stride since they are used to it.....or not.

Pointless Playoff Prognostication: Conference Finals

My trip to Maryland and the things happening around it has been something that has kept me from this post until now. However, with no games to go final, I think I should be good to keep doing this. Again-- went a perfect 2-for-2 in the West and took the collar at 0-for-2 in the East. Maybe I'll pick the East better now that I'm back there. But, we start with the first game of Sunday.

(1) SAN JOSE SHARKS vs. (2) CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

We're finally at the point where the choke label is off the Sharks. They made it to their first conference Final since 2004 and most importantly, got past the second round. It was a little dicey, but with Joe Thornton and Dany Heatley realizing it's the playoffs and actually contributing; the Sharks look a lot better. Sure, it's a bit of an issue with Patrick Marleau still not getting onto the scoring sheet as often as he would like, but at the same time-- Joe Pavelski keeps stepping in up with Marleau slacking. Which Evgeni Nabokov shows up will be a story, too. Can he be clutch in a spot that he hasn't been in for six years?? He has done enough to get them to this point, but can he keep it up against a rested, strong offensive team like Chicago.

The Hawks are back for a second year in a row and should be able to feed off of last year's falter to move onto this year. Jonathan Toews has been leading by example in the scoring department, while Patrick Sharp has played well in a secondary role. The playoff curse is effecting Marian Hossa again, as he hasn't been able to step up as much as the Hawks were hoping, with only two goals and 10 points in the 12 games. Luckily, the shutdown defense of Brent Seabrook and Brent Sopel have helped out in the own end, but the minus on Duncan Keith's stats are a bit concerning, but should shut down in the finals. The shakiness of Antti Niemi continues to be something that could hold the Hawks back, but if he gets support from up front; he should be fine.

PREDICTION: Blackhawks in Six. While the Sharks have made it far, the Hawks look like the team to beat. The road record at 5-1 should help them, as they don't have home ice advantage. With the Hawks knowing what it takes, it should help them not lose focus, like the Sharks could.

(7) PHILADELPHIA FLYERS vs. (8) MONTREAL CANADIENS

How much is left in the tank, that's going to be the real question. Coming back from three games down, then coming back from three goals down in Game Seven can take a lot out of a team and could be a factor if this series becomes a long one. The one good point is Michael Leighton is back, healthy, and most importantly-- fresh. He will be the X-factor for the Flyers as he has got them to this point from the regular season, but wants to finish what he started. Danny Briere is finally earning his money this playoffs, which should be a great confidence boost to him moving forward. The Flyers have had a lot of issues, but this should somehow validate their bi-polar season.

The Montreal Canadiens may face trouble in the fact that the Flyers aren't a juggernaut like the Capitals and Penguins are. Even so, the Habs have been world builder, taking out the two faces of the NHL in Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby, making them very invisible throughout their respective series. Most of that has to do with the amazing play of Jaroslav Halak, who will command a healthy raise in the off-season; but plenty should be given to the likes of Hal Gill, who blocks everything coming at him. With PK Subban being called up, it has given the Habs another dynamic, especially with Andrei Markov out for this series, as well. You also can't say enough about the off-season acquisitions of Mike Cammalleri, Scott Gomez, and Brian Gionta, who have been the top dogs for the Habs and really brought them to this point with their scoring.

PREDICTION: Canadiens in Six. While the Flyers have a great story coming into it all, I don't think that they'll have enough left in the tank after their series against the Bruins. Especially considering how the Habs have had some time off and are on the high of shutting down most offenses; the only thing that can beat them is not scoring in the clutch-- which they seem to do just fine.

That's that-- enjoy the series and here's some decent action; even if it's a four-game sweep in each one.

What's Next: Chicago Blackhawks

There were plenty who thought the Blackhawks had something special last year. I doubt many thought they would get this deep into the playoffs this season, but they had some swagger and no fear, which made this young team to grow as a group, as well as bringing a city that has been dormant to hockey for years back to life. If this is a look at things to come, then you're going to have a solid team in the Central Division and Western Conference for the years ahead.

The one big question heading into the summer and that is what can you do with Nikolai Khabibulin. He was spectacular during the season and into the playoffs, but he left sick during the conference finals and barring a re-signing-- he's gone. Which puts the pressure on Cristobal Huet to perform. While he looked great in Game Five of the Western Final, his inconsistency could be his undoing. While they have the likes of Corey Crawford and Antti Niemi as back-up consideration, the inexperience could be counterproductive to the Hawks goals. Of course, both Crawford and Niemi are RFAs, which means they could bring in an experienced back-up while they get seasoning in Rockford.

Up front, there are plenty of RFAs like Kris Versteeg, Troy Brouwer, and Dave Bolland to name a couple, but seeing as how well they gelled in the season, they will most likely be back. Can't say the same for Martin Havlat, who was decent this season and mostly healthy, but probably will be pushed out for some more youth in the line-up and to free up the money in order to re-sign some RFAs. Also expect some extensions for Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Dustin Byfuglien-- all who are key cogs in the the Hawks future plans.

Defensively, the Hawks have a lot of money tied up in Brian Campbell, who should anchor the defense offensively, but guys like Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith will be the keystones in this wall for the Hawks future. It'll be interesting to see how the Hawks handle Cam Barker's RFA status, especially if they don't have the money to re-sign him. Expect Matt Walker to be back for a small contract like he got this year.

There's a lot to be excited about if you're a Hawks fan or like the success stories like the Hawks have become. This group has done nothing but good for a city that embraced them for years and the hockey town mentality has come back in full effect. This team has the skill set and the leadership in Joel Quenneville to lead them further if they stick to the game-plan. Sad thing is that all it took was long-time owner Bill Wirtz to pass on before this team could really flourish. Bittersweet, indeed.

Conference Final Shabby Preview

Alright, I won't lie-- I'm on vacation right now visiting the family and friends from Maryland, so doing anything productive outside of playing hockey, catching up, and drinking isn't at the forefront, so this is a brief rundown of the Conference Finals.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS vs. CAROLINA HURRICANES

The Penguins are coming off a grueling series with the Capitals and you wonder how much it took out of them. Albeit, the Pens looked pretty good in Game Seven winning handily and the rest could help them heal-- the fact remains that they are going to be in tough against a team like the Canes. This is the second straight year for the Pens to be in the Eastern Final and their experience in being here before should help them focus and not get too excited over it. If Evgeni Malkin can be the force he started to be at the end of the second round, then the Pens could be unstoppable. Add that to M-A Fleury's stellar play and it could be a perfect storm for the Pens.

Speaking of unstoppable, Eric Staal has been on quite the tear and been the life force for the Canes offense, while Cam Ward is looking like the goalie who won the Conn Smythe in the 2006 Playoffs. The Canes may not have the dynamic offensive force that the Penguins may have, but the Canes are getting scoring from all over with Jussi Jokinen and Chad LaRose being the unlikely contributers for Carolina. There are still some leftovers from the 2006 Cup team, so the experience could be good enough to focus those with inexperience of it all. However, you wonder how much the two seven-games series have taken out of the Canes, especially since they have been fighting for a spot into the playoffs for the last part of the season.

PREDICTION: Penguins in 6. While the Canes could be a nice story of the underdog, the seven games serieses they had to endure will have taken a lot out of them physically and really not make them outlast a much fresher Pens team.

WESTERN CONFERENCE DETROIT
RED WINGS vs. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
(Note, Game One is already over with as I write this)

The Red Wings keep on going, though their series against the Ducks went much longer than they want, but it looks like the Jekyll/Hyde act of Chris Osgood is in full effect. There's times he was on, times he was off-- but luckily the team in front of him were able to adjust to fit which persona was in net. Johan Franzen looks like he's back in full playoff form, leading the Wings again in points thus far. However, the non-productive nature from Pavel Datsyuk should be something that is alarming to the Wings. While it's good they can produce without him, yet to get him going would be the best for the team in general.

The cardiac Hawks are still in this and show that they could be showing that being young with no fear is going well for them. While Martin Havlat is leading in points, the youth movement has gotten much of the press. Patrick Kane, Kris Versteeg, and Jonathan Toews have been decent contributors in their first playoffs, though their even-strength play will have to get better in order for them to be successful in this round. The story though has been the stellar play of Nikolai Khabibulin. Khabby has been able to come up huge at times when his team has needed it and has showed the form that gave him the starters job in the first place. He'll need to really be on in order for him to help lead the Hawks over the Wings.

PREDICITION: Wings in 6. As great of a story as the Hawks have been, they will probably be no match for the depth and experience of the Wings. This far into the playoffs, experience will be crucial and the Wings have just that, which should lead them into another Cup Final.

Western Conference Breakdown

The Conference Finals start tonight with the Western Conference and it looks like it could be a dandy. It'll be the Red Wings, who steamrolled the Avalanche last round, facing the Stars, who have taken out the Cup champions in the first round and had their way with the Sharks in the second. Each team have been on a roll, which should create for a hard fought series.

OFFENSE: Though the normal hot hands in Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk have been clutch for the Wings, the main performer has been Johan Franzen; who leads the Wings in goals and points. Frazen has been put in every situation with four power-play goals and two shorthanded goals to go along with his four game winners. Even moreover, outside of the three mentioned, no Red Wing has averaged a point per game. For the Wings to get by, the role players will have to step up the offense a little bit.

The Stars best players have been their best players, with Mike Ribeiro, Mike Modano, and Brad Richards being up there, but Brendan Morrow; a noted grinder; has been the key offensive prowess for the Stars. Morrow's four goals on the power-play tie him with Modano for the lead on the team, while proving that Morrow is a great leader by example for his team. Loui Eriksson and Jere Lehtinen have been potting points in here and there, but will need to step up for the Stars to be successful.

DEFENSE: The Red Wings continue to be solid on the back line. Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski have been, undoubtedly, leading the way with +7 ratings heading into the Conference Finals. Niklas Kronwall has also provided both on the score sheet and in his own zone. The key to the Wings success has been always been with the defense and it should continue as long as the Wings build around it.

With the addition of Sergei Zubov back into the line-up, the defense for the Stars has excelled. Though before Zubov came back, the no-name defense has come up huge. Stephane Robidas led the way, with Mattias Norstrom as his right-hand man. Matt Niskanen, Trevor Daley, Mark Fistric, and Nicklas Grossman have all contributed in their own way, but don't and won't get the recognition they deserve.

GOALTENDING: Marty Turco and his lack of success against the Red Wings is the focal point on this one. Turco has gone 2-10-5 career against the Wings, while going 0-7-2 in Detroit. In fact, that last time Turco won at Joe Louis Arena is when he played for the Michigan Wolverines. Turco, though, has been more than amazing for the Stars and should prove to play very well against the Red Wings. Last season, he got the monkey off his back when it came to lacking the will to be able to win in the playoffs and now it's time for him to prove himself again.

On the other side, the reemergence of Chris Osgood continues. Osgood played very well this season and has continued the trend into the post-season, going 6-0 so far. Coming in relief of the struggling Dominik Hasek, Osgood has played much like he did in 1998 when he helped the Wings to their second straight Stanley Cup championship.

This has the making of being one of the better Western Finals in a while, which means it'll go more than five games. In that, I think that the Dallas Stars will emerge victorious in seven games. The Stars have been defying the odds all playoffs long and I don't think this will be any different. Turco will be on his game and the top-four for the Stars will continue to have the hot hands.