2017 iNHL Playoff, Round 1 Preview: Pt 1, Western Conference
May 21, 2016 17:32:29 GMT -5
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Post by bjernagris (PHI) on May 21, 2016 17:32:29 GMT -5
St Louis Blues – Colorado Avalanche
The Preview
The regular season top dog and last season’s iStanley Cup champion goes up against a team that has seen a massive overhaul after Christmas and barely slipped into the playoffs as team #16. Could it go more than one way? Of course not. The Blues are still hungry for brass after last year’s success, and brushing the Avs aside should not be a problem for them. The division rivals’ matched up 5-0 to Blues in the regular season. The only way Colorado can upset the Blues is if their potent offense gets assistance from their relatively inexperienced D-line, and Jake Allen plays like a man possessed.
The Storyline
Look for Jake Allen to prove his former team wrong in choosing Sergei Bobrovsky over him.
The Key Player, Blues
Kevin Shattenkirk – last year’s Playoff MVP will be looking to rev up and find his postseason form right away
The Key Player, Avalanche
Jake Allen – the star goaltender needs to be on the absolute top of his game against the formidable Blues offense
Prediction
St. Louis Blues in five
Nashville Predators – Minnesota Wild
The Preview
Another divisional matchup, the Predators won four of five against the Wild during the regular season. With their top center Mike Fischer out for the series, however, do not expect this series to be as lopsided. This is a series of star power versus organizational depth – Nashville relies on their top line for a lot of their offensive production, whereas Minnesota has better depth options. Nashville have one of the better D-lines in this league, and a veteran goalie who still plays a top game. The Wild have been very inconsistent so far this season, and that is why our money is on the Preds in this series.
The Storyline
How will Nashville’s offense hold up with Mike Fischer gone? Who will step up in his absence?
The Key Player, Predators
Filip Forsberg – If he can find his goalscoring form of last season, he could carry this Predators team deep into the Playoffs
The Key Player, Wild
Ryan Suter – The Wild will count on Suter to log heavy minutes and shut down the deadly top forwards in Nashville
The Prediction
Predators in six
San Jose Sharks – Chicago Blackhawks
The Preview
Two teams with two fundamentally different styles of play and philosophies, the Sharks build their game on offense, speed and skill while the Blackhawks are a gritty, physical team with a first-class defense. The Blackhawks have shown questionable form lately, and have had a hard time getting offensive production from other players than their top line. Sharks, on the other hand, have arguably their best player Brent Burns sidelined for the series. The regular season matchups ended 2-1 Blackhawks, and as the play gets more physical in the Playoffs, we believe the Blackhawks will be able to throw the physically unintimidating Sharks off their game.
The Storyline
Will the Sharks be intimidated by the ultra-physical Blackhawks, especially now in the Playoffs?
The Key Player, Sharks
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – with Brent Burns out, the pressure on Vlasic to step up as Sharks’ first D is on
The Key Player, Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews – unless the Hawks’ secondary scoring unexpectedly shows up, they will have to rely on Toews to ensure his line nets the goals needed to win
The Prediction
Blackhawks in six
Calgary Flames – Vancouver Canucks
The Preview
Calgary have traded key players in and out this season like most of us change socks, while the Canucks have been relatively quiet after landing veteran Rick Nash in the preseason. This intra-division matchup ended 4-1 to Flames in regular season, but the Canucks ended up just two points behind the Flames in the standings. Special teams will be key here, as The Canucks power play (ranked 6th) will be looking to take advantage of the Flames’ PK (ranked 30th). We believe that this will be an extremely tight series, and despite all the star power in Calgary, in the end our gut feeling is that the young Canucks team will come out on top.
The Storyline
Will the inexperience of the Canucks’ kids shine through when the going gets tougher?
The Key Player, Flames
Carey Price – arguably the best goalie in the league has been average since joining the Flames mid-season, and will need to step up his play to make the Flames a real playoff threat
The Key Player, Canucks
Rick Nash – one of few experienced iNHL player with the Canucks, Nash will be crucial in leading his young teammates into the postseason
The Prediction
Canucks in seven
The Preview
The regular season top dog and last season’s iStanley Cup champion goes up against a team that has seen a massive overhaul after Christmas and barely slipped into the playoffs as team #16. Could it go more than one way? Of course not. The Blues are still hungry for brass after last year’s success, and brushing the Avs aside should not be a problem for them. The division rivals’ matched up 5-0 to Blues in the regular season. The only way Colorado can upset the Blues is if their potent offense gets assistance from their relatively inexperienced D-line, and Jake Allen plays like a man possessed.
The Storyline
Look for Jake Allen to prove his former team wrong in choosing Sergei Bobrovsky over him.
The Key Player, Blues
Kevin Shattenkirk – last year’s Playoff MVP will be looking to rev up and find his postseason form right away
The Key Player, Avalanche
Jake Allen – the star goaltender needs to be on the absolute top of his game against the formidable Blues offense
Prediction
St. Louis Blues in five
Nashville Predators – Minnesota Wild
The Preview
Another divisional matchup, the Predators won four of five against the Wild during the regular season. With their top center Mike Fischer out for the series, however, do not expect this series to be as lopsided. This is a series of star power versus organizational depth – Nashville relies on their top line for a lot of their offensive production, whereas Minnesota has better depth options. Nashville have one of the better D-lines in this league, and a veteran goalie who still plays a top game. The Wild have been very inconsistent so far this season, and that is why our money is on the Preds in this series.
The Storyline
How will Nashville’s offense hold up with Mike Fischer gone? Who will step up in his absence?
The Key Player, Predators
Filip Forsberg – If he can find his goalscoring form of last season, he could carry this Predators team deep into the Playoffs
The Key Player, Wild
Ryan Suter – The Wild will count on Suter to log heavy minutes and shut down the deadly top forwards in Nashville
The Prediction
Predators in six
San Jose Sharks – Chicago Blackhawks
The Preview
Two teams with two fundamentally different styles of play and philosophies, the Sharks build their game on offense, speed and skill while the Blackhawks are a gritty, physical team with a first-class defense. The Blackhawks have shown questionable form lately, and have had a hard time getting offensive production from other players than their top line. Sharks, on the other hand, have arguably their best player Brent Burns sidelined for the series. The regular season matchups ended 2-1 Blackhawks, and as the play gets more physical in the Playoffs, we believe the Blackhawks will be able to throw the physically unintimidating Sharks off their game.
The Storyline
Will the Sharks be intimidated by the ultra-physical Blackhawks, especially now in the Playoffs?
The Key Player, Sharks
Marc-Edouard Vlasic – with Brent Burns out, the pressure on Vlasic to step up as Sharks’ first D is on
The Key Player, Blackhawks
Jonathan Toews – unless the Hawks’ secondary scoring unexpectedly shows up, they will have to rely on Toews to ensure his line nets the goals needed to win
The Prediction
Blackhawks in six
Calgary Flames – Vancouver Canucks
The Preview
Calgary have traded key players in and out this season like most of us change socks, while the Canucks have been relatively quiet after landing veteran Rick Nash in the preseason. This intra-division matchup ended 4-1 to Flames in regular season, but the Canucks ended up just two points behind the Flames in the standings. Special teams will be key here, as The Canucks power play (ranked 6th) will be looking to take advantage of the Flames’ PK (ranked 30th). We believe that this will be an extremely tight series, and despite all the star power in Calgary, in the end our gut feeling is that the young Canucks team will come out on top.
The Storyline
Will the inexperience of the Canucks’ kids shine through when the going gets tougher?
The Key Player, Flames
Carey Price – arguably the best goalie in the league has been average since joining the Flames mid-season, and will need to step up his play to make the Flames a real playoff threat
The Key Player, Canucks
Rick Nash – one of few experienced iNHL player with the Canucks, Nash will be crucial in leading his young teammates into the postseason
The Prediction
Canucks in seven