#3 Seed VS. #6 Seed
Analysis: This series opens up Thursday night in Vancouver and features the #3 seed Canucks against the #6 seed Kings from LA. This series in my opinion is going to be the most interesting series to watch in the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Up front the Canucks boast one of the top lines in the league with the Sedin twins dominating and young Alex Burrows chipping in offensively all season. The Canucks also have talented forward Ryan Kesler and Mikael Samuelsson but beyond that the cupboard seems quite bare. The Kings first postseason berth since 2002 has been fuelled by dynamic forwards Anze Kopitar, Alexander Frolov, Dustin Brown, and gritty veteran Ryan Smyth. Look for young Wayne Simmonds to play a key role if the Kings hope to Advance. Defence is the most glaring weakness I see in the Canucks, beyond Christian Ehrhoff and Alex Edler the rest of the corps leave much to be desired. The Defence of the Kings is led by dynamic sophomore Drew Doughty who along with Jack Johnson, Rob Scuderi, and Sean O’Donnell is one of the main strengths of this young team. Watch for Drew Doughty to be a game changer and solidify his status as one of the best up and coming defensemen in the league. In net you have two goaltenders whose seasons have gone quite similar. Both Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Quick started hot and after both made their respective Olympic teams have struggled since coming back. The low point for Luongo was an 8 goal thrashing by this very King team on April 1st. He will need to be sharp if the Canucks hope to advance deep into the playoffs. Watch for Los Angeles to capitalize on Canuck penalties, and look for the Kings penalty kill to step up and shut down the Sedin twins.
Prediction: Very exciting series with lots of scoring and action at all ends of the ice. The Sedin twins have gone from heroes to zeros in past postseasons and I think the Kings defence are up to the task of shutting them down. My gut is telling me to take the Canucks but I’m going with my heart and picking LOS ANGELES IN 7.
Key Players: Canucks: Luongo, Sedin’s, Burrows, Kesler. Kings: Kopitar, Frolov, Smyth, Simmonds, Doughty, Johnson, Quick.
6 comments:
I don't know what this duster is predicting and talking about with Vancouver having a empty cupboard beyond the Sedin's, Kesler, Burrows and Samuelsson. I'll tell ya this team has more offence to dish out than their top five point getter's. Here's a menu of items for the Nasty to put on his plate:
SAMMY SLOVAKI CHICKEN:
Pavol Demitra had 12 points in 17 games since coming back from a good showing in the 2010 Olympics. He's been just as good in the playoffs as he has during his seasons with 21 Gino's and 32 apples in 83 games.
Although he's had some shoulder problems at the beginning of this season that put him out almost 75% of the season I wouldn't mind throwing out the bet that he could have placed 50+ points in his last contracted season with the Canucks if he played the full season. Demitra is going to put on a dinner and show in these playoffs if he's thinking about getting a good contract for next season.
Final Price: If you can handle it, all you can eat babaaayyy!!!
THE HAPPY MEAL:
Mason Raymond's good showing for his second full NHL season isn't something you should toss away in the trash, didn't you mom or grandmother every tell you not to waste food. With 25 G's, 28 A's and being a 24 year old in the show ain't bad at all from my point of view. Like fastfood? The kid has been known to be one of the leagues fastest skaters currently today so with those young legs he can help push forward and blow by defencemen with excitement into the playoffs.
Although he hasn't had much experience in the playoffs so far, who's to say that he can't be a factor if your going to count that LA's young guns can prove to be worthy with their first showings in the NHL playoffs when Raymoe had just as good as season as they did if not better?
Final Price: Give the kid a chance and he'll bring all his toys out to play with.
THE PORK SCHNITZEL:
The German defencemen Christian Ehrhoff can be counted as a defensive forward. Having 14 goals and 30 assist this season, his defensive play and added scoring touch Christian helps the Canucks boast one of the leagues top powerplays all season long. With his presence it leaves room for all the forwards to play the puck back or catch the defencemen up in the play to place the puck in between the pipes. He will be in the back of the LA players minds and leave little room for error on full strength or on the powerplay.
Although his experience in the playoffs was with a team that has choked during their playoff runs in recent history their is still some experience itself he adds to the already playoff experienced team.
Final Price: With no Bulin wall to stand in his way, this German is going heat up the oven that will cause catastrophe to his opponents.
CEASER SALAD (served with a pound of bacon)
Kyle Wellwood is known to be one of the unhealthiest players in the game with his diet but there's a reason why he's in the show still without any heart problems and that's because his hands do all the work and not his feet. Maybe it's the amount of food intake he eats during the season but when it came to last years playoff run Wellwood seemed to have more energy in his body than he did all season long by being more of a gritty player on the ice.
Although only putting 14 goals up and 11 assists in the books isn't a whole lot to boast about but having gritty forward Steve Bernier in front of the net putting his body out there causing havoc and having speedy Mason Raymond getting open in the offensive zone on your line I can see Kyle being more of a patient player seeing everything that's going on around him and can be a set up man tacking a lot of assists for the boys but also can still put the puck up top ched if he wants to.
Final Price: Why did the second mouse get the cheese? Cause the first one got F**KED UP.
Thirsty for more reasons why Vancouver is ready for cup intentions?
DRINKS, DRAUGHTS and BOTTLES:
The Canadian GOLD Lager:
Roberto Luongo, although maybe not a VEZNA trophy candidate for this season the guy still earned a piece of hardware this year with a Gold Medal in this years Olympics. By getting his chance to take over as the #1 Canadian goaltender when the team was in a bit of a rough patch and leading the team through the long road to glory it not only puts a little bit of a halt on media speculation whether or not he can handle pressure but the games were in his backyard where he had a lot to prove to the nation. If anything the NHL playoffs might not be as pressuring to him as it was in the past and he can play his best game under little or a lot of pressure exposed to him.
Final Price: This keg isn't spitting out any more foam I think we hit the good stuff and we're ready to party!!!
With all the food and drinks serving up to the Nasty, I didn't even tell him what our specials are all about, I hope his heart takes more of a pounding than his guts. I hope his gut is saying "hey man, go get that heart checked out by a doctor cause he ain't working right".
CHEF'S CHOICE:
My prediction for this round is a homemade recipe that goes Vancouver coming out on top over Los Angeles in 5 games or a sweep.
*Just to add a cherry on top, LA has never beaten the Canucks in Vancouver since January 19, 2008.*
lets not get ahead of ourselves before the puck has even dropped to open up the series.
In order to have a great dinner party you got to know what's ahead for all your guests to lead into the main dish. This is what the CHEF'S preparing for his Second Round of servings:
Chicago vs Colorado - Av's take this one in a surprising upset to the Hawks in 6. Chris Stewart aka "Mr. Clutch" serves up a game winning breakaway goal against Niemi who didn't know which way his left from right is. CBC quotes Stewie saying "your either in or your in the way" in a after hours interview.
Vancouver vs Phoenix - Canuck if you buck boy, Canuck's take this one to a grudge match in a game 7 final showdown in Vancouver. Phoenix keeps it close but not enough to handle the impact, Canuck's take it in 7.
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