NHL Western Conference Preview: The Second Round

Let's talk hockey! The first round of the NHL playoffs has almost, and we are one step closer to wheeling out the greatest trophy in all of sports. It's the best time of the year, a time to play Belvedere's "Two Minutes for Looking So Good" over and over again, a time to load up on all the Pizza Pringles and Pepsi you can find, and a chance to re-watch all the best Dion Phaneuf hits on repeat. Roman Reigns wishes he hit people as hard as the Maple Leafs captain does.

BAM!

In any event, I thought it was time for some predicting. While the Eastern Conference is on hold till the Red Wings and Lightning finish up tomorrow night (prediction: Wings in 7. Never bet against Hockeytown), the Western Conference is all set to go. With that in mind, let's breakdown two really good matchups that promise to deliver yet another excellent chapter in an already excellent postseason. But enough sucking up to Gary Bettman. ON WITH THE SHOW!

NHL Western Conference Preview: The Second Round

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Minnesota Wild

Major Storyline: Who's the long term answer at goal for the Blackhawks? Even though Chicago managed to get past Nashville in the first round, head coach (and former Whaler great) Joel Quenneville juggled his goaltenders more than Leonardo DiCaprio does supermodels. One moment, Corey Crawford was being replaced by Scott Darling. The next, Darling was being replaced by Crawford. It worked out in the end obviously, but historically speaking, a goalie controversy doesn't have the kind of ending you see in Matthew McConaughey rom coms. If the Blackhawks want to win this series, Quenneville needs to pick a goalie to go all the way with. That, more than Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Kane and any other Blackhawks player will be the deciding factor.

Secondary Storyline: How happy is the NHL for this series? I have to imagine it's been a rough few weeks for Gary Bettman. The Edmonton Oilers are getting Connor McDavid. The Arizona Coyotes still don't draw anyone outside of Canadian tourists. Sydney Crosby is currently playing golf in Halifax instead of playing in the second round. CANADA HAD FIVE TEAMS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS! It must please him, the storm trooper Bill Daly, NBC and the rest of the NHL higher ups to see two great American hockey markets locking up here in the second round. Now if only Bettman could make everyone believe two hockey teams in the desert was a good idea. Who needs Quebec when you can have a crowd the size of an indy wrestling event every single night?!

 

 Blackhawks Player to Watch: Whoever the goalie is. What, I already told you it was the most important factor in them winning. That also makes whoever it is, be it Darling or Crawford, the player to watch. It looks like it'll be Crawford for Game 1, and for Chicago and CM Punk's sake, I hope it stays that way.

Wild Player to Watch: Devan Dubnyk. I know, another goalie, but it's the most important position in hockey and Dubnyk is the main reason the Wild are even here. They were eight points out of a playoff spot when Dubnyk was brought in from Phoenix back in January, and he's proceeded since to win 31 games (including the playoffs) while rocking a goals against average of 1.78. There's great, ridiculously great, and ludicrously great. The Regina, Saskatchewan native has been ludicrously great, and he must continue to be if the Wild want to pull another upset.

Winner: This will be a memorable seven game series that will feature yet another Twitter feud between CM Punk and the LA Kings mascot, LOP's the Great Epic T.O. breaking at least one piece of furniture, and a whole lot of goalie changes for the Blackhawks. And that's why the Wild will win; the lack of consistency the Blackhawks have in the premier position is too much of a weakness to ignore, and the Wild have enough offense with Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, Mikko Koivu and Jason Pomonville to withstand the Chicago attack. Expect this to be more entertaining than Avengers: Age of Ultron. Damn you Marvel for cutting Whedon's balls off!

Anaheim Ducks vs. The Calgary Flames

Major Storyline: How much longer till the clock strikes midnight on the Flames? Yes, no matter how much Ryan Lambert and his advanced stats army cry about how Calgary is the worst team in the playoffs, the cardiac Flames just keep on going. They overcame the defending champions in the regular season to get into the dance. They bullied and outworked the Vancouver Canucks in round one. Every time it looks like the show is over, a Sam Bennett, Kari Ramo, Michael Ferland or some other unknown rises up and keeps the Red Mile partying like the Rumspringa scene in Sex Drive (minus Fall Out Boy). It's been fun, it's been real, and I hope the Flames can continue their awesome run. Can they against the most talented team they've seen thus far?

Secondary Storyline: How much magic do the Ducks have left? Yes, for all of the Flames' supposed good fortune, it's not like Anaheim has been a world beater either. Sure, they swept Winnipeg, but they were forced to make a comeback in every single game and were a couple other bounces in Game's 2 and 3 from still playing in round one. Sooner or later, falling behind is going to catch up with the Ducks, and it's important to remember that Bruce Boudreau's teams historically don't live up to the hype the bigger the expectations get. Calgary may be a lot of things, but they're a better team than Winnipeg. Anaheim best remember that, or else the inspiration for D4: The Mighty Ducks will be over before it even began.

Yet Another Secondary Storyline: Will the Flames or Ducks break out their awesome retro jerseys? Seriously, I want to know! Both the Ducks and Flames rocked some of the best jerseys in hockey, until the Flames updated and the Ducks developed the worst uniform since the Astros thought blinding rainbow orange was a good idea. We can't bring them back for one game? I'm pretty sure if the world could handle the awesomeness of Daredevil, it can handle those awesome jerseys returning for one game.

What was wrong with this jersey, I'll never know

Ducks Player to Watch: Corey Perry. That's right, someone other than the goalie finally made this section! For all the Ducks talent, Perry remains their best player, and he was the one who seemed to always come up with the big plays against the Jets. With Ryan Getzlaf looking semi ordinary thus far and goalie Frederick Anderson still not being 100% trustworthy, the Ducks will have to ride Perry if they want to continue on.

Flames Player to Watch: Jonas Hiller. Any other series and I'd be picking either Ferland or Sam Bennett. No two players made more of a difference for the Flames last round than those two, and Bennett particularly looks like the kind of breakout talent the Flames don't have (all apologies to the very good but not great Sean Monahan, Johnny Gaudreu and Jiri Hudler). But against the Ducks, the nod goes to the goalie Hiller, who only spent seven years with Anaheim before they dumped him this past offseason. Hiller was excellent against the Canucks (aside from Game 6), he's a tougher challenge for the Ducks after the Jets Ondreis Pavelic and he's already making noise about how he wants to prove Anaheim made a mistake in letting him get away. Look for him to do everything he can to keep the games close and get revenge on his former team. Also look for him to continue wearing the coolest retro goalie masks.

Winner: Against my better judgment and at the risk of Matt Mortensen calling me a noob, I'm going with the Flames here. Yes, I am biased, but at the same time the Flames have the better goaltender, they have momentum, and I just flat out don't trust the Ducks. Plus, don't you just have to ride with the team of destiny at all times? I'll roll with the C of Red in 7. Let's hope this doesn't come back to body slam me like one of those Dion Phaneuf hits. 

#FreePhaneuf #PhaneuftoEdmonton

That'll do it! I'll be back tomorrow with TWO posts, because I love you guys. Till then, don't forget to tip your waitress, always have an escape plan, thanks Nikolai Nikolaeff, let's go Bucks, let's go Wings, bring back the Whalers, and watch Evolution. The great DUCHOVNY demands it. 

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