2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs: The First Round Forecast
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(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (4) Calgary Flames
The Canucks looked like a Stanley Cup team during the first half, but were already slipping by the time the Todd Bertuzzi fiasco sent them reeling. The team recovered nicely from its post-Bertuzzi slump with a series of back-to-basics games. Credit unspectacular players like Marek Malik and Matt Cooke (who replaces Bertuzzi on the top line) and the much-improved Sedin twins for taking some of the load off perennial MVP Markus Naslund.
Health: D Bryan Allen (shoulder) is practicing and could be ready.
Trouble: With their enthusiasm for the attack, the Canucks sometimes play into the hands of patient teams, turning the puck over and leaving their own end vulnerable.
The Flames have the third-best defense in the NHL, thanks to a relentless physical game and the Trade of the Year: goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, arriving from San Jose for a draft pick, might be the best goalie this season. It also helps that Jarome Iginla scored 41 goals, and a few others had hot streaks throughout the year. Calgary added several decent forwards at the trade deadline, which helps cover for several key injuries.
Health: C Stephane Yelle (lower body) and Dean McAmmond (back) and D Toni Lydman (upper body) are day-to-day.
Trouble: The power play is hopeless, and Iginla accounts for 20 percent of team scoring.
The Goalies: The Canucks? staunch support of Dan Cloutier is admirable, but he has the NHL?s worst save percentage over the last two playoff years combined.
Kiprusoff?s spectacular breakout season has Flames? supporters calling him this year?s J.S. Giguere. But he has no real playoff experience.
The Forecast: The Flames must pound on the Canucks to disrupt the flow of their game, while leaning on Kiprusoff to bail them out of trouble. Without Bertuzzi, Vancouver needs everyone to take turns at the big goal or the momentum-changing shift. But the real question is whether the Canucks have learned from the last two years, when they blew series leads against Minnesota and Detroit. Fairly or unfairly, this is likely Cloutier?s last chance.
The Pick: With the benefit of hard-earned experience, Vancouver in Six.
(4) Colorado Avalanche vs. (5) Dallas Stars
Beyond its core of star players, The Avalanche has been overhauled in the last 12 months. Rob Blake and Adam Foote are the only defensemen left from last season. Kariya, Selanne, Konowalchuk, Barnaby, Gratton and Hendrickson were added at forward. And of course, Patrick Roy is no longer in net. The result? A team that cannot find high gear. Despite a 100-point season, the Avs struggled at just about every aspect of the game at some point, while key players like Peter Forsberg struggled to stay healthy.
Health: LW Paul Kariya (ankle) likely won?t play. RW Alex Tanguay (knee) likely will. C Andrei Nikolishin (back and D Kurt Sauer (groin) are day-to-day.
Trouble: Colorado won eight of its last 25 games.
The Stars started poorly, looking like an ill-conceived mix of overpaid scorers (Bill Guerin), washed up floaters (Pierre Turgeon) and gaping holes (defenseman Derian Hatcher left for Detroit as a free agent). But since mid-January they have the best record in the West, thanks mostly to a renewed commitment to defense. Dallas spreads the scoring around, and protects a lead as well as any team. Several key players are just returning from injuries, and whether they are fully healthy is anyone?s guess
Health: C Jason Arnott (groin will play). RW Scott Young (back spasms) will not be ready for game one. D John Klemm (groin) is questionable.
Trouble: In four games against Colorado this year, goaltender Marty Turco was tagged for 12 goals on 98 shots, an underwhelming .876 save percentage.
The Goalies: Turco played well for Dallas in his playoff debut last year, and by any measure he appears a better goaltender than Colorado?s David Aebischer. The veteran backups ? Ron Tugnutt for the Stars and Tommy Salo for the Avs ? are capable. But if either of them sees any action, it?s a sign of big trouble.
The Forecast: There are several interesting points of comparison: Dallas does not play well on the road, while Colorado has struggled at home. The Avalanche have one the game?s best power plays, the Stars excel at penalty killing. It should come down to goaltending, special teams and which big-name players earn their fat paycheques.
The Pick: As long as Peter Forsberg can play every game, Colorado in Seven.
Previous Page: Red Wings-Predators and Sharks-Blues
The Eastern Conference Picks
(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (4) Calgary Flames
The Canucks looked like a Stanley Cup team during the first half, but were already slipping by the time the Todd Bertuzzi fiasco sent them reeling. The team recovered nicely from its post-Bertuzzi slump with a series of back-to-basics games. Credit unspectacular players like Marek Malik and Matt Cooke (who replaces Bertuzzi on the top line) and the much-improved Sedin twins for taking some of the load off perennial MVP Markus Naslund.
Health: D Bryan Allen (shoulder) is practicing and could be ready.
Trouble: With their enthusiasm for the attack, the Canucks sometimes play into the hands of patient teams, turning the puck over and leaving their own end vulnerable.
The Flames have the third-best defense in the NHL, thanks to a relentless physical game and the Trade of the Year: goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff, arriving from San Jose for a draft pick, might be the best goalie this season. It also helps that Jarome Iginla scored 41 goals, and a few others had hot streaks throughout the year. Calgary added several decent forwards at the trade deadline, which helps cover for several key injuries.
Health: C Stephane Yelle (lower body) and Dean McAmmond (back) and D Toni Lydman (upper body) are day-to-day.
Trouble: The power play is hopeless, and Iginla accounts for 20 percent of team scoring.
The Goalies: The Canucks? staunch support of Dan Cloutier is admirable, but he has the NHL?s worst save percentage over the last two playoff years combined.
Kiprusoff?s spectacular breakout season has Flames? supporters calling him this year?s J.S. Giguere. But he has no real playoff experience.
The Forecast: The Flames must pound on the Canucks to disrupt the flow of their game, while leaning on Kiprusoff to bail them out of trouble. Without Bertuzzi, Vancouver needs everyone to take turns at the big goal or the momentum-changing shift. But the real question is whether the Canucks have learned from the last two years, when they blew series leads against Minnesota and Detroit. Fairly or unfairly, this is likely Cloutier?s last chance.
The Pick: With the benefit of hard-earned experience, Vancouver in Six.
(4) Colorado Avalanche vs. (5) Dallas Stars
Beyond its core of star players, The Avalanche has been overhauled in the last 12 months. Rob Blake and Adam Foote are the only defensemen left from last season. Kariya, Selanne, Konowalchuk, Barnaby, Gratton and Hendrickson were added at forward. And of course, Patrick Roy is no longer in net. The result? A team that cannot find high gear. Despite a 100-point season, the Avs struggled at just about every aspect of the game at some point, while key players like Peter Forsberg struggled to stay healthy.
Health: LW Paul Kariya (ankle) likely won?t play. RW Alex Tanguay (knee) likely will. C Andrei Nikolishin (back and D Kurt Sauer (groin) are day-to-day.
Trouble: Colorado won eight of its last 25 games.
The Stars started poorly, looking like an ill-conceived mix of overpaid scorers (Bill Guerin), washed up floaters (Pierre Turgeon) and gaping holes (defenseman Derian Hatcher left for Detroit as a free agent). But since mid-January they have the best record in the West, thanks mostly to a renewed commitment to defense. Dallas spreads the scoring around, and protects a lead as well as any team. Several key players are just returning from injuries, and whether they are fully healthy is anyone?s guess
Health: C Jason Arnott (groin will play). RW Scott Young (back spasms) will not be ready for game one. D John Klemm (groin) is questionable.
Trouble: In four games against Colorado this year, goaltender Marty Turco was tagged for 12 goals on 98 shots, an underwhelming .876 save percentage.
The Goalies: Turco played well for Dallas in his playoff debut last year, and by any measure he appears a better goaltender than Colorado?s David Aebischer. The veteran backups ? Ron Tugnutt for the Stars and Tommy Salo for the Avs ? are capable. But if either of them sees any action, it?s a sign of big trouble.
The Forecast: There are several interesting points of comparison: Dallas does not play well on the road, while Colorado has struggled at home. The Avalanche have one the game?s best power plays, the Stars excel at penalty killing. It should come down to goaltending, special teams and which big-name players earn their fat paycheques.
The Pick: As long as Peter Forsberg can play every game, Colorado in Seven.
Previous Page: Red Wings-Predators and Sharks-Blues
The Eastern Conference Picks
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