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Sporting News, The, April 16, 2001 by Larry Wigge

Colorado 52-16-10-4 vs. Vancouver 36-28-11-7

About a month ago, the Canucks might have wanted more from their season than simply making the playoffs for the first time since 1996. Back then, the team was getting regular goal contributions from captain Markus Naslund and good setup work by C Andrew Cassels. Now, Naslund is out for the playoffs, and Cassels is in doubt for the first round, reducing the depth that had been good. Also, Vancouver has 12 players who have never played in the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Avalanche, which has been eliminated in the Western Conference finals the past two seasons, is a team on a mission. There has always been plenty of firepower in Colorado's lineup--Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, Milan Hejduk, Chris Drury and Alex Tanguay--and now the team has a strong commitment to defense.

Wigge's pick

This will be our first look at how an All-Star defense of Ray Bourque, Rob Blake and Adam Foote can work together. That's yet another scary thought for the overmatched Canucks. A lot of Colorado supporters have been worried about personal scoring slumps by all but Sakic. They needn't fret. This is a well-oiled offense and significantly improved defense in front of playoff-tested Patrick Roy in goal. Avs in five.

[Colorado]  Goaltending    [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Defense        [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Forwards       [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Special teams  [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Coaching       [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Intangibles    [Detroit]

Detroit 49-20-9-4 vs. Los Angeles 38-28-13-3

The difference between the regular season and playoffs will be illustrated by this series. Take nothing away from the fine offensive seasons put together by Ziggy Palffy, Luc Robitaille, Bryan Smolinski and Jozef Stumpel, but this is a new season, and all of the space those snipers had in the regular season will be limited by the fight-checking Red Wings. Los Angeles really began clicking after it traded All-Star D Rob Blake to Colorado in February and acquired castoff G Felix Potvin from Vancouver on waivers. But captain Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Igor Larionov continue to give the Red Wings great offensive power up the middle. And don't forget, this is a team that finished the season with an impressive 19-0-2 record at home, a streak that began in mid-December.

Wigge's pick

The success Potvin enjoyed in Los Angeles will come to an end when he faces the constant crease*crashing pressure that the Red Wings power forwards provide. Look for Brendan Sbanahan, Tomas Holmstrom, Martin Lapointe and Kirk Maltby to be particularly effective against a goaltender who has suffered through a lot of adversity over the past couple of seasons. Wings in five.

[Colorado]  Goaltending    [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Defense        [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Forwards       [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Special teams  [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Coaching       [Detroit]
[Colorado]  Intangibles    [Detroit]

Dallas 48-24-8-2 vs. Edmonton 39-28-12-3

The Oilers have been able to spoil the party a couple of times against the Stars with great goaltending by Curtis Joseph. This time, Tommy Salo is coming off a big season. Down the stretch, Edmonton had great production from C Doug Weight and a second line of rookie Mike Comrie centering Ryan Smyth and Anson Carter. That balanced production must continue if the Oilers are to have any chance against the Stars. At one point down the stretch, Dallas permitted opponents no more than one goal in eight straight games. G Ed Belfour was clearly focused for the playoffs. The new Grumpy Old Men line of veterans Kirk Muller, Mike Keane and John MacLean became a real defensive weapon, joining productive lines centered by Mike Modano and Joe Nieuwendyk.

Wigge's pick

The ability to play great defense and get just enough offense to win has gotten the Stars to the Stanley Cup finals each of the last two years--and could do so again. Just ask the talented Colorado forwards how difficult it is to not be pushed out of the play and to the perimeter by those dependable defensemen, headed by Derian Hatcher, Richard Matvichuk, Sergei Zubov and Darryl Sydor. Stars in six.

[Dallas]  Goaltending     [San Jose]
[Dallas]  Defense         [St. Louis]
[Dallas]  Forwards        [St. Louis]
[Dallas]  Special teams   [San Jose]
[Dallas]  Coaching        [St. Louis]
[Dallas]  Intangibles     [San Jose]

St. Louis 43-22-12-5 vs. San Jose 40-27-12-3

The grit and determination displayed by the Sharks in a surprising first-round triumph over the Blues last spring caused St. Louis to totally rethink its plan of attack, even though it amassed the best record in the NHL in the 1999-2000 season. The Blues added LW Dallas Drake and D Sean Hill as free agents in the offseason and acquired RW Scoff Mellanby and LW Keith Tkachuk in trades this season. San Jose did not go without making a major change as well, obtaining high-scoring RW Teemu Selanne to help an anemic attack. After strong starts, both teams played miserably down the stretch as the result of injuries and suspensions. RW Owen Nolan was a major force for the Sharks in this series last year. The Blues hope Tkachuk will be the difference this time.