Barring an unforeseen collapse, the NHL Western Conference playoff teams are set; the only thing that remains is the final seeding for matchups. Who is a contender and who is a pretender? The problem is that there are no real clear favorites out West. In fact, every team has a significant weakness, making this year's Western Conference first round a wide-open field with the potential for upsets no matter who's playing who. Let's look at the Achilles' Heel for each team.
Chicago Blackhawks — Without Brian Campbell, the Blackhawks lose a puck-moving defenseman who's quietly had a steady year on both ends on the ice, at least by his standards. The big issue, though, is in net, as it has been all season. Cristobal Huet alternates between above-average and horrific, while Antti Niemi remains an unproven long-term commodity.
San Jose Sharks — Every year, the Sharks reload in preparation of answering their critics, and every year, they fail. Why will this season be any different? The Sharks have gone through a recent rough patch that exposed lazy habits, a weak defense, and — most importantly — uneven play by Evgeni Nabokov. Nabokov is particularly under the microscope, with an impending UFA status on the horizon and an ugly Olympic meltdown on the books.
Phoenix Coyotes — These miracle Coyotes might actually be the steadiest team in the Western Conference, especially with late-season offensive injections of Lee Stempniak and Wojtek Wolski. However, Ilya Bryzgalov has been known to go inexplicably cold for long stretches at a time. Also, the resurgent Coyote offense may finally cool off after a post-trade deadline surge, especially when defenses tighten up.
Vancouver Canucks — He may have won gold in the Olympics, but Roberto Luongo has his fair share of critics right now. Most of that is justified, as Luongo can look spectacular on one save while appearing totally pedestrian on a soft goal. During the playoffs, you hope your goalie stops the ones he's supposed to while team defense does the rest. Lately, though, Luongo's been doing the opposite, looking Vezina-worthy on one impossible save inducing a massive groan on the next shot.
Los Angeles Kings — These young Kings are finally maturing, and Los Angeles has some veteran leadership to help them navigate the brutal waters of the playoffs. That won't necessarily help young Jonathan Quick, as goaltending is such a solitary position with little margin for error. Rookie goalies often sink (Steve Mason) or swim (Cam Ward) during their first playoff outings. The problem here is that Quick is near the league lead in starts, and the burnout factor can be huge — just ask Columbus?
Nashville Predators — The Predators are working hard, playing good team defense, and getting strong goaltending. Like Phoenix, Nashville is scoring by committee, and when they surge as a group, they rack up consecutive wins. The problem is that the forward group lacks a true game-breaker. Teams have won playoff rounds with less, but it is a sticking point when debating Nashville's chances, despite one of the strongest blue lines in the league.
Detroit Red Wings — The Red Wings are the team that no one wants to face. How can you argue with their strong finish to the season, especially with most of their injured veterans returning to the fray? The question mark remains Jimmy Howard. Like Jonathan Quick, Howard will be going through a trial-by-fire, and you just never know how a rookie goalie will respond (though Howard is notably older than Quick).
Colorado Avalanche — Of all the teams in the Western Conference, the Avs are limping towards the finish line. Is it too much, too soon for this group of talented young players? Is Craig Anderson burned out, not just from his starts but from the number of shots he faces each night? The Avs have had more ups than downs this season, but their inexperience (and perhaps fatigue) have been exposed quite a bit. They may not be this inconsistent next year, but this year's a learning experience for Colorado.
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