I had intended to give my typical opinionated preview of all 8 playoff series, but since I waited until 3 game ones were in the books, I’ll stay close to home and preview the series that matters most to me. My beloved Los Angeles Kings against the Northwest Division Champion Vancouver Canucks.
If you look at the regular season series between the two teams, the Kings have managed only one victory against the Canucks (both at home) in each of the last two seasons. In the first 3 games between the two clubs this season, the Kings struggled to find offense, scoring only a goal in each tilt. The 4th and final meeting was another game entirely, an 8-3 Kings romp that saw all-world goalie Roberto Luongo struggle.
While both teams have had outstanding seasons (and are close to dead even in many statistical categories), both have questions heading into this series, and they both center around the men guarding the net. Both Vancouver’s Luongo and the Kings’ Jon Quick have been less than stellar since returning from the Olympic break. Having seen every Kings’ game since, and only a handful of Canucks’ games, I would say both players are suffering from the same issue – problems with focus. In Quick’s case, he hasn’t been in his pre-Olympic form, but he did post two shutouts and got little goal support in each of his 8 consecutive winless games to end the regular season. One thing is for certain – each of these men will need to be solid in order for their team to advance. For Quick, it’s his first kick at the playoff can. For Luongo, if he loses another series in the first two rounds, his reputation is starting to look like that of a playoff underachiever.
The Canucks strength is their offense. They have the NHL’s leading scorer in Henrik Sedin, and his brother Daniel – each scored 29 goals this season. Add Ryan Kesler, Mikeal Samuelsson, Mason Raymond and Alex Burrows – each eclipsing the 20 goal mark this season, and you’re talking about a lot of firepower (I have to admit, I always thought of Burrows as the consummate pest and it kind of shocked me just a bit that he scored 35 goals this season). Christian Ehrhoff and Sami Salo are both solid offensive contributors from the back end as well.
The Kings strength – defense. Drew Doughty at 20 years old is a legitimate candidate for the Norris trophy this year. Expect Doughty (who many thought was Canada’s best defenseman at the Olympic games) and defense partner Rob Scuderi to play major minutes against the Canucks’ top line of the Sedin twins and Burrows. Matt Greene is one of the league’s most underrated stay at home defenseman – a guy who makes smart plays and hits like a freight train. Jack Johnson has improved tremendously defensively this season. Veteran Sean O’Donnell can burn up some quality minutes. As a defensive corp, the Kings do a very good job in their own end (Doughty and Johnson can do a hell of a job in the offensive zone too), and they’ve got good support from their forwards as well. Anze Kopitar has developed into one of the league’s premiere two way centers, and the shutdown line anchored by veteran Michal Handzus and second year star Wayne Simmonds (their left winger to start the series will be Brad Richardson, a pretty capable guy defensively with great speed) has played a ton of minutes against opponents’ top lines all season. They’ve been effective in helping to shut down stars like Alex Ovechkin of Washington and Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby in Kings’ wins this season. Coach Terry Murray has instilled a defense first system in the Kings’ players – and when they’re on they buy into it perfectly.
But the Kings are no scoring slouches either. Kopitar scored a career high 34 goals – and Dustin Brown, Ryan Smyth, Michal Handzus all broke the 20 goal mark. Alexander Frolov (will be interesting to see if he finds the extra gear in postseason) potted 19, and Doughty, Simmonds and Jaret Stoll each scored 16. The Kings aren’t exactly slouches on offense either.
The series is going to be determined by goaltending – and the guy that can regain his pre-Olympic form will likely be moving on to round 2. If one or the other is unable to find form, it could potentially be a short series either way. If both goaltenders rise to the occasion, I believe the Kings’ defensive system will allow them to at least do a respectable job containing the Canucks’ potent offense. The Canucks’ defense is banged up – they’ll be without their top defenseman Willie Mitchell, and Aaron Rome and Sami Salo are both going to be playing at potentially less than 100%. The Kings’ cycle and puck possession down low over the course of the series may take it’s toll on the Canucks’ defense corps. It’s often said that you win with defense in the playoffs and the Kings have a decided advantage here in my opinion.
Another thing to keep in mind – the playoffs are a time for ugly goals – and the Kings have two guys in Ryan Smyth and Dustin Brown who have turned the ugly goal into an art form.
My prediction: The Kings’ D keeps the Canucks’ reasonably quiet, their forwards wreak havoc on the battered Vancouver D down low and generate enough offense to win a series of close games. Quick steps up when he’s needed, and the Kings win in game 6 at Staples Center.
Homer pick, I know. 
Series starts tomorrow night at GM Place in Vancouver, 7PM on FSN.
It’s been a long time coming.
GO KINGS!
-JS
Tags: los angeles kings, playoff series prediction, vancouver canucks
Jeremy Smith