Backhand Slapshot: NHL First-Round Playoff Preview (Nashville vs. Anaheim)

Music to listen to:  Wicked Chair by Kings of Leon

If one series can go seven games, this can easily be it because the styles make this matchup so interesting.

The Ducks have gone from not even being in the playoffs two months ago to the fourth seed behind an elite offense that’s been powered behind arguably the best line in hockey.  The combination of Rocket Richard (top point scorer in NHL) winner Corey Perry, who is also a Hart Trophy (MVP) candidate, Ryan Gatzlaf, Bobby Ryan, the ageless Teemu Selanne and a cast of others have helped Anaheim finish the regular season winning 15 out of its last 20 contests.  The only problem is consistent goalkeeping.

The Predators have a legitimate Hart Trophy candidate themselves in goalkeeper Pekka Rinne, who has finally emerged as not only the top netminder for the Predators but one of the best in the entire NHL.  He’s on the short list to receive his first Vezina Trophy (top goalkeeper) of his career.  Nashville’s defense is elite but the offense is not good and that’s being generous.

Keys to the series:

1)  Can Nashville’s defense be its best offense?

The best overall player on the Predators, at least one that doesn’t wear goalie pads, is likely Norris Trophy (best defenseman) candidate Shea Weber, who also finished with the second-most points on the team.

Weber, along with Ryan Suter, leads a top-flight set of defensemen who helped the Preds finish third in the league in goals against average in the league.  They will need all of the help they can against the Ducks’ offense.

2)  Who will ultimately be at goalkeeper for the Ducks?

If Ray Emery was completely healthy, I would feel better about the Ducks’ prospects of making a run in the playoffs but he’s battling a mysterious lower-body injury, which in NHL injury report during playoff time can be a sprained ankle or a broken femur.  The alternatives are Jonas Hiller who is battling injuries of his own and Dan Ellis, who actually did well in the past few games of the regular season but isn’t as good as Emery.

3)  Can J.P. Dumont find his offense in the postseason?

The forward posted his worst offensive season of his career this year with only 19 points in 70 games played.  Dumont is the most important offensive player for the Predators and he has to produce better if Nashville will finally get out of the first round, which brings me to…

4)  Can Nashville handle the playoff pressure?

While there have been other NHL teams in the past decade who have underachieved in higher levels such as Washington, San Jose and Vancouver to name a few, the Predators lack of winning a playoff series is a negative mark against the franchise.

Yes, Nashville has lost to excellent teams like last year’s eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Predators have had chances in the past to place their mark in the postseason.

I’m not going to say that the Predators organization is going to suddenly fire head coach Barry Trotz if they lose this series but for a franchise to advance and move towards becoming elite, you have to win in the postseason.

Prediction:  Anaheim in seven

I lived in Nashville for three years before moving away last spring.  I spent my entire college career, undergrad and graduate school, in the city.  Overall, I spent seven years in Nashville.  Its a second home and I really, REALLY want to pick the Preds to win the contest.

However, I think that the Ducks are too strong on offense and despite the best efforts of the Predators’ defense, Anaheim will score just enough goals to advance.

I will still be rooting for Nashville and for once hope my prediction is wrong.