So yes this may be a bit late to predict the second half of the Conference Quarterfinals, but I’m going to do it and make it just worthy of all of the series going on already (although all the series were 1-1 after two games). But the Western Conference is just as wacky, wild and weird as the Eastern, maybe even worse. But you’ll find out in the next one to two months. Thus here are my picks for this week/round.

First with the disappointing first placed San Jose Sharks playing the usually eight placed Colorado Avalanche, I think that the Avs will win in six games because I don’t think that San Jose has a playoff worthy team, yet. They need tougher, more physical, third line type guys because in the playoffs those guy get a lot more minutes.

Next with a divisional rivalry seeing the second placed Chicago Blackhawks facing off against the seventh place Nashville Predators, in this one I see the Hawks winning in six. I think that the Hawks will win because of the opposite reason above, they have gritty, tough and physical third liners that will sit the whole season to play twenty plus minutes of ice time a night. Also, I don’t think the Preds will win this series because they are inexperienced in the playoffs and are a very young team.

Thirdly, we have third place Vancouver Canucks team playing the sixth place LA Kings team that was supposed to be bidding for Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin’s rights at the end of June. I think that the Canucks will win this series in six because they dominated the Kings this past season going 3-1-0 against Wayne Gretzky’s former team. Same as above in the Preds, the Kings are very young, example Drew Doughty, just twenty-one years of age.

Lastly, the Cinderella story Phoenix Coyotes facing the team underneath them the fifth placed Detroit ‘Beast’ Red Wings and in my opinion the most exciting and exhilarating series in the first round. I could see either of these teams taking it in seven, but I’m choosing the Yotes over the Wings because they have gone thru a lot, bankruptcy, maybe a new home, and still come close to the first place team in the Conference and I think they can keep going. And I think the Red Wings are a bit old and lacking in youthfulness (is that even a word?).

So in conclusion, I do believe that these series will be long be they may just kick the youth back in you when the team your rooting for scores in triple overtime, game seven.

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