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| Make no mistake, this is The Mike Smith (left) and Pekka Rinne (right) Show. No imitations and gimmicks allowed. |
(3) Phoenix
Coyotes vs. (4) Nashville Predators
How They Got Here: The Phoenix Coyotes won their
first playoff series ever as a
franchise since they moved from Winnipeg in 1997. And they did it against one
of the big boys: the Chicago Blackhawks who just about everybody picked to beat
them and ‘upset’ the Pacific Division Champions. In the words of Lee Corso,
“not so fast my friend.” In an epic series where every game sans the sixth and
deciding game of the series went to extra frames, the Yotes outlasted the Hawks
and advanced to the second round. Meanwhile, their location for the foreseeable
future remains in limbo. (Can I have things that have been said for the last 3
seasons for $500, please?)
The Nashville Predators last season advanced to the second round for
the first time in their franchise’s history after beating the Anaheim Ducks. This year, they stepped
up to the plate and took a swing at the premiere franchise in the National
Hockey League and delivered a KO blow to the Detroit Red Wings in five games. Shea Weber, Norris Trophy finalist (most outstanding defenseman)
perfected the WWE-style turnbuckle face smash on Henrik Zetterberg and in heel-like fashion, got away with it
without any repercussion.
Hear that? That’s the sound
of that joke going over 99% of the people that read this post.
Player to Watch: For some reason that I’m still befuddled over, the Tampa Bay Lightning let go of Mike
Smith in favor of Dwayne Roloson. Wonder
how the team that allowed more goals than any other team during the regular
season feels now after watching Smith absolutely dominate the series against
the Blackhawks? You’ve got to imagine Steve
Yzerman has been feeling sick to his stomach. Smith is no doubt the key
player to watch for Phoenix after his play in the first round and whether or
not he can play soundly between the pipes will be the difference for the
Coyotes.
If you don’t know about Pekka Rinne by now, it might be time to
try and start because he is an absolute beast.
Rinne is a Vezina Trophy finalist this year and has been the underappreciated,
underrated backbone of this Predators team for the last few seasons. Once
offensively starved, the Predators’ offense has been beefed up a bit this
season but don’t undervalue his play in front of the net. He’s a monster of a
goaltender and is one of the best in the league, no doubt about it anymore. If
Nashville wants to keep writing and making their own history Rinne must play at
his elite level that just about every hockey fan knows he can. For a darkhorse,
look for Gabriel Bourque who registered
3 goals in the series against Detroit.
Who Wins: Hockey
purists are probably gritting their teeth and souring their faces at the fact
that a team from sultry Phoenix is taking on a team from the south in
Nashville, but given that these two teams generated a heap of good attention during
the first round all eyes should be laid on this series that begins tonight out
in the desert. Phoenix’s offense looked good in the first series but you could
say that was due in part to mediocre defense and goaltending from the
Blackhawks, and Weber and Ryan Suter are
no slouches and might be the best defensive pairing in the league today, and oh
yeah, there won’t be any mediocre goaltending either. Sorry Miley, this’ll definitely be a Nashville party --
scratch that, a Smashville party, and Phoenix will be on its heels this
offseason and playing location limbo again.
Nashville in 5
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