2010-2011 Record- 54-19-9-117, Presidents Trophy Winners
Playoffs- Defeated Chicago 4-3, Nashville 4-2
Projected Game 1 Lines
D. Sedin-H. Sedin-Burrows
Raymond-Kesler-Higgins
Torres-Lapierre-Hansen
Glass-Hodgson-Oreskovich
Hamhuis-Bieksa
Ehrhoff-Rome
Edler-Salo
Key Injuries- Mikael Samuelsson (lower body)
Starting Goalie- Roberto Luongo (38-15-7/2.11/.928; 8-5/2.25/.917)
Top Scorers- Ryan Kesler (41-32--73, +24; 5-10--15, +6), Daniel Sedin (41-63--104, +30; 6-4--10, -8), Henrik Sedin (19-75--94, +26; 1-8--9, -8), Christian Ehrhoff (14-36--50, +19; 2-7--9, -7), Alexandre Burrows (26-22--48, +26, 4-4--8, -1)
Coach- Alain Vigneault, 5th year with team, 236-133-41 in regular season, 25-22 in playoffs..First time in Vigneault's career that he has led a team to the conference finals in five trips to the playoffs, four that have been in Vancouver (other in Montreal). Has been very good in the regular season, leading the Canucks to four 100-point seasons, with this season resulting in a Presidents Trophy, but has been not as good in the playoffs, winning just 25 of 47 playoff games, and was bounced from the second round in all three playoff appearances with Vancouver preceeding this year.
Team Overview- A very front-loaded team that specializes in scoring goals, a high-octane offense that has prolific playmakers in Kesler, Burrows, and the Sedin twins. On the blue line, they have one of the games best offensive defenseman in Christian Ehrhoff, who has 28-66--94 and is a +55 since taking his talents to the West Coast of Canada in 2009 following 5 seasons in San Jose. Outside that, the four defensemen have averaged over 23 minutes of ice time per game, and should see more valuable minutes from Rome as he will be paired with Ehrhoff. It has been a trying playoff for Vancouver, as they went to a game 7 with Chicago after having a 3-0 lead with the defending champs, and also had a tough series with Nashville that went to a game 6 before being decided.
San Jose Sharks
2010-2011 Record- 48-25-9-105, Pacific Division Champs
Playoffs- Defeated Los Angeles 4-2, Detroit 4-3
Projected Game 1 Lines
Setoguchi-Thornton-Marleau
Clowe-Couture-Heatley
Wellwood-Pavelski-Mitchell
Boyle-Murray
Demers-Vlasic
Wallin-White
Key Injuries- none
Starting Goalie- Antti Niemi (35-18-6/2.38/.920; 7-5/3.01/.906)
Top Scorers- Ryane Clowe (24-38--62, +13; 4-9--13, +6), Logan Couture (32-24--56, +18; 6-6--12, +3), Joe Thornton (21-49--70, +4; 2-9--11, -2), Dan Boyle (9-41--50, +2; 2-9--11, -2), Dany Heatley (26-38--64, +8; 3-5--8, -2), Devin Setoguchi (22-19--41, -2; 6-2--8, -3), Joe Pavelski (20-46--66, +10; 5-2--7, +4) Patrick Marleau (37-36--73, -3; 3-3--6, +1)
Coach- Todd McLellan, 3rd year with team, 152-63-31 in regular season, 18-16 in playoffs..after a long stretch of playoff disappointments that culminated with a first round loss to Anaheim in 2009 following a 117-point season that resulted in a Presidents Trophy, McLellan has led the Sharks to their second consecutive Western Conference Championship appearance.
Team Overview- Another team that knows how to score. They have been one of the NHL's best regular season teams over the years. After a long stretch of playoff disappointments, they have now gone to two consecutive Western Conference Championship series.
Team Comparisons
Center- Both teams are very strong at the center position, with the top two centers particularly very good. For Vancouver, they have 2010 Hart Trophy winner Henrik Sedin, who has struggled in the playoffs with a -8 rating, but Ryan Kesler has made up for that on the second line. The Sharks have another Hart Trophy winner in Thornton, who has been good in 2011 despite past playoff struggles. Logan Couture is a leading candidate for Rookie of the Year. Joe Pavelski is a much better third line option than LaPierre Advantage: San Jose
Forwards- Both go very deep at the forward position, with great first lines. The Sharks boast Setoguchi-Thornton-Marleau, and the Canucks have the Sedin twins and Alex Burrows. Both top lines have struggled during the 2011 playoffs, however. Outside Ryan Kelser on the second line, however, the Canucks don't offer much depth behind the first line. The Sharks on the other hand have solid second and third lines, with a second line that has led the way in the playoffs with Clowe-Couture-Heatley. Advantage: San Jose
Defensemen- Dan Boyle has averaged nearly 26:00 of ice time in the playoffs, but is only one of two San Jose blue liners who average over 20:00 per game. Meanwhile the Canucks have four men who average over 23 per game, but just two have a positive plus-minus rating. Both have questions. Advantage: Even
Goalies- Antti Niemi carried the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup finals last season and seems to be doing it again, playing very well between the pipes despite what his numbers suggest (3.01 GAA, .906 PCT). Luongo has been good as well, getting the winning decision in all 8 playoff wins for Vancouver. Advantage: Even
Series Prediction: Vancouver in 7
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