West Semifinal: Phoenix Coyotes vs. Nashville Predators

[EmpireWF]

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are about star players showcasing their skills, but they also are about surprise players stepping to the forefront.

For the Phoenix Coyotes, that was Mikkel Boedker, the 2008 first-round pick who scored overtime goals in back-to-back games. For the Nashville Predators, it was defenseman Kevin Klein, who emerged from the sizable shadows of teammates Shea Weber and Ryan Suter to score and stop goals.

We don't know who the surprise player of this conference semifinal series might be, but we know there's no lacking in star power.

For Nashville and Phoenix, that starts in net, as the Predators' Pekka Rinne was a Vezina Trophy finalist and kept his strong play going into the first round against the Red Wings. The Coyotes' Mike Smith likely wasn't far behind earning Vezina consideration himself, and he raised his game even higher in the playoffs. Despite facing nearly 100 more shots than Chicago's goalies, he stopped almost everything that came his way.

Each team also has known quantities up front. The Coyotes' Ray Whitney, Radim Vrbata and Shane Doan all are capable of big things with the puck, as are the Predators' Mike Fisher, Sergei Kostitsyn and Alexander Radulov.

Defensively, Weber and Suter are Norris Trophy-caliber players, but the Coyotes' Keith Yandle isn't far behind.

If the players we know step up their games, the ones we don't could make this series extra special.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=629654

 

[killgod]

Preds in 2

 

[Herm]

ive never felt so confident in the preds. I'll take them this series. Last time i felt this good was the Kariya and Forsberg team but that didnt turn out so well.

This postseason along with bringing in Gill, Kos, and ARad is the team's love letter to Suter. Resign mfer!!!!!!!!!

 

[Boss AZ]

Sticking with my Flyers/Predators final.

 

[wr50l]

Just ROFL at this Phoenix whiteout. Eh guys, the Predators are wearing white tonight like the road team normally does ...

Terrible atmosphere too. Doesn't even compare to a regular season atmosphere in many arenas.

 

[Herm]

Coyotes capitalized and won on a perfectly placed shot, i couldnt believe that went in. Preds were the on the attack for the last 40 minutes or so of the game. PHX looked lost and still found a way to win the game, i was crushed last night. Apparently me yelling at the tv at midnight doesnt help the players and only annoys my wife.

 

[wr50l]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=630287

Radulov and Kostitsyn oot for game 3. Nashville is in desperation mode trying to keep this series alive right now. You know it's over if it gets to 3-0, to be honest I think the Predators need to tie this series at home 2-2 if they want to advance at all.

 

[Herm]

preds have shown up ready to play so far after the suspensions. I hope they can keep this pace up. Watching the game the other night you could tell something wass off with Rad's effort. Kos played hard the other day though.

 

[Herm]

so 6 of us picked Nashville and 0 picked PHX? we look like dipshits right about now. Phoenix wanted this series more and Nashville seemed dysfunctional around the whole Russiangate deal.