The Columbus Blue Jackets and Tampa Bay Lightning are in the post-season after several years looking in from the outside. While they are facing an uphill climb to make much of an impact this year, upsets are a near guarantee for the WCHL playoffs, especially in the Eastern Conference.

That was the case last year, as the top seeded Pittsburgh Penguins were knocked off by eighth seeded New Jersey in the first round, while another perennial powerhouse, the Philadelphia Flyers, stumbled in round two.

Will that be the case this year, or will the top seeds take advantage of what should be weaker opposition and roll into the second round?

Below is a first round prediction for both the Western and Eastern Conferences:

(1) Dallas Stars vs. (8) Columbus Blue Jackets

The Stars are a past winner of the WCHL Championship and finished the regular season second overall in the WCHL. Columbus meanwhile may just be happy to get to the playoffs.

Whatever the case, the Stars will be eager to not overlook the Blue Jackets, who have some potent offense coming from centre Jason Spezza and blueliner Brent Seabrook. With the Stars though, they rely on three things; Alexandre Ovechkin's scoring, Roberto Luongo's goaltending and their collective experience, and all three top the Blue Jackets in those areas.









Prediction: Dallas in four.

(2) Colorado Avalanche vs. (7) Vancouver Canucks

Vancouver began a rebuild midway through the season and it's likely this will be the last playoff action the Canucks see for a few seasons. With that in mind, it's likely the Canucks will be an inspired group, eager to win in their last hurrah.

And who better to do it against than the Avalanche, who are as hard luck of a playoff team as there is in the Western Conference. The Avalanche, despite some great teams, have had little luck in the playoffs, and were once again sent home in the second round last season.

That said, expect the Avalanche to get back to at least round two before they face a serious threat to their playoff lives, though Vancouver will make it interesting.

Prediction: Colorado in six.

(3) San Jose Sharks vs. (6) Anaheim Ducks

In an all California battle there may not be a greater expectation of an upset as to be found here.

The Ducks might have finished 16 points behind the Sharks in the standings, but no team was hotter down the stretch in the west than the Ducks. After sitting outside the playoffs well into the season, the Ducks rattled off a series of winning streaks to finish 17 points up on the ninth place St. Louis Blues.

Both the Sharks and Ducks are previous WCHL Cup winners, and both teams could go far once again this year. Anaheim may have the league's best team on paper while the Sharks are the most storied franchise in WCHL history. Recent history however dictates things won't be so good for the Sharks, and the Ducks will likely make that continue in a tough series.

Prediction: Anaheim in seven.

(4) Detroit Red Wings vs. (5) Calgary Flames

The changing of the guard may be found in this series. Last year the Red Wings finished with the worst record in the Western Conference while the Flames captured their first WCHL title.

Fast forward one year and the Red Wings finished ahead of the frustratingly inconsistent Flames and served notice they intend to stake their claim to elite status in the WCHL. Add in the constant rumours that Flames General Manager Trent Allen may be leaving his post with the Flames after the playoffs, and there truly is change blowing in the wind.

That change will come a little slower than the Red Wings would like as any team with the firepower that Calgary possesses likely can't be completely tamed for an entire post-season.

Prediction: Calgary in five.

(1) Atlanta Thrashers vs. (8) New Jersey Devils

Can the Devils do it again? That'll be the question for New Jersey who, just one year after knocking off top seeded Pittsburgh in the opening round are left trying to duplicate the feat against the Thrashers.


It won't be easy, as the Thrashers are riding a 16 game winning streak into the playoffs and finished with a whopping 129 points, good for best in the entire WCHL.

New Jersey will put up a good fight, but the Thrashers aren't WCHL pushovers and it's doubtful lightning will hit twice in the same spot.

Prediction: Atlanta in six.

(2) New York Rangers vs. (7) Tampa Bay Lightning

After making the conference finals two seasons ago and then pushing that one step further last year with their first ever WCHL finals appearance, the Rangers are seeking to take that final step and capture their first WCHL title. Opposing their run in the first round are the Lightning, who are making a somewhat surprising playoff appearance.

For Tampa Bay, it will require some top end goaltending, some unexpected playoff heroes and likely a small collapse on the part of the Rangers for the Lightning to advance, but in the wacky Eastern Conference, stranger things have happened. That said, expect the Lightning to just soak up the experience and build on it for next year.

Prediction: New York Rangers in five.

(3) Philadelphia Flyers vs. (6) Buffalo Sabres

In a rematch of the second round from last years playoffs, the Flyers will seek to best the Sabres, who won last year in a hard fought seven games.

The Flyers are long overdue for some playoff success, and looked like one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference all year long. The Sabres meanwhile couldn't decide if they were rebuilding or contending, and swung several trades along the way. Regardless of the paths to the playoffs, one things for sure; the Flyers have all the pressure on them.

It may not be enough to halt the Flyers this year however, though the Sabres will go down swinging.

Prediction: Philadelphia in seven.

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (5) Boston Bruins

For teams with 112 and 111 points respectively, the Penguins and Bruins flew well under the radar all season. Funny status for two teams with a lot to prove.

If there were ever two examples of WCHL teams with a mountain of regular season success and little to show for in the playoffs, it'd be Pittsburgh and Boston. Pittsburgh is looking to avenge one of the biggest heartbreaks last year, when they were the top team in the WCHL, only to be defeated in the opening round by the New Jersey Devils.

Whichever team fails to advance far is likely to see significant changes in the off-season. This one could go either way, but Pittsburgh has a lot more to rectify after last year, and that should be the extra edge to get them to round two.

Prediction: Pittsburgh in seven.

Next: Round Two predictions