(1) Canucks - (8) Kings preview - 04-09-12
Note: We will be previewing the Western Conference first-round series today. We will preview the Eastern Conference tomorrow.
(1) Canucks vs. (8) Kings
Canucks Leading Regular Season Scorer: Henrik Sedin (right), 81 points (14 goals, 67 assists).
Kings Leading Regular Season Scorer: Anze Kopitar, 76 points (25 goals, 51 assists).
Canucks Expected Starting Goaltender: Roberto Luongo, 31-14-8, 2.41 GAA, .919 SV%.
Kings Expected Starting Goaltender: Jonathan Quick, 35-21-13, 1.95 GAA, .929 SV%.
Canucks Regular Season Statistics
Kings Regular Season Statistics
Canucks Injuries: RW Zack Kassian ("upper body") is questionable. Right winger Daniel Sedin (concussion) is out indefinitely. Defenseman Keith Ballard (neck), right winger Steve Pinizzotto (shoulder) and left winger Aaron Volpatti (shoulder) are on injured reserve.
Kings Injuries: RW Jeff Carter (ankle) is day to day. Left wingers Simon Gagne (concussion) and Scott Parse (hip) are on injured reserve.
Canucks with Stanley Cup bling: Samuel Pahlsson, C.
Kings with Stanley Cup bling: Rob Scuderi, D; Justin Williams, RW.
Something worthwhile about the Canucks: The Canucks led the NHL with 27 one-goal wins.
Something worthwhile about the Kings: Quick (right) led the NHL this regular season with 10 shutouts.
Something useless about the Canucks that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: Former Penguins right winger Mikael Samuelsson holds the Canucks' record for most goals in a postseason series. He scores seven against the Kings in a 2010 Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Something useless about the Kings that is vaguely connected to the Penguins: The Kings all-time leader in postseason goals is former Penguins left winger Luc Robitaille.
Former Penguins on the Canucks: None.
Former Penguins on the Kings: Luc Robitaille, president - business operations; Rob Scuderi, D.
Who needs to be the difference for the Canucks: Alex Burrows, David Booth and Ryan Kesler. If Daniel Sedin misses any time during the series due to his health, the Canucks will need to find some second ary scoring. Burrows, Booth and Kesler have each had bouts of inconsistency this season. They need to level out and provide some offense.
Who needs to be the difference for the Kings: Quick. He's been the Kings' most valuable player during the season and he'll need to the best player for any team in the first round for the Kings to beat the Canucks. He needs to steal goals and games for his team to have a chances.
Best Canucks YouTube Video We Could Find: Burrows' series-clinching goal against the Blackhawks in Game 7 of a Western Conference quarterfinal series last season:
{youtube width="465" height="266"}0afvaKg57Sc{/youtube}
Best Kings YouTube Video We Could Find: Kings left winger Adam Deadmarsh scoring the series-clinching overtime goal of 3-2 win against the Red Wings during Game 6 of a 2000 Western Conference quarterfinal series:
{youtube width="465" height="266"}FNR8WXBi32s{/youtube}
EN Prediction: Quick will be good enough to keep this series close, but the Kings simply don't have the offensive weapons to keep up with the Canucks. Vancouver's skill will win out. Canucks, 4-2.
(Photos: Sedin-Doug Pensinger/Getty Images; Quick-Harry How/Getty Images)