Round 2: Official Series Discussion Thread: Phoenix Coyotes vs. Nashville Predators

[RGM81]

#3 vs. #4

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

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.

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This should be a very good series between two teams that don't get a lot of exposure. People may make quips about attendance and revenue sharing and all of that, but once you get past that these are two really good teams. It starts in goal, as the matchup between Rinne and Smith is on a par with any possible remaining combo in these playoffs, and it goes outwards from there. I expect that the twin pillars for the Predators--Weber and Suter--will live up to their billing and help Nashville to their first-ever Conference Finals appearance. Predators in 5.

The usual administrative notes:

As things have occasionally gotten out of hand with the playoffs discussion threads in recent years, some rule reminders:

• All SCF Rules apply to these threads. Violations for language and personal attacks will not be tolerated.
• Staff will, at their discretion, remove any posts that are considered to be disruptive. This includes flaming, trolling, and hijacking. We will make every effort to keep these threads going for the duration of the series, but if it is found that people cannot be civil the thread will be locked and infractions will be handed out.
• Keep the comments about the game and the players on the ice.

Everybody was relatively well-behaved in the first round (unlike many of the players) so please let's keep that high level of discussion going!

[centrehice]

Yandle is a better defenseman than Suter, and other than size, just as good as Weber.

My heart goes with the Coyotes. I played Hockey as a kid against Trotzy, but I do not care for his team, nor do I like the city of Nashville.

I think if you shut down Radulov, the Preds are done. Both goalies will be very hard to score on. I'd give the scoring power nod to Phoenix.

7 Games.

[Wickabee]

I'm hoping Phoenix in 7, but I'm officially saying Nashville in 5.

[Mike Bray]

Hopefully Nashville can get at least one win out west -- everybody is saying it should be a low scoring series but you never know -- we may have a series like Philly/Pitt and we get some football like totals --

[MatsSundin13Rocks]

I'm predicting that Nashville wins in 5 games.

[RGM81]

Goaltending duel? Not tonight, though there have been some very nice saves. Great game down in the Desert!

[caseyramone]

I'm a bit disappointed with Nashville tonight so far

[caseyramone]

and here's the next OT seems to be the new standard result

[caseyramone]

very unimpressed with NSH... get 3 pucks behind Rinne and they re in deep trouble. deserved win for Coyotes. they actually have chance to advance to another round, wouldnt have thought before

[Yipper]

All I can say...

GO YIPP!!!!