Chirps from Center Ice

Another year has gone by and another Western Conference Playoff Preview for you. I’d like to thank all the Western Conference fans and bloggers I follow on Twitter first and foremost. Your observations this year really helped me in trying to sound like I am talking about here. Not like the Penguins play any of these teams on a regular basis. So if you see a capsule for a team and it’s the complete opposite of reality, drop me a line in the comments and correct me.

Full schedule of playoff games can be found here.

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Abbotsford Heat

Record: 42-26-3-5 // 92 pts., 2^nd place West Division (4 seed)

Power Play: 19^th // 16.9%

Penalty Kill: 10^th // 83.5%

Top 3 Scorers: Krys Kolanos 30-31-61 // Ben Walter 19-40-59 // Brian Connelly 6-46-52

Overview: Feasted on North Division opponents, going 14-4-2-0, which really helped them in making the playoffs. Krys Kolanos healed from hip problems which plagued him and roared back as an All-Star selection and Abbotsford’s leading scorer.

First Round Opponent: Milwaukee Admirals

Record against the Admirals: 1-3

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 20:1

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Chicago Wolves

Record: 42-27-4-3 // 91 pts., 1^st place Midwest Division (3 seed)

Power Play: 23^rd // 15.4%

Penalty Kill: 6^th // 84.2%

Top 3 Scorers: Mark Mancari 30-28-58 // Darren Haydar 21-36-57 // Jordan Schroeder 21-23-44

Overview: Always steady Wolves have two veterans in Haydar and Mancari showing the way. Reinforcements from parent Vancouver could be on the way if Los Angeles dispatches the Canucks this week.

First Round Opponent: San Antonio Rampage

Record against the Rampage: 0-3-0-1

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 17:1

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Houston Aeros

Record: 35-25-5-11 // 86 pts., 4^th place West Division (8 seed)

Power Play: 13^th // 17.8%

Penalty Kill: 24^th // 80.7%

Top 3 Scorers: Jon DiSalvatore 28-33-61 // Justin Fontaine 16-39-55 // Jeff Taffe 18-35-53

Overview: Defending Western Conference Champions made it in on the last day of the regular season.

First Round Matchup: Oklahoma City Barons

Record against the Barons: 1-4-0-3

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 40:1

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Milwaukee Admirals

Record: 40-29-2-5 // 87 pts., 2^nd place Midwest Division (5 seed)

Power Play: 5^th // 19.5%

Penalty Kill: 17^th // 82.1%

Top 3 Scorers: Chris Mueller 32-28-60 // Kyle Wilson 22-32-54 // Taylor Beck 16-24-40

Overview: Milwaukee was on the verge of missing playoffs and came into the last weekend of the regular season controlling its own destiny. They got 5 of 6 points backstopped by G Jeremy Smith. Smith for his efforts earned AHL Player of the Week honors Monday.

First Round Matchup: Abbotsford Heat

Record against the Heat: 3-0-0-1

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 25:1

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Oklahoma City Barons

Record: 45-22-4-5 // 99 pts., 1^st place West Division (1 seed)

Power Play: 24^th // 15.4%

Penalty Kill: 2^nd // 85.6%

Top 3 Scorers: Ryan Keller 21-28-49 // Mark Arcobello 17-26-43 // Philippe Cornet 24-13-37

Overview: Before Norfolk went on a 28 game winning streak, the Barons were the best team in the AHL. They have two excellent goaltenders in Yann Danis and David LeNeveu. Danis won the Baz Bastien Award for Most Outstanding Goaltender this year. Many favor Oklahoma City to make it to the Calder Cup Finals.

First Round Matchup: Houston Aeros

Record against the Aeros: 7-0-0-1

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 5:1

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Rochester Americans

Record: 36-26-10-4 // 86 pts., 2^nd place North Division (7 seed)

Power Play: 26^th // 15%

Penalty Kill: 23^rd // 81.4%

Top 3 Scorers: Phil Varone 11-41-52 // Paul Szczechura 21-25-46 // Derek Whitmore 28-16-44

Overview: Up and down year for the Amerks. Everyone looked forward to working with parent Buffalo again, but it came with some bumps along the way.

First Round Matchup: Toronto Marlies

Record against the Marlies: 3-4-3-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 30:1

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San Antonio Rampage

Record: 41-30-3-2 // 87 pts., 3^rd place West Division (6 seed)

Power Play: 28^th // 14.4%

Penalty Kill: 28^th // 80%

Top 3 Scorers: Jon Matsumoto 23-37-60 // Bill Thomas 27-25-52 // Bracken Kearns 22-30-52

Overview: Roller coaster year for the Rampage. Every night it seemed that you didn’t know what you were getting. Perfect first round matchup for the Rampage vs. the Wolves, they were 4-0.

First Round Matchup: Chicago Wolves

Record against the Wolves: 4-0

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 35:1

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Toronto Marlies

Record: 44-24-5-3 // 96 pts., 1^st place North Division (2 seed)

Power Play: 27^th // 14.6%

Penalty Kill: 1^st // 88.1%

Top 3 Scorers: Mike Zigomanis 19-42-61 // Ryan Hamilton 25-26-51 // Marcel Mueller 14-33-47

Overview: Leagues stingiest team defensively. The Marlies stayed at the top of the North Division pretty much all season. Will be a tough out.

First Round Matchup: Rochester Americans

Record against the Americans: 7-2-0-1

Odds to win the Calder Cup: 8:1

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So there you have it. If I am completely off my nut with these, let me know in the comments. I try to watch and pay attention to all 30 teams in the league. Tomorrow we will roll with the Eastern Conference Playoff Preview.