2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Finals Prediction

For the 2nd straight season the Chicago Blackhawks and Los Angeles Kings will meet in the Western Conference Finals. Both of these teams look on the top of their game, so this is going to be a heavyweight clash. I can't wait for this series, here's a look at my preview and prediction:

Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Season Series: 
Chicago won season series 3-0-0
3-1 (Chicago)
1-0 (Chicago)
5-3 (Chicago)

Players to Watch:
Chicago: Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Duncan Keith, Corey Crawford

Los Angeles: Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Drew Doughty, Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter, Justin Williams

X-Factor:
Jonathan Toews (CHI) Jonathan Quick (LAK)

Playoff Point Leaders:
Chicago: Marian Hossa/Brent Seabrook (11 point)

Los Angeles: Anze Kopitar (19 points)

Series Notes:
For the 2nd straight year the Hawks and Kings faceoff in the Western Conference Finals, this is going to be another great series. The Hawks enter the Conference Finals having beaten the Minnesota Wild in a tough 6-game series. They are lead by the dynamic duo of Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, who have 7 of the 8 game-winning goals in the playoffs for the Hawks. Corey Crawford has regained his championship-winning form from last season, and he has seemed to get better as each game goes on for the Hawks. Once again the Hawks will need a big performance out of their top d-pair of Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, who will be on the ice anytime the Kopitar line is out there. The Hawks need their depth players to step up in this series, the Kings have one of the deepest forward units in the NHL and the Hawks will need to match that. Guys like Brandon Saad, Bryan Bickell and Ben Smith will be counted on to score big goals. The Kings enter the series having won their 2nd straight 7 game series, this time beating the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings trailed 3-2 in the series but outscored the Ducks 8-3 in 2 wins to cap off the series. They are lead by the outstanding goaltending of Jonathan Quick, who after a rough start to the playoffs has looked unbeatable at times in net. The Kings will need Quick to be at his best to stop the Hawks potent offensive attack. The Kings are lead upfront by Anze Kopitar, who leads the playoffs in points with 19. Keep an eye out for a Koptar vs. Toews battle often in this series, much like Kopitar vs. Getzlaf was in this past series. The Kings will need a big performance from their defense to match the group from the Hawks, in particular Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin. They will also need Marian Gaborik (NHL-leading 9 goals) to continue scoring big goals (6 goals in the series vs. Anaheim). The Kings need guys like Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, Dustin Brown, Justin Williams etc to step up in this series. This is going to be one heck of a rematch from last year, 2 teams that are evenly matched throughout their respective lineups..

Predictions: It is very hard to bet against either of these teams right now, but I give the slight edge to the defending Champs.

(BLACKHAWKS IN 7)

My prediction has the defending-champion Blackhawks returning to the Stanley Cup for the 3rd time in 5 seasons.

-Joel Forman - The Forman Faceoff