The Goods: Stanley Cup Finals Preview

05/25/2010 1:59 AM -  Ian Gooding

Well, at least my picks for the Conference Finals were a little better than my picks in the second round. After all, 1-for-2 is better than 1-for-4, isn’t it? I’ll see if I can get the Cup Finals right, which might seem like a slam dunk pick to some. Before I make my prediction, though, I’ll break down the rosters fantasy-wise, with a more detailed analysis of each player heading into the Stanley Cup Finals.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (WEST #2) vs. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (EAST #7)

Chicago

Players to add/start

Jonathan Toews: 26 points leads all playoff scorers, odd-on favorite to win Conn Smythe

Patrick Kane: 20 points third in playoff scoring

Dustin Byfuglien: Big Buff a monster with goals in five consecutive games

Patrick Sharp: third on the Hawks with 16 points in playoffs

Marian Hossa: only 2 goals in the playoffs, but the Hawks can afford for him to slump

Duncan Keith: averaging 28 minutes of icetime per game

Antti Niemi: 2.33 GAA and .921 SV% quietly getting it done in playoffs

Possible sleepers

Kris Versteeg: two game-winning goals in playoffs

Dave Bolland: assigned to shadow Joe Thornton and outscored him in WCF

Troy Brouwer: playing alongside Hossa and Sharp after being healthy scratch

Brian Campbell: just three assists in playoffs, but on second-unit power play

Brent Seabrook: effective partner for Keith, but does not see power-play time

Players to avoid/drop

Andrew Ladd: possible scratch due to injury in Game 4

John Madden: one goal and no assists during playoffs

Tomas Kopecky: did not play at all during San Jose series

Brian Bickell: same as Kopecky

Ben Eager: only for leagues that count penalty minutes

Adam Burish: same as Eager

Brent Sopel: no points in last 11 games

Niklas Hjalmarsson: outscoring Campbell (5 points) but that’s not saying much

Jordan Hendry: no points in 12 playoff games

Cristobal Huet: will only see mop-up duty

Philadelphia

Players to add/start

Mike Richards: second in NHL playoff scoring with 21 points

Jeff Carter: two goals in second game back from injury for team’s leading goal scorer

Daniel Briere: no points in last three games but 18 playoff points very respectable

Simon Gagne: seven goals in nine games since return from foot injury

Claude Giroux: 17 playoff points should translate to strong sleeper status in ’10-‘11

Chris Pronger: 14 playoff points from blueline from proven playoff performer

Michael Leighton: three shutouts in five games of Eastern Conference Final

Possible sleepers

Ville Leino: 12 points in 13 games, Detroit would love to have that one back

Scott Hartnell: Hairball lukewarm in playoffs but at his best when game is physical

Kimmo Timonen: no goals but eight assists, averages nearly 27 minutes of icetime in playoffs

Matt Carle: no goals but ten assists, benefits as Pronger’s playoff partner

Players to avoid/drop

James van Riemsdyk: a virtual non-factor in playoffs with four points

Daniel Carcillo: tough guy a healthy scratch for Games 4 and 5 against Montreal

Ian Laperriere: provides a ton of heart and soul but nothing for offense

Blair Betts: only a single assist during playoffs

Arron Asham: scored a highlight-reel goal in Game 5 but don’t kid yourself

Darroll Powe: nothing but goose eggs during the playoffs

Braydon Coburn: 30 minutes of icetime in Game 5 but only 3 playoff points   

Ryan Parent: no icetime and no offense either

Lukas Krajicek: same as Parent

Johan Backlund: shouldn’t see any action unless another goalie injury (knock on wood)

Brian Boucher: don’t expect a return from injury

Storyline

In the span of just over a month, the Flyers have gone from requiring a shootout win on the final game of the regular season just to make the playoffs all the way to appearing in the Stanley Cup Finals. I’ll be watching to see if the Flyers can complete what could be the most amazing Stanley Cup championship ever. What will be interesting about this series will be how mammoth Dustin Byfuglien matches up with ornery ostrich Chris Pronger. The 6’4”, 257 lb. Big Buff comfortably set up his tent in front of Vancouver and San Jose creases, but it will be interesting to see if he can do the same against the 6’6”, (only) 214 lb. Pronger. These two giants are the types of players needed to win in the bang-and-crash Stanley Cup Finals, but in all honesty, they would be (and have been, in Pronger’s case) mere pylons in international tournaments like the Olympics and the World Hockey Championships. Byfuglien is the Hawks’ decoy; however, as the man doing the real damage is Jonathan Toews, who might now arguably be the one guy that you want on your team if you want to win a playoff series.

Prediction

Blackhawks in 6. The Flyers have fought back from a seemingly insurmountable 3-0 deficit to win one series, and they have dispatched their opposition in five games in their other two series. However, the Blackhawks will be by far the toughest test that they have faced in these playoffs thus far. These two teams match up more evenly than many might think: a captain pivot up the middle (Toews/Richards), a confident young sniper (Kane/Carter), three solid lines of scoring, a rock on defense (Keith/Pronger), and a previously unproven goalie (Niemi/Leighton). Keeping in the tradition of the Broad Street Bullies, the Flyers love to play the physical game, but the Hawks have proven that they can play any way that you like. After watching both Conference Finals end quickly, I have a gut feeling that this will be a short series that could perhaps end in five games. I’ll give Philly its due: they are a team that rises to the occasion when I (and other so-called experts) seem to count them out. All in all, the Blackhawks seem to provide more than any team can handle this season, which is why the longer Stanley Cup drought (1961 to 1975) will end and Bobby Hull will prevail over Bobby Clarke.

If you’re looking for an “actual” expert preview, check out Pierre LeBrun over at ESPN (and no, I didn’t read his series prediction before making mine!)

Questions? Comments? Complaints? Compliments? Ideas? Email Ian at ian@fantasyhockey.com. Or follow fantasyhockey.com on Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates, general hockey discussion, and any fantasy hockey questions that you have. You can also become a fan on Facebook.