The Contenders: Western Conference

The Favourites:

Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings dominated the regular season like few teams before them. Detroit broke New Jersey's record for most road wins (31) in one season and actually posted a better mark away from Joe Louis Arena. Led by centre Pavel Datsyuk and defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom, the Wings also boast the best power play in the NHL. With yet another Presidents' Trophy under their belt, its hard not to take the Red Wings for granted. Simply put, this team is so balanced that it can overmatch opposing teams several different ways.

Dallas Stars
The Stars reclaimed the top spot in the Pacific Division with a solid mix of offence and defence. Centres Mike Modano and Jason Arnott head up two lines of scoring depth to prevent teams from focusing on only one line. Marty Turco, 30, who recorded his best regular season of his five-year career, finished third in the NHL with 41 wins. The Stars also own the league's second-best road record, so a Western Conference final matchup against the Detroit Red Wings could be in the team's future.

Calgary Flames
The Flames proved this season that their run to the 2004 Stanley Cup final was no fluke. In Miikka Kiprusoff, Calgary has a proven goaltender who can carry a team in the playoffs. Kiprusoff was maybe the best goalie in the NHL this season, leading the league with 10 shutouts. Calgary also has one of the most physically imposing defensive units in the NHL, headlined by rookie sensation Dion Phaneuf. The 21-year-old defenceman rocked opposing players all season with his trademark jarring hits and surprised many with his offensive abilities.

The Dark Horse:

Anaheim Mighty Ducks
The last time the Mighty Ducks made the playoffs Jean-Sebastien Giguere put together one of the most memorable goaltending performances in NHL history. Giguere rebounded from a brutal 2003-04 campaign, when he only won 17 games, and his play toward the end of this season suggests the 28-year-old Quebec native is ready for another strong post-season. General manager Brian Burke's signings of Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer have also paid off in a big way. Selanne's renaissance was capped by his 90-point season, while Niedermayer quickly emerged as Anaheim's best defenceman.

On a Slide:

Colorado Avalanche
Can José Theodore recapture his past form that made him one of the top goalies in the NHL? That's the question Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix will find out shortly as he rolled the dice with the team's future when he traded for the troubled Theodore the night before the 2006 trade deadline. Theodore, who recently returned to action after fracturing his right heel during the Olympic break, fell out of favour with Montreal's management. He'll have to start off strong in the playoffs to reassure Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville that he's worthy of starting every night.

On a roll:

San Jose Sharks
It's hard to believe this team was out of a playoff spot a few weeks ago. Led by centre Joe Thornton and the brilliant goaltending of Vesa Toskala, San Jose won eight of its last nine games, including a playoff-clinching performance that eliminated the Vancouver Canucks April 12. Thornton has been on a tear since ending a mild three-game scoreless slump at the beginning of April. The former Boston star scored 19 points in his last nine games to win his first scoring title. Toskala took over the starting duties from Evgeni Nabokov Feb. 8 and promptly guided San Jose to an 18-3-1 mark.

The Buzz:

"It's now fair to ask, after the Red Wings clinched the NHL's best record, in preparation for a 15th-consecutive playoff appearance, in a season of record accomplishments and remarkable rebirths, one simple question: Do we take this team for granted? Yep. We do. We haven't seen sustained success like this, in this town, in decades."
- Bob Wojnowski, Detroit News on the continued dominance of the Detroit Red Wings despite reports at the beginning of the season about their impending demise.

"Here's what's troubling about the Stars. Their power play has been iffy all season. There was a time when special teams weren't as significant in the postseason. I think that time has passed, and referees will continue to be about as whistle-happy as they have been all season. A hot power play can carry a team as easily as a hot goalie."
- Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News on the Stars' 20th-ranked power play that could give the team problems during the post-season.

"Milestones were reached. Chants were unleashed. But the Calgary Flames cared about one thing only -- laying claim to the Northwest Division crown ...With a record of 46-24-10, the Flames now rule the division, the team's first title since 1994-95. The Milestones? Dion Phaneuf's 20th goal on a trademark bullet. Only two other rookie rearguards in NHL history have reached that plateau."
- Scott Cruickshank, Calgary Herald on a successful season that saw the Flames win their first division title in 11 years.

"Chris Mason was enjoying dinner on the town Friday night when he learned that teammate Tomas Vokoun might miss the rest of the season with a blood condition. Needless to say, the Predators' backup keeper didn't feel much like ordering dessert. All of a sudden, much of the responsibility of carrying on the Predators' most successful season to date had been tossed to Mason."
- John Glennon, The Tennessean on the emotions backup goaltender Chris Mason was experiencing when he found out he would start the post-season in place of the injured Tomas Vokoun.

"Anyone who knows his ice from a hole in the ground can tell you: This season, Joe Thornton has been the best team player in hockey, a team sport where team players must think faster and be tougher than in any other team sport. By all rights, that should make Thornton a lock to claim the NHL's most valuable player award, the Hart Memorial Trophy."
- Mark Purdy, San Jose Mercury News on the minute chance San Jose centre Joe Thornton has of winning the Hart Trophy despite earning his first scoring title.

"So much of the club's success the second half of this season stemmed from an effective forecheck that created offensive opportunities, and an ability to pounce on the smallest opposition error and quickly counterattack. Neither has been much in evidence lately."
- Dan Wood, The Orange County Register on the Mighty Ducks' recent struggles with their defensive play.

"The Avalanche's most fervent mouthpieces want us to believe Colorado being in contention for the Northwest Division title is another Miracle on Ice. That's because the cap forced general manager Pierre Lacroix to pare, and then the Avs at various points lost three skaters for the season."
- Terry Frei, Denver Post on Colorado's poor season that goes beyond losing free agents Peter Forsberg and Adam Foote.

"It wasn't exactly a "Henderson has scored for Canada!" moment. Because I don't remember exactly where I was when the Oilers announced the Chris Pronger trade. Oilers general manager Kevin Lowe stunned National Hockey League foes, remade his defence corps and power play and enlivened those long-suffering fans by acquiring Pronger."
- Dan Barnes, The Edmonton Journal on the impact defenceman Chris Pronger has made since the Oilers acquired him in the off-season.