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PHT Predicts: Ducks vs. Predators -- Who do you have?

Shea Weber, Bobby Ryan

Nashville Predators Captain Shea Weber looks down as Anaheim Ducks Bobby Ryan celebrates a third period goal by Saku Koivu in an NHL hockey game in Anaheim, Calif., on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2010. Anahaeim won 5-4.( AP Photo/Christine Cotter)

AP

All right so Anaheim-Nashville isn’t exactly the kind of match-up that grabs you by the face and makes you want to watch it, we admit that. When you start checking these two teams out though, we’re thinking this series could turn out to be the best of the first round battles. Both teams play a hard, physical game.

Nashville thrives on defense and with a pair of blue liners like Shea Weber and Ryan Suter it’s easy to see why they’d be strong there. Having Pekka Rinne as your goaltender helps make life easier on the offense so they don’t have to do too much. Good thing too since Patric Hornqvist, Martin Erat, and Mike Fisher are about all they can count on offensively.

Anaheim has made their living scoring in bunches. Rocket Richard winner Corey Perry leads the way and 40 year-old Teemu Selanne is making people think it’s 1993 all over again. Add those guys along with Ryan Getzlaf, Bobby Ryan and offensive blue liners Cam Fowler and Lubomir Visnovsky the Ducks look like an offensive juggernaut in comparison. Their only issues come in goal where any one of Dan Ellis, Jonas Hiller, or Ray Emery could see action.

Yeah, it’s a contrast of styles all right and what we think matches that.

James says:
On one hand, you have a playoff-proven Ducks team with quite possibly the best trio of forwards in the NHL. This team is thrilling and sloppy like an adorable, oversized puppy dog. Meanwhile the Predators resemble a stray dog that’s been away from home too long. They are lean and mean, with very few frills but they break out their Costco-sized batch of elbow grease when the going gets tough.

If Nashville will ever win a playoff series, it will be this one. They have the steady goaltending situation, the all-world defenseman looking for a big raise (Shea Weber) and the defensive style that theoretically should translate to the postseason. Anaheim’s explosive offense makes me nervous, but the Ducks’ uncertainty in net and vulnerability on defense makes me feel comfortable to pick the fifth seed in another series.

It’s the Predators in 6 as Pekka Rinne shows us why so many people think he deserves Vezina Trophy consideration.

Matt says:
If it weren’t for Hawks/Canucks III, this would be the most interesting series in the West. The Ducks are one of the hottest teams entering the playoffs; while the Predators have been talking about how they must make it past the first round. Just about any outcome could happen and it wouldn’t be terribly surprising—from a Ducks sweep to the Preds in 7. Even though the Ducks have been on fire, when push comes to shove I’ll take the better defense and goaltending in a playoff series. Predators in 6.

Joe says:
About the only thing I feel certain of between these two teams is that this series is going deep. Six or seven games for sure and how it turns out feels like a coin flip. Anaheim’s offense is killer and they’ve got the best first line in the NHL. Getting Selanne’s production alongside a leader like Saku Koivu and a pair of lines that can grind it out with the best of them, it’s tough to resist them. Rinne’s goaltending is fantastic and their defense is nasty but that offense doesn’t sit well with me. I put no confidence into this prediction, but I’m sticking with it. Ducks in 7.

Not liking what our take is on this series or you want to take up the flag for Pekka Rinne or Corey Perry as your own personal series MVPs? Go ahead and vote in our poll and let us know what you think.
[polldaddy poll="4891227"]