[b]VS[/b]
This is an intriguing matchup of two teams with a lot to prove this postseason.
The Canucks are a team that fancies itself a Stanley Cup contender, but they couldn't put away a youthful Chicago team in the second round a year ago and enter the playoffs with a top-end goaltender that may or may not be suffering a crisis of confidence.
The Kings, meanwhile, are in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 and appear on the cusp of finally realizing the considerable potential they possess after years of floundering in the bottom end of the Western Conference standings.
There is a strange optic about this series. At first glance, the Canucks would appear to be prohibitive favorites with the NHL's points leader, Henrik Sedin (112 points), leading a deep, balanced offense and netminder Roberto Luongo holding the fort. Yet the Kings finished just three points behind the Canucks with 101, marking the first time they reached the 100-point plateau since 1990-91.
With veteran players like Ryan Smyth, Rob Scuderi and Justin Williams on board and both teams wondering about their goaltending, this series may not unfold as many would assume.
ESPN Write up
