OBSERVATIONS FROM THE OPENING ROUND

I've been tooling about calling playoff games for Versus and I have some thoughts - Western Conference thoughts. (Screw those Eastern clubs...for now)

ANAHEIM - SAN JOSE
In a matchup of teams the Stars vanquished from last year's post season (oh those were the days)the President's Trophy winning Sharks drop into a 3-1 hole to an 8 seed Ducks team that is anything but a first round patsy. Yes the Stars popped Anaheim in the opening round but in their previous three playoffs they won a Cup, lost in the Conference Final, and lost in the Stanley Cup Final - nice pedigree. The Sharks are proving to be exactly what people say they are - 900 thread count soft. If they rally and win San Jose will be the first team to do so since 1994. The past 27 teams to go down 3 games to 1 in a series have ultimately bowed out.
And if they bow out the core of that team will be blown up.
Best Player in Series - Scott Niedermayer

DETROIT - COLUMBUS
Did this one end in 3 games or 4? Steve Mason will be the NHL Rookie of the Year but he failed to channel Ken Dryden in his matchup with the defending champs. In a super-coach cockfight, Hitch got em into the playoffs but Babcock showed that the 2009 Cup goes through Motown.
Best Player in the Series - Any and all skaters dressed in red with a winged wheel on their chest

VANVOUVER - ST. LOUIS
Roberto Luongo and the Canucks look like a legit threat to come out of the West. They asphyxiated the Blues powerplay and turned Chris Mason into Jackie Mason (or should I have used Marsha?) Vancouver is deep both at forward and on defense, the Sedins are producing, the team is healthy and "Louie" looks possessed.
Best Player in Series - Luongo...or Kesler

CHICAGO - CALGARY
Best series of opening round, plump with passion, hatred and the inability to win in the other teams building. Guys are getting suspended for behavior in warmup that's how amped this series is. Hello Game 7? Or is Calgary going to lose the war of attrition?
Best Player in Series - Jonathan Toews