Detroit takes on Nashville in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. This should be an entertaining, physical, hard-fought series and a great tune-up round for the Wings. After all I don't think anyone outside of Nashville really believes the Predators should beat the Wings in the series, even thought the first round is always a monster with upset potential lurking at every turn.

The fact of the matter is Detroit is on the prowl. They are one of the odds-on favorites to win the Stanely Cup this season and they need to do themselves a favor and take care of business early in round one. It would really be a shame if poor play or a lack of focus early on cost them a game or two and stretched this series out longer than it really should go.

In this playoff run they're going to need every once of energy and every minute of rest they can possibly muster for the latter rounds when teams like the Ducks, the defending champions, and the Sharks, come calling. These are the series I'm looking forward to but we can't get ahead of ourselves. Nashville is first up and it should be over in 5 if the Wings mean business and start stalking that Cup like the dangerous playoff predators they are suppose to be.