Yes.

It's a new season now. For as stressed and strung out as Wings' fans made themselves this season, it was a pretty pleasant end to it all. Two wins over Columbus and a nice reminder to Chicago that we are their better. Not too bad.

Overall, we just have a whole lot of things to amuse us. Observe:

• We finished 5th after spending the majority of the year in 9th and 10th.
• Hottest team since the Olympics.
• Jimmy Howard is 15-0-2 in his last 17 starts.
• After hearing trash talk from the West all year (Chicago), we beat them in the season series and finished much closer to them in the Central than even I thought we would at midseason.
• After hearing trash talk from the East all year (Pittsburgh), we finished a point ahead of them. Must be tough to be in a division that allows you to take 19 of 24 games against your "rivals."
• We had the top four seeds in the West stressing about about having to play us.

The unlucky opponent? Phoenix.

Which puts me in quite a dilemma, because they've been my favorite new band lately. I will not allow myself to listen to them if Detroit does not have a comfortable lead in the series. You're welcome.

Let's break down this wonderful series.

Keys to the series: Intensity. Phoenix as a club hasn't been to the playoffs since 2001-02, and as a whole, even the veterans on their roster don't possess too much playoff experience. If you believe the idea that you have to lose before you can win, Phoenix hasn't been to the playoffs since 2001-02, and they haven't won a playoff series since moving to the desert. Chicago proved last year that there is such a thing as a team being too inexperienced to even care that they're "supposed" to lose, and it's very possible for Phoenix to replicate this model.

Start strong. I know a sad story from the year 2005-06. There was a team that wore red who comfortably soared to the top of the Western Conference standings, and found very little to play for in the last few months of the season. Further out West, a team in either Alberta or Saskatchewan needed to win 80% of their games to even get to the playoffs, so they played the last two months of the season like every game was Game 7. This team playing Game 7s for two months ended up coming out with much more fire and intensity than the team who wore red, and defeated them in six games.

I don't know if something like this could ever happen to Detroit, but they could certainly learn from it. Detroit is now the team who had to win every night as the only way to ensure a good playoff position. Phoenix has been comfortably in the top five of the conference all season, and they've been almost locked into fourth for about a month.

Shoooooot. Phoenix employs a goalie who very much dislikes vowels -- Ilya Bryzgalov. He has been right in the thick of talk for both the Vezina and the Hart Trophy all season long. Detroit's had a long and stressful relationship with goalies looking to make a name for themselves in the playoffs. Of late, it hasn't been as big of an issue, but Bryzgalov has been solid for a number of years now and is just looking for a place to shine. I cannot think of anything I'd like to see more than 40+ shots in Game 1, just to let him know that we're aware of him.

Hockey gods. Real religious affiliations aside, one thing all Red Wings fans believe in are the hockey gods. We know not to upset them. Seeing as how Phoenix has not been to the playoffs in some time, they are apparently unaware of this fact, looking at the quality of post put out by Coyotes' blog Five for Howling shows a surplus of confidence, a call to harass Wings fans, and a not-so-subtle underlying message that Phoenix fans are really, really concerned about the amount of Wings fans that are going to ruin their white outs. I appreciate the fire and pretty much every other Wings blog out there has covered it, but the one thing I did want to respond to is the idea of "know-it-all" Wings fans. Seeing as Phoenix is not known for their excellent attendance, I just wonder who this blogger thinks might have more first-time fans at the game -- fans of the team whose team has been to the Finals two years in a row, or fans of the team who drew like 34 people at a rally in the summer to keep the team in Phoenix. The only thing working against Detroit in this department is the fact that Ken Daniels said a week ago that the Wings will win in the first round regardless of who they play. Oh, Ken, why?

I'm going to use the knowledge I've gained from the few months I spent writing at Hockey's Future, covering Coyotes prospects (now Anaheim) to break down the Coyotes roster as best I can. This is the best I can make of what their lines might be:

Wojtek Wolski | Matthew Lombardi | Shane Doan
No doubt the team's top line. The trio leads the team in scoring, with Wolski's 65 points (many with Colorado, where he came from in a mutually beneficial trade that sent Peter Mueller to Colorado) leading the way -- 18 of which came in the 18 games he has played thus far in Phoenix. Wolski offers a very slick set of hands that make one glad there is no shootout in the playoffs (also beneficial because Phoenix was dynamite in the shootout). Lombardi lacks the flash of a true number one center, but was my pick for fastest player in the league before I saw Darren Helm. His speed and work ethic make him a nice complement to two more offensive players. And Doan, obviously, is the face of the franchise, a player who has always stepped up in big situations and probably the leading candidate to take over the series for Phoenix. If you hadn't guessed that this line will be seeing a lot of #40 and #5, well, I'm disappointed.

Petr Prucha | Martin Hanzal | Radim Vrbata
An interesting line comprised of three players hailing from the Czech Republic. Prucha is one of more than a few players who have come through the pipeline to the desert from Broadway. Current general manager Don Maloney formerly worked with the NY Rangers and has plucked away more than enough ex-Rangers in his short time with Phoenix. Prucha is streaky and hasn't seen much ice time of late, but he's got a quick shot and good touch around the net. Hanzal, in my mind, is one of the most underrated defensive players in the league -- I think there is a Selke in his future. This alone makes me wonder if this line might be broken up to make this the shutdown line for Phoenix. However, Hanzal is big and can produce offense as well, so there's always the option of leaving him here for chemistry with his fellow countrymen. Vrbata is back in Phoenix this season after a disastrous year in Tampa Bay that saw him leave for the Czech Republic. He is the team's top goal scorer (excluding Wolski and Stempniak, who scored more goals in other uniforms this year) and his shot will make him necessary to contain every shift.

Taylor Pyatt | Vernon Fiddler | Lee Stempniak
The Doan unit definitely plays the most, but these three players get quite a bit of ice time for a "third line" and have been very productive for the team since being re-united. Pyatt is a big body who, while a little slow, is good in front of the net. Fiddler serves as a two-way player who plays with some edge. He put up 30 points and really caught my eye this season a few games for how much he likes to chirp -- but definitely not in the same mold as the Otts, Averys, etc. type player. He's likely the team's top faceoff guy too, but a 52.4% mark in that category indicates that Detroit could control the series in this department, potentially. Stempniak was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline. Wings fans should be familiar with him from his time in St. Louis, but he was considered to be a failure in Toronto. He's been a blessing in Phoenix though, matching the 14 goals he put up in 62 games with Toronto with 14 in 18 in Phoenix.

Daniel Winnik | Petteri Nokelainen | Lauri Korpikoski
The team's energy line, boasting three players who are all capable of taking a regular shift (aka, no goons -- players that work hard). Winnik was somewhat on the outside looking into a crowded Coyotes top 12 this season, but managed to appear in 74 games. He was a successful player in college who's found a niche as a bottom six player in the NHL. Nokelainen is a new face, acquired from Anaheim at the deadline, but could potentially be moved around depending on the team's injury situation. Korpikoski is another ex-Ranger with a ton of speed to burn, who fills out one of the team's regular penalty kill units. Winnik, Hanzal, Fiddler, and Korpikoski are the top four penalty killing forwards.

Depth: Everyone's favorite Bobby Lang is banged up, but could be counted on for more offense. Scottie Upshall was having a tremendous season before getting hurt in January. Paul Bissonnette is the team's fighter, and seems unlikely to see the ice in a series like this. Also on the roster is Viktor Tikhonov, a player that bolted to the KHL but came back after the Coyotes sent him to the AHL. They did this because they wanted a more veteran roster capable of winning -- reasons why Kyle Turris and Mikkel Boedker are also not on the roster, despite having promising rookie seasons.

And now to the defense, where I craft together makeshift pairings based on who was on the ice together in recent 'Yotes games.

Zbynek Michalek | Ed Jovanovski
The likely shutdown tandem -- at least with Michalek. Michalek is continually among league leaders in shot blocks and just general good hustle, but doesn't get much recognition. He's a big part of the penalty kill and could potentially be playing about half the game. Jovanovski is a fella who I've never liked -- you'll see him delivering cross checks to Holmstrom's back and whining to the officials. However, he's fairly useful at both ends of the ice despite being tremendously overpaid.

Keith Yandle | Adrian Aucoin
The youngest and oldest defensemen in the regular lineup. Aucoin has had a resurgence of sorts after being fairly mediocre for most of this season. A lot of Wings fans will remember the two goals he scored in a single game against Detroit early in the season, but he's also come through with several more big goals, including some shootout winners. Yandle is a great puck-moving defenseman who I thought should have gotten more consideration for the American Olympic team. His 12 goals and 41 points led all Coyotes.

Derek Morris | Sami Lepisto
Morris is in his second go-around with Phoenix, being re-acquired at the trade deadline for additional depth. Morris really never stands out for me, but I suppose he can be looked upon favorably for his steady but not necessarily superb play at both ends of the ice. Lepisto is a former prospect of the Washington organization that finally got his NHL break in Phoenix. He is quick and good with the puck, but has only one goal to show for his ability.

Depth: Another hilarious former Wing in this department: Mathieu Schneider. He was picked up after being a failure in Vancouver, but hasn't cracked the regular lineup in Phoenix either. The only chance of seeing him will come if the powerplay suffers, but Yandle is the key player on the blueline there. Jim Vandermeer is another third pairing type with experience, who could potentially be shuffled in for Lepisto for more solid play in the defensive zone.

Ilya Bryzgalov | Jason LaBarbera
There's no doubt in anybody's mind that we're going to see Bryzgalov. He's got the numbers, experience, and confidence. However, it's worth noting that LaBarbera's numbers are actually better than Bryzgalov's, mostly due to his small sample of just 18 games. The point being: he's reliable if something were to happen to the #1 guy.

Around the league: I don't like to predict for Detroit, but we'll close this preview post with a brief thought on the other matchups.

San Jose over Colorado in 5 -- A lot of people like to harp on San Jose for choking, but Colorado is no Anaheim '09. This team has struggled to get in the playoffs and the Sharks will have no problem taking care of them. If they don't, I'd expect some major, major changes coming.

Nashville over Chicago in 7 -- This is my big upset. I don't like the cockiness of Chicago, this is a team who has had no experience with failure against a Nashville team who is now seasoned, boasting a great blueline and capable goaltender, and ready to finally get out of the first round. It looks like Antti Niemi is the guy for Chicago in net, but they still don't overwhelm me as a team poised for a long playoff run.

Vancouver over Los Angeles in 6 -- It'll be a long series, but Los Angeles has cooled down, and like Phoenix, don't have too much playoff experience. Roberto Luongo has struggled, but I do not trust Jonathan Quick.

Washington over Montreal in 5 -- Jaroslav Halak might steal a game or two, but Washington is deeper than Montreal in too many areas.

New Jersey over Philadelphia in 6 -- The Devils are just clicking this season and I've seen what Ilya Kovalchuk can do when there's pressure on him. The Devils might be the only team that scare me from the East.

Buffalo over Boston in 4 -- I love me some Ryan Miller, and Boston only scraped into the playoffs after losing Marc Savard. He's definitely not their entire team, but his presence would certainly make this series a long one.

Ottawa over Pittsburgh in 7 -- After hearing all year from Pens fans how the Wings won't go deep (or make it at all), it's my turn. I think Ottawa has what it takes to oust the defending Cup champs. They're much deeper than they've been in the past and they've been quite good in the past few months. The only major issue is goaltending, but I worry about a young Penguins team feeling overconfident facing either of Ottawa's goalies.

Playoffs. Bring it.