Health Is An Issue

The Detroit Red Wings need to get out of the first round quickly because of their age. Their starting skaters are the oldest (average age: 33) in the playoffs. Look for the line of Steve Yzerman, Robert Lang and Jason Williams to be very effective. Detroit's transition game is better than anyone else's in the league.... If Mike Modano is not 100%, due to a left-knee injury, second-line center Jason Arnott needs to have a tremendous playoffs for the Dallas Stars. A trade-deadline acquisition, 28-year-old defenseman Willie Mitchell, will be expected to be play big minutes and be a stopper.... The offensively challenged Calgary Flames need role players St�phane Yelle, Shean Donovan and Marcus Nilson to forecheck and be outstanding on the penalty kill.... The blood-clotting condition that ended all-world goalie Tomas Vokoun's season is crushing to the Nashville Predators. Backup goalie Chris Mason, 30, is respected by his teammates and his coaching staff for his work ethic and athleticism, but he has no NHL playoff experience. The most important skaters for the Predators are Marek Zidlicky (49 points through Sunday) and Kimmo Timonen (above), the slick, puckhandling defensemen who provide most of Nashville's offense.... The Anaheim Mighty Ducks' up-tempo attack will help speedy forwards Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald provide consistent offense. And underrated players such as forwards Todd Marchant and Rob Niedermayer and defenseman Ruslan Salei can be difference makers for the Ducks.... The San Jose Sharks, who had won eight straight games through Sunday, are peaking at the right time. Goaltender Vesa Toskala could be this season's playoff version of the Flames' Miikka Kiprusoff. Center Joe Thornton and right wing Jonathan Cheechoo (left) are a great one-two tandem for creating offense, but the Sharks need increased power-play production in order to build off their regular-season success.... The Colorado Avalanche can score goals, but they also give up a lot of them. The big question is whether recently acquired goalie Jos� Th�odore (formerly with the Canadiens) will be in top condition after missing 25 games with a fractured right heel. It's not easy playing in Denver's high altitude when you're not in good shape.... Every team knows that to beat the Edmonton Oilers, you have to stop left wing Ryan Smyth, which is why fellow forwards Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff need to play well offensively. There's also big pressure on goalkeeper Dwayne Roloson (right): He is the only dependable NHL goalie the Oilers have, and he's set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.