WHL Conference Finals Breakdown: Defense

Yesterday, I took a look at the goalies for the remaining teams in the WHL playoffs.  Today, it's all about the guys in front of them: the defensemen.

EDMONTON OIL KINGS

Led by captain Griffin Reinhart, the Oil Kings are the only team to have given up single digits in goals to this point, which would obviously put them as the best team in the playoffs defensively.  They were also the best team defensively in the regular season, so their defensive stand is not a flash in the pan.  Also on the Oil Kings blue line are second-generation players Keegan Lowe (son of Kevin Lowe, who played for the Oilers and Rangers in his career) and David Musil (son of Frank, a former Calgary Flame).  Reinhart himself is the son of ex-Flame Paul Reinhart and is the middle brother of Max (a current prospect in the Flames system) and Sam (Kootenay Ice star who was recently named captain for next season).

PORTLAND WINTERHAWKS

Lost in the offensive juggernaut that is the Portland Winterhawks is the team's equally stout defense.  Led by Seth Jones, Troy Rutkowski, and Derrick Pouliot, the Winterhawks ran away with the U.S. Division and the Scotty Munro Trophy in the regular season.  Despite being somewhat erratic on defense (which explains why they have given up the third most goals, 19, of the remaining teams), the Winterhawks have enough talent to win every shootout if they must, but are also capable of winning the 1-0 grinders if needed, as evidenced by giving up the second fewest goals in the regular season.

CALGARY HITMEN

Chris Driedger gets the majority of the press, but the guys in front of him are just as good, if not unheralded.  Led by Spencer Humphries, the Hitmen make up for the lack of scoring (that will be explained tomorrow) with timely play.  They've given up the second fewest goals in the playoffs of the remaining teams, but they also played against offensively challenged teams in Swift Current and Red Deer, so how they will be able to handle Edmonton is the challenge of the day.

KAMLOOPS BLAZERS

The Blazers are led by the likes of Tyler Hansen and Joel Edmundson, but with 28 goals against in the playoffs, the Blazers are the worst of the remaining teams.  To be fair, they did play Victoria and a Kelowna team that never quit despite the injuries and having to come back from a 3-0 series deficit against Seattle in the opening round, so Kamloops has definitely been tested.  Their defense is underrated, as their forwards get all the press despite the team giving up the fourth fewest goals in the league.