NHL Preview - Too Early Look At Western Conference Playoffs
Published: Apr 05, 2020
Much like the Eastern Conference, these are the playoffs teams as they are currently placed based on the points today. These matchups do not account for the difference in games played or anything else that could potentially occur before playoffs start. That being said, the West should have a great set of first-round matchups. You have a scenario where the lessor seeded teams in each matchup won the season series, and in 3 of the 4 cases by a sweep. Expect Calgary and Edmonton to carry lots of animosity especially if the battle of Alberta rages on for 7 games, and expect there to be a couple of surprises winners to come out of these matchups, they are really that close.
Nashville Predators(Wild Card 2) vs St Louis Blues(Central 1)
You would have to imagine that if you’re St Louis that facing a team that you have lost to 4 times in the regular season isn’t ideal. That being said, the Blues are built to win in the playoffs with their depth and grit, they will be also be aided greatly by the return of Vladamir Tarasenko, who will add some scoring punch. In spite of the season series record, I will look for the Blues to win this, but in 7.
Head to Head:
Nashville wins 2-1 in Nashville
Nashville wins 4-3 in St Louis
Nashville wins 3-2(SO) in Nashville
Nashville wins 4-2 in St Louis
Nashville Top Scorers in the Series
Turris 3G, 4A
Forsburg 1G, 4A
Jarnkrok 1G, 1A
Arvidsson 2G, 1A
Duchene 1G, 2A
Granlund 1G, 2A
Bonnino 1G, 1A
Johansen 1G, 1A
Grimaldi 2A
Watson 2A
Fabbro 2A
Josi 2A
Nashville Goalies
Saros 0.909 save percentage (3 games)
Rinne 38/39 0.974 save percentage (1 game)
St Louis Top Scorers in the Series
Schwartz 2G
Schenn 1G, 2A
Perron 1G, 2A
Pietrangelo 2A
Thomas 2A
O’Reilly 1A
Parayko 1A
Bozak 1G, 1A
Gunnarsson 1A
Blais - 1A
Sanford - 1G
Steen - 1G
Kyrou - 1A
St Louis Goalies
Binnington 0.924 save percentage (2 games)
Allan 0.909 save percentage (2 games)
Winnipeg Jets(Wild Card 1) vs Vegas Golden Knights(Pacific 1)
This is another interesting matchup. The Jets top two lines are as good as any in hockey and have benefited from a Vezina worthy season from Connor Hellebuyck, which makes them dangerous in the playoffs. Vegas is fairly equal in those same terms, with their top 6, and with a healthy Mark Stone they have a player who can help shut down one of Vegas’ lines, they also have 2 top goalies, so should Fleury struggle early they should have confidence going to Lehner. I expect this to be another tight series, but I’m taking the Jets in 6.
Head to Head
Winnipeg wins at home 4-0
Winnipeg wins in Vegas 4-3 (OT)
Winnipeg Top Scorers in the Series
Laine 1G,2A
Scheifele 1G
Connor 2G, 2A
Perrault 1G,2A
Pionk 2A
Morrissey 2A
Wheeler 1A
Ehlers 1G, 1A
Winnipeg Goalies
Brossoit 22/24 0.917 save percentage (1 game)
Hellebuyck 29/29 1.000 save percentage (1 game)
Vegas Top Scorers in the Series
Stone 1A
Pacioretty 1G
Karlsson 2A
Marchessault 1G
Theodore 1A
Schmidt 1G
Vegas Goalies
Subban 35/39 0.897 save percentage (1 game)
Fleury 20/24 0.833 save percentage (1 game)
Dallas Stars(Central 3) vs Colorado Avalanche(Central 2)
The margin of victory in the regular season between these two teams was razor-thin, with 2 games going to overtime, and a third decided by 1 goal. These two teams are very similar, with both teams being dependant on their top line to score, and both having goalie depth. The difference-maker in this series could very well be Gabriel Landeskog. If he is able to keep Seguin in check it could tilt things in favor of the Avs, but they will need MacKinnon to play like the top 5 player that he is. Expect another long series, but I will take the Avs in 7.
Head to Head
Dallas wins in Colorado 3-2(OT)
Dallas wins at home 3-2(SO)
Dallas wins in Colorado 4-1
Dallas wins at home 2-1
Dallas Top Scorers in the Series
Hintz 2G,2A
Klingberg 4A
Gurianov 2G,1A
Pavelski 2A
Dickinson 2G
Lindell 1G, 1A
Radulov 2A
Seguin 1G, 1A
Faksa 2G
Dallas Goalies
Bishop 0.959 save percentage(3 games)
Khudobin 38/39 0.974 save percentage(1 game)
Colorado Top Scorers in the Series
MacKinnon 1G,2A
Compher 2G
Makar 2A
Nieto 2A
Landeskog 1G
Zadorov 1G
Graves 1A
Johnson 1A
Cole 1G
Colorado Goalies
Grubauer 0.920 save percentage (4 games)
Calgary Flames(Pacific 3) vs Edmonton Oilers(Pacific 2)
The Battle of Alberta in the first round should be fun. These two teams have played 4 times this year, with the results being either blowout or close game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the result come playoff time as well. As you would expect from Edmonton you have seen big performances from Draisailt, and McDavid, but very little coming from their 3rd and 4th lines. Edmonton is really fun to watch, but with their shaky goalies, it’s hard to see them going on much of a playoff run. I like Calgary to win this series in 7.
Head to Head
Edmonton wins 8-3 in Calgary
Calgary wins 4-3(SO) in Edmonton
Calgary wins 4-3 at home
Calgary wins 5-1 in Edmonton
Calgary Top Scorers in the Series
Lindholm 5G, 1A
Mangiapane 3G, 3A
Gaudreau 1G, 3A
Tkachuk 2G, 1A
Giordano 4A
Monahan 1G, 1A
Dube 1G
Backlund 1G
Robinson 1G
Calgary Goalies
Rittich 22/28 81/91 (3 games)
Talbot 19/21 48/53 (2 games)
Edmonton Top Scorers in the Series
Draisaitl 7A
McDavid 4G, 1A
Yamamoto 2G,3A
Nugent-Hopkins 3G, 1A
Chaisson 1G, 1A
Haas 1G, 1A
Nurse 2A
Bear 2A
Klefbom 2A
Kassian 1G
Edmonton Goalies
Koskinen 0.877 save percentage (3 games)
Smith 0.868 save percentage (3 games)