4 predictions for the Western Conference's 1st round
The Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived, so it's time to dust off the crystal ball and make some predictions. Here's our outlook for how the West will play out:
Nashville Predators (1) vs. Colorado Avalanche (WC2)
The Avalanche pulled out all the stops to clinch the West's second wild-card seed, including a knockout victory over the St. Louis Blues in the final game of the regular season. Even more impressive is that the Avalanche did it with starter Semyon Varlamov and top defender Erik Johnson on the sidelines.
But after completing their second-half surge, how much do the Avalanche have left to make some noise in the playoffs, particularly given the team must face off against the Presidents' Trophy-winning Predators?
Nashville took all four regular-season contests against Colorado, with three coming in regulation. Expect a similar showing in the postseason, especially with the banged-up Avs forced to turn to backup netminder Jonathan Bernier.
Prediction: Preds cruise to second round with sweep of Avs
Winnipeg Jets (2) vs. Minnesota Wild (3)
Bruce Boudreau's NHL coaching record is impressive, if you stop reading after Game 82. That's because for all the success the affable bench boss has had in the regular season, he hasn't translated those victories to when it matters.
In eight full seasons behind an NHL bench, Boudreau's squads have always cracked the 100-point plateau, but he's failed to carry over that success to the playoffs, with just five series wins since 2008. That includes four opening-round wins and just a single year where his team has made the Conference Finals.
It's not about to get any easier this spring, with the Wild set for date with the high-flying Jets. Winnipeg boasts plenty of offensive options, and Boudreau's inability to adjust to the opposition will contribute to Minnesota's demise.
Prediction: Wild coach Boudreau still can't translate success to spring
Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs. Los Angeles Kings (WC1)
It's been a year of rewriting the record books for the Golden Knights, and there's no reason to believe that will stop in the postseason.
Already the first modern-era expansion team to win its division in its inaugural campaign, and the lone first-year club to reach 100 points in its first season, is the possibility of a playoff series win all that far-fetched?
The Golden Knights will have their work cut out for them against the Kings, who've won two Stanley Cups since 2012 and who boast the fewest goals against this season. Still, the Knights bring their own strengths to the table, as only three teams found the back of the net more often than Vegas, while netminder Marc-Andre Fleury's .927 save percentage is amongst the league's best.
Prediction: Knights set another expansion record with series win
Anaheim Ducks (2) vs. San Jose Sharks (3)
No opening-round matchup in the West will be as tightly contested as this battle of California foes, and a series peppered with frequent overtime will be a good indication of that.
While the Sharks took three of four regular-season meetups, two of those games were decided in a shootout, as was Anaheim's lone win against San Jose. In all, on just one occasion was a winner decided in 60 minutes.
Adding intrigue is that both sides enter the series with a host of key names in the injury ward, counting Cam Fowler and John Gibson for the Ducks, while Joe Thornton is still sidelined for the Sharks. Nor are there any assurances the latter two will be ready to return in time for Game 1.
Prediction: Ducks need three OT wins to knock out Sharks in seven
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)