Playoff time is upon us. And in the Western Conference, the race is skintight.
NHL media have been touting the merits of the West for months now, and deservedly so. With the tournament starting less than three weeks from today, it’s not hard to envision any of the eight teams claiming the Campbell Bowl on or about May 25.
Let’s further examine each Western Conference team’s prospects and predict each squad’s chance of making the Stanley Cup final.
THE FAVOURITES
St. Louis Blues
Current position: 50-16-7, 107 points; first in Central Division, first in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: Because not only do the Blues sport the league’s most dominant top line in Alex Steen-David Backes-T.J. Oshie, but because they have allowed the conference’s fewest number of goals. Adding Ryan Miller in goal only made St. Louis look more formidable, plus it appears the Blues will have home-ice advantage for at least the first two rounds.
How they could get picked off: Miller’s playoff history (25-22, 2.46 goals-against, .917 save percentage) is good but not great, plus this organization has seen dominant regular-season performances — in 1981, 2000 and most recently in 2012 — go to waste quickly in the postseason.
Odds of winning conference: 3/1
San Jose Sharks
Current position: 47-19-9, 103 points; first in Pacific Division, second in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: Some might remember I picked the Sharks to win the whole shebang back in January, and now is no time to drift from that opinion. San Jose has Cup pedigree in goal with Antti Niemi, has dominated the Anaheim Ducks this season, and if they dodge the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, will avoid a slobberknocker of an opening series. Plus, if the Sharks get rookie Tomas Hertl back for the first round, they’ll deploy three terrifying scoring lines.
How they could get picked off: The Sharks could be this year’s “team most likely to fall victim to a hot goalie.” San Jose has lost four games in which it fired 50 or more shots this season. Plus, like the Blues, the Sharks have that whole history of disappointing playoff performances, if you believe in that sort of thing.
Odds of winning conference: 7/2
Anaheim Ducks
Current position: 47-18-7, 101 points; second in Pacific Division, third in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: Because they had the league’s best home-ice advantage for nearly four months. Plus, what isn’t to love about a line of Perry-Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne?
And if they can claim the Pacific Division crown, the Ducks could force the whole conference to go through the Honda Center, and there’s no Detroit Red Wings this year out west to knock them off.
How they could get picked off: If the Ducks of the past two months are the ones that show up in the postseason. Anaheim is a perfectly mediocre 7-7-2 since Feb. 1. Plus, Jonas Hiller is just 10-10 all time in the postseason.
Odds of winning conference: 4/1
Chicago Blackhawks
Current position: 42-17-15, 99 points; second in Central Division, fourth in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: Because, as the defending conference and Stanley Cup champions, you wear that label until someone knocks you off. Plus, the Hawks still have Jonathan Toews and Marian Hossa playing together and should have a fresh Patrick Kane come playoff time.
How they could get picked off: Chicago is likely due a first-round meeting with the Colorado Avalanche, and the Hawks have had a rough time against the Avalanche thus far. Plus, it takes immense luck to win even the conference in consecutive years. Fatigue will hit the Blackhawks at some point during the tournament.
Odds of winning conference: 8/1
THE DARK HORSES
Los Angeles Kings
Current position: 43-25-6, 92 points; third in Pacific Division, sixth in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: Because, as their five-game winning streak would suggest, the Kings get stronger as the postseason arises. Plus, L.A. is not afraid to win road games. Los Angeles has dominated the Sharks this season, and Jonathan Quick’s mere presence should terrify both Anaheim and San Jose.
How they could get picked off: Because the Kings aren’t a great goal-scoring team — their 185 markers are tied with the Calgary Flames for ninth-best in the West — and that ultimately catches up with teams in the playoffs. Playing deep into postseason in three straight years can be draining, and that first-round meeting will be hellacious. The Kings should want no part of the Ducks in the first round.
Odds of winning conference: 10/1
Colorado Avalanche
Current position: 46-21-6, 98 points; third in Central Division, fifth in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: The Avalanche have gained ownership of the Blackhawks, thanks to a 4-1 record against Chicago. Colorado has nothing to lose, which could make it the scariest team in the tournament, and boasts wins this year over the Kings, Sharks, Ducks and Blackhawks.
How they could get picked off: If youth freezes in the spring/summer heat. The Avs have shown bouts of inconsistency, especially defensively. Plus, if Colorado has to face off against the Blues, that might not end well. The Avs are 0-3 against St. Louis thus far this year.
Odds of winning conference: 14/1
THE LONG SHOTS
Minnesota Wild
Current position: 37-26-11, 85 points; fourth in Central Division, seventh in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: The Wild aren’t playing well, but they are a terrifying prospective draw for the Sharks, Ducks or Blues. Minnesota sports three lines that can score, plus it is only a matter of time until Ryan Suter’s shutdown game is displayed in postseason.
How they could get picked off: If coach Mike Yeo continues to go with Ilya Bryzgalov over Darcy Kuemper, or if their current skid keeps Minnesota down. The Wild are 3-5-4 in their past 12 and have allowed 35 goals in that stretch.
Odds of winning conference: 20/1
Phoenix Coyotes
Current position: 36-26-12, 84 points; fourth in Pacific Division, eighth in Western Conference
Why they can win the West: Because the Coyotes are used to the us-against-the-world mentality, and Phoenix is playing its best hockey, going 9-3-1 in its last 13. If the Coyotes can overcome Mike Smith’s injury and qualify, this break for their netminder could be a blessing in disguise. Smith has stolen series before and is capable of getting hot and doing so again.
How they could get picked off: Phoenix has been wildly inconsistent this season. At times, like recently, it has looked like one of the West’s best team. It also has resembled a squad that deserves to miss the playoffs.
Odds of winning conference: 25/1