By Allan Brown
Part Two
With the addition of four strong teams to the playoffs, the NHL's Western Conference teams look to be primed and loaded for bear in their quest to be the Stanley Cup champion.
However, if any of the teams out West are actually going to accomplish that feat, the first round of the revised playoffs will be key for the power house squads that will vye to enter the quarterfinals of the NHL tournament.
While the first series to be previewed here looks like a sweep, looks can be deceiving.
EDMONTON (2nd in Pacific Division, 83 points) vs. CHICAGO (7th in Central Division, 72 points)
The Oilers should be able to handle the less-than-balanced Blackhawks, but consider this, about 40 percent plus of all Edmonton goals this season have been scored by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. Stop those two and Chicago at least has a fighting chance.
Goaltending should be interesting in this matchup, as neither squad has a netminder in the top 10 of either save percentages or goals against average.
The Oilers have the advantage in both the offensive and defensive rankings and, thus, should win this series easily.
Give the Blackhawks one game, tho Edmonton takes the best of five series, 3-1.
Now to an interesting matchup that could go either way.
ARIZONA (5th in Pacific Division, 74 points) vs NASHVILLE (5th in Central, 78 points)
Both teams have been up and down all season so this series should go the distance.
Nashville might have a slight edge in this series as far as history goes, though the team's erratic play this season is certainly suspect. A healthy Pekka Rinne in goal would certainly be a boost to the Preds' chances. At 37, age is not on his side.
Experience is, though.
For the Coyotes, netminder Darcy Kuemper has had an extraordinary season, placing second in goals against average and third in save percentage. Not enough good has been said about his Herculean performance between the pipes.
Also the experience of Phil Kessel and former league MVP, Taylor Hall, props up the Coyotes. Though, on the opposing team's side, Nashville has the star power of Filip Forsberg and Roman Josi to keep them competitive.
The key here will be Arizona's third-ranked defense, which has only given up 2.67 goals per game. Nashville is all the way down in 21st place in that statistic. Either Rinne or Jusse Saros in goal might struggle against that solid Coyotes D.
The Preds certainly have the edge in playoff experience, though think this series goes to an underrated and rising Arizona team in four.
Another close series is looked at next.
VANCOUVER (4th in Pacific, 78 points) vs MINNESOTA (6th in Central, 77 points)
Roll 'em in this series, too.
Vancouver has overachieved this year, whereas the Wild have been inconsistent.
With Alex Stalok in the midst of a 20-win, four shutout season, the Wild certainly have a chance. However, gotta lean toward the team that has the firepower of JT Miller and Quinn Hughes, both ranked in the top 20 in assists for the season, and the solid and promising play of both Brock Boeser and 2017 first round pick Elias Pettersson.
Going Canucks in four, maybe five.
The final matchup features an epic battle of Canadian teams.
CALGARY (3rd in Pacific, 79 points) vs WINNIPEG (in Central, 80 points)
This series couldn't be any closer.
Both teams have underachieved from last season, yet are still squads that could do some damage further along in the playoffs.
Most prognosticators are going with the Flames in this one.
Don't buy into it, though.
Winnipeg ranks slightly ahead of Calgary offensively (19th place for the Jets vs 21st place in that ranking for the Flames.) And the Jets also have an advantage with a better-ranked defense (14-18).
The big difference is in goal, where Connor Hellebuyck will be the biggest factor if the Jets want to advance. He leads the league in shutouts and also is in the top 10 in both wins and save percentage.
No Flames player is even in the top 20 in either goals or assists, making Hellebuyck's task seem even easier.
Points wise the teams seem about even, though, because of Hellebuyck and offensive stars Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor, this series is going to tip to the Jets in four.
And, then these first-round winners will have to deal with the real heavy hitters out West namely Vegas, Dallas, Colorado and the defending champion St. Louis Blues.
That's going to be a tall order for any of these squads that make it through the first round of this year's expanded playoffs.
