NHL Western Conference playoff capsules and predictions

by Erik Erlendsson | @Erik_Erlendsson | Like us on Facebook
April 12, 2017

It’s that time of season where previews and predictions and opinions are abundant.

So why should it be any different here at LightningInsider.com?

Just because Tampa Bay did not make the postseason dance – enter sad emoji face here – doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun in trying to prognosticate exactly how the playoffs will play out. Plus, it gives you and everybody else the chance to tell me why I’m wrong and how pitiful my bracket might look compared to yours.

So here are my previews and predictions

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Wester Conference previews

Central Division

No. 1 Chicago vs WC 2 Nashville Predators

What to expect from the Blackhawks: Some of the names and numbers may change for Chicago through the years, but wining remains constant. With three Stanley Cup titles since 2010, this modern day dynasty team has the same core together, mainly Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, and goaltender Corey Crawford. Add in Artemi Panarin, the reigning Calder Trophy winner who had another stellar season and the Blackhawks are back where they are used to be, at the top of the standings. With nine players having 100-or-more games of playoff experience, the Blackhawks are looking to become the first team since Edmonton to win four games in the span of eight years.

What to expect from the Predators: After years of one-and-done, the Predators reached the second round last season for the second time in franchise history before falling in seven games to San Jose. Filip Forsberg has emerged as a top goal scorer while Viktor Arvidsson had a breakout season, scoring 31 goals. Built around their defense for so long, Nashviille is now more of a balanced team with 12 different players scoring at least 10 goals, including three defensemen – P.K. Subban, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellils. But the Predators will need Pekka Rinne to be on top of his game and put up better numbers than his career 2.51 GAA and .912 save percentage.

The X-factor: P.K. Subban loves a stage and facing the powerhouse Blackhawks in the playoffs is a larger stage than the Grand Ole Opry. If Subban is on his game, he could be a handful for the Blackhawks to handle. Of course, if Subban becomes a turnover machine, something he is prone to do, then the Blackhawks will feast on the opportunities.

Prediction:

Chicago in six

No. 2 Minnesota vs No. 3 St. Louis

What to expect from the Wild:Under Bruce Boudreau, the Wild became a steady regular season presence, sitting atop the Central division for most of the season for a late-season swoon saw Chicago pull away in the final month. Normally known for a slow-down, defensive style, the Wild were a more dynamic team with four 20-goal scorers (Mikael Granlund, Eric Staal, Nino Niederreiter and Jason Zucker) while eight different players scored at least 15 goals. Devan Dubnky was a Vezina candidate until his late-season falters mirrored those of the team, though he still finished with 40 victories.

What to expect from the Blues:

St. Louis was in danger of falling out of playoff contention until Ken Hitchcock was let go and Mike Yeo – who was hired as the coach-in-waiting after he was let go by Minnesota last season – assumed the duties, ending the season on a 22-8-2 run under Yeo. No player saw more improvement under Yeo than goaltender Jake Allen, whose play had the Blues potentially in the market for a goalie before the trade deadine. Vladimir Tarasenko remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the league and carries the load offensively, finishing with 20 more points the than next closest teammate.

The X-Factor: St. Louis welcomed back forward Vladimir Sobotka, who spent this season in Russia. But he signed a new contract with the Blues at the end of the season and scored a goal in his first game back with the Blues. His addition gives St. Louis an additional offensive threat.

Prediction:

St. Louis in seven

Pacific Division

No. 1 Anaheim vs WC1 Calgary

What to expect from the Ducks: No team was better down the stretch than the Ducks, who went 17-5-3 from Feb. 14 until the end of the season, a run that allowed Anaheim to overtake the Edmonton Oilers for the top spot in the division, which wasn’t determined until the final day of the regular season. It’s a familiar cast for the Ducks, who are led by Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Ryan Kesler. But Rickard Rakell emerged as a 30-goal scorer while Jakob Silfverberg fell one short of the 50-point mark. Trade deadline pickup Patrick Eaves was a solid picking, scoring 11 goals in 20 games with the Ducks. But top defenseman Cam Fowler was injured toward the end of the season – in a game against Calgary as it turns out – which puts a dent in an otherwise deep Anaheim blue line.

What to expect from the Flames: Calgary is a deep, fast team that brings offense from everywhere, led by Johnny Gaudreau, who led the Flames with 61 points. But Sean Monahan led Calgary with 27 goals while Dougie Hamilton, who struggled last year, was fourth on the team with 50 points. After shaky goaltending in the early stages of the season, Brian Elliott turned things around in the second half of the season posting a 16-3-1 record and 2.09 goals against from Jan. 31 to March 31.

The X-Factor: Anaheim holds a distinct home-ice advantage in this series, not only going 29-8-4 at Honda Center during the regular season, but the Ducks have won 25 consecutive regular season home games against Calgary, the longest such run of one team over an opponent in NHL history. Anaheim also won all three home games against Calgary during the 2015 playoffs.

Prediction: Anaheim in six.

No. 2 Edmonton vs No. 3 San Jose

What to expect from the Oilers: We don’t know what to expect from the Oilers, who are in the playoffs for the first time since reaching the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. After years of futility that followed, and a plethora or first overall picks, Edmonton has finally returned to prominence, led by generational talent Connor McDavid, the likely MVP and the only 100-point scorer in the league. But the Oilers have more than just McDavid as Edmonton has four other 20-goal scorers (Leon Draisaitl, Milan Lucic, Jordan Eberle and Patrick Maroon). Cam Talbot has stabilized the Oilers goaltending situation winning 42 games while taking on the biggest workload in the league with 73 starts.

What to expect from the Sharks: The defending Western Conference champions had things swimming right along throughout the season until a late-season swoon saw the Sharks drop to third in the division. A late-season injury to Joe Thornton as well as the health of Logan Couture are big question marks for San Jose, even as both are expected to be in the lineup during the series. But the Sharks still have MVP and Norris Trophy candidate Brent Burns, who led the team with 76 points and was tied for the team lead with 29 goals. Joe Pavelski and Patrick Marleau each scored at least 27 goals, but the production drops after that with no other player besides Couture scoring more than 11 goals on the season. Goaltender Martin Jones, who led the Sharks to the Cup Final last season, had average numbers during the regular season (35-23-6 with a 2.40 GAA and .919 save percentage).

The X-Factor: San Jose is a top-heavy team, but injuries to Thornton and Couture should have the Sharks worried. If both can be close to 100-percent the Sharks have a chance to make another deep playoff run. But if neither is capable of playing up to their standards, it will have an effect on the rest of the lineup.

Prediction: Edmonton in six

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