Supposing the Playoffs Started Today: Western Conference Part 1
The time is not far when teams will go at it for a chance at that final spot to play for Stanley Cup glory. In an attempt to predict what might be the chances if the playoffs started today as the situation is right now, we can try assessing according to
statistics, who would make it to the finals from the Western Conference.
Being fair, the Western Conference has always been more viewed as the more competitive and exciting conference, but this year’s teams from both sides have showed significant change in their game play and aggressiveness.
Post All-Star Game break, the WC has been tightly packed, teams have gained and lost their playoff spots within a day of gaining it, just marginalised by a few points, so these predictions will probably be far off when the playoffs really do start.
There are an equal number of Canadian teams on both sides, but obviously the franchises in the Western region have shown more of a thirst for the cup this year.
Canada is going through a Stanley Cup drought. It’s been 18 years now since their last Stanley Cup homecoming with the city of hockey, Montreal Candiens, winning it in 1993.
2004 and 2006 were the only years in the past decade in which two Canadian franchises had a chance, but to their disappointment, Calgary lost to Tampa Bay in the former year followed by Carolina defeating Edmonton in the latter. Both lost by a hair in an
extremely close 4-3 series.
If the playoffs started today
Something very exciting that happens when the playoffs start is that the biggest teams in the league, the leaders of their respective conference faceoff with the last team with a playoff berth. In previous playoff’s we’ve seen major disappointments that
makes it all the more exciting.
Vancouver Canucks Vs Los Angeles Kings
As Vancouver is the top team in the Western Division, they’d go up against Los Angeles who is just above the playoff line by a minimum margin of one point from Nashville Predators with 79 points.
Canucks would be awarded with a home advantage for having the better record throughout the season, which can impact a match between even the best teams harshly.
Both teams still have a matchup remaining on March 31, but it’s still hard to say who would emerge victorious in the first round.
Not considering their upcoming fourth matchup of the regulation season, LA has the advantage, winning two of their previous three contests.
They won both in October, one a shootout and another by three points, 4-1.
It can be said that there have been significant changes since then as Vancouver did defeat them by 3-1 just recently in the beginning of March.
Canucks have really revamped their game from then and are now the best team in the NHL with a staggering 96 points.
Manny Malhotra, Roberto Luongo, Cory Schneider and the Sedin twins are playing in harmony with each other, posting numerous points in each game.
One player that we’ve seen declining since the start is Ryan Kesler.
All of Canada has high expectations of him as he was on top form until a few weeks back, suddenly being out of the limelight certainly doesn’t look good for him.
LA has maintained a good record since the All-Star Game break, although they’ve seen their ups and downs all season, there’s a good chance they could perform well until and during the playoffs.
In February they closed a ten-game road trip wonderfully with a 8-2-3 record, but lost three of five at home after that, this might just be what they’ve been looking for when Vancouver has the home advantage as it obviously makes them a lot more comfortable.
Kings boasts one advantage against Canucks which is having a healthy roster excluding Scott Parse who has been out since November with a hip-injury.
Vancouver faces problems offensively and defensively in that manner, with a number of defensemen out being replaced by farm team players.
It hasn’t showed much difference yet but it can when tension in the playoffs is at its peak and not having experienced players can make all the difference.
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