Analyzing NHL Western Conference Playoff Matchups with Predictions

Welcome to the postseason, folks! All season, FantasySP has been your go-to, not only for fantasy league tools, but also up-to-date editorial surrounding fantasy outlook and breaking news, trades, and player movement around the NHL.

We will continue that trend throughout the playoffs and offseason to ensure you are always well educated and in the loop in all things hockey. While the frequency might be down as we mostly focus on fantasy outlooks, our offseason news quality will remain. 

Rest assured, in season or not, you can count on the staff at FantasySP to keep you up to date all year round and keep you engaged in all of the most important hockey news.

For now, our focus is on the playoffs, so we will touch base each round. Follow along, and let's share some predictions that might help you in any playoffs pools you are in, in these amazing round one matchups!

Winnipeg Jets vs. St. Louis Blues

Here, I've got the Jets in five. Honestly, if the Blues did not go on a crazy heater at the end of the season with a 12-game winning streak, the standings might look a bit different here.

Winnipeg goaltender Connor Hellebuyck had an unbelievable season, and is looking virtually unbeatable. Getting four wins against this bulwark is going to be tough for any team, and I doubt the Blues have the firepower to get the job done.

Jets forward Kyle Connor leads the team with 41 goals, 56 assists, and 97 points which is no surprise. He is likely to be lethal in this series, so look for him to continue to lead the charge to a first round victory here. 

Captain for the Jets, Josh Morrissey, also had an excellent season with 14 goals, 48 assists, and 62 points. The defender will be quarterbacking a lot of the offense, and historically produces well in the playoffs. Between these three players, I don't think the Blues will be much of a challenge for the Jets.

A darkhorse player that I do expect to perform well, coming off of an excellent regular season is forward Jake Neighbours. He put up 22 goals, 24 assists, and 46 points. Coming off of his second full NHL season, he raised a lot of eyebrows and had an emergence that the Blues definitely need in the future. Keep an eye on this kid.

Dallas Stars vs. Colorado Avalanche

The Western matchup that everyone is looking forward to... I have the Avs taking the series in six.

That is not a knock on the Stars, who I think are an elite team, but Colorado is an absolute powerhouse. Now that they have their goaltending situation figured out in Mackenzie Blackwood, having traded their previous blue paint swiss cheese goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, they are hands down the favourite to make it into the Western Conference final, even a threat to go on a dynasty Stanley Cup run. 

Their roster is unimaginably deep, being led by the likes of Nathan MacKinnon up front, and Cale Makar on the blueline. They also have their captain returning in Gabriel Landeskog, who last skated with the team in their last Stanley Cup win in 2022.

Brock Nelson was a huge addition to the team and should give them some scoring depth, and dependable faceoff support.

Mackinnon obviously led the Avs with 32 goals, 84 assists, and 116 points this season.

Overshadowed are the sneaky good Stars. They also had a great season, and have very solid goaltending in Jake Oettinger, so there is never a worry in the crease. They also saw a defensemen of the future shine in the Four Nations Face-Off in Thomas Harley who had 16 goals, 34 assists, and 50 points this season. He stepped in at the perfect time as the Stars lost the services of Miro Heiskanen late in the season.

Jason Robertson had an abysmal start, and was basically invisible for the first few months of the season. He did pick up production, but seemed to be a shell of his former self. He did end the season with 35 goals, 45 assists, and 90 points, but he is going to need to lead the charge in offense for this team if they are going to stand a chance against the best in the West.

Vegas Golden Knights vs. Minnesota Wild

The Golden Knights have had the Wild's number all season, and I've got the Golden Knights in six here. 

The Wild did get the likes of Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek back, they have struggled and been up and down all season, dealing with a lot of injuries. Matt Boldy led the team with 27 goals, 46 assists, and 73 points. While that's great for Boldy, it's telling of where the team sits.

Defenseman Brock Faber struggled all year, too, totalling only 29 points with 78 games played.

If the Wild can stay healthy, and have a full roster next year they will be a different force to be reckoned with, however I just don't believe they are fully healthy and have stretched a lot of guys too thin. Coupled with the fact that the Golden Knights have owned them all year, the Wild might put up a fight, but it just won't be enough.

Jack Eichel has been a force this year. This one-man wrecking crew has been putting the team on his back and has almost 30 more points than the next closest player on the team. He had 28 goals, 66 assists, and 94 points this season.

Goaltender Adin Hill has also had a spectacular season with 32 wins in 50 starts.

The Golden Knights aren't among the top picks for the west, but they do get the edge on the Wild for this matchup in my opinion. It is poised to be one of the least anticipated matchups, though.

Los Angeles Kings vs. Edmonton Oilers

This is the fourth consecutive time that the Kings will face the Oilers in round one. Obviously, there is some history and rivalry here. Let's call it the Wayne Gretzky matchup. If you know, you know.

The Oilers are the clear favourites here, and I have them in five. Every Canadian is hoping for the Oilers to make the Stanley Cup finals for an all Canadian matchup, however a Western Conference finals is likely at the minimum.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl will lead the charge again here in what is revved up to be a high scoring series. 

McDavid had 26 goals, 74 assists, and 100 points. Draisaitl, who should be returning for game one had 52 goals, 54 assists, for 106 points. What an unreal one-two punch. Impossible to suppress for any significant length of time.

The Kings did have some success this year, and saw some new faces emerge that will be key components of their future. These include forward Alex Laferriere and defenseman Brandt Clarke. The Kings look dangerous in the years to come, and Brandt will have big shoes to fill with the eventual departure of Kings blueline royalty Drew Doughty.