Stanley Cup 2023: NHL Western Conference Playoff Preview

The NHL playoffs are finally here and there are plenty of matchups worth keeping an eye on. In the Eastern Conference, a lot of the attention is going to be focused on the Boston Bruins (Presidents Trophy winner) and the Toronto Maple Leafs (who haven’t made it out of the first round since 2002).

But what about the Western Conference? There are a couple of intriguing matchups as well as a few new faces to the party. Let’s get into the nitty gritty in the Western Conference and see what each of these playoff matchups has to offer.

Vegas Golden Knights (1) vs. Winnipeg Jets (WC2)

What a difference a year makes. The Knights (+1400), injury-riddled and up against the cap, had nothing but trouble last year. This season, they managed to capture the Pacific Division and top overall seed in the Western Conference.

This year, the Knights are hoping to take advantage of a fairly wide-open Western Conference bracket. Each of the teams that have made it this far has talent and the ability to make a prolonged run. Then again, each has serious flaws that could send them packing. Injuries may once again be a factor as winger Mark Stone is out with a recurring back injury for the foreseeable future, though the team is hopeful that he returns soon. 

For Winnipeg (+3500), we may be seeing the last of this aging core. Youngsters Kyle Connor (80 points) and Josh Morrisey (76 points) are the future of the club but do they have what it takes to upset the Golden Knights? Mainstays like Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler are coming off of their worst effort in years. The club still gets solid goaltending from Connor Hellebuyck but not the same caliber as in recent years.

It is hard to predict this series despite the seeding. The Knights have a deep attack but not a dynamic one. The Jets can score in bunches but not with consistency. Can Logan Thompson be the man to carry Vegas deep? That may be the biggest question in the entire series.

Series Prediction: Golden Knights 4-2

Edmonton Oilers (2) vs. Los Angeles Kings (3)

The Edmonton Oilers (+800) are one of the prohibitive favorites to win the Western Conference and the Stanley Cup. The Kings (+2200), meanwhile, have drifted on and off the radar as a potential dark horse in the Western Conference.

For the Oilers, who made it to the Western Conference Final a year ago, it is time to deliver. Connor McDavid played like a man possessed this year, leading the NHL in goals (64), assists (89), and points (153). He and Leon Draisaitl (128 points) are two of the best forwards in the league. Every eye will be on Stuart Skinner (29-14-5) and Jack Campbell (21-9-4) to deliver enough goaltending to get the job done.

The Kings are not going to jump off the page in any area of the ice. Phoenix Copley took over the starting job, running to a 24-6-3 record in a relatively small sample size. Anze Kopitar (74 points) and Kevin Fiala (72 points) led the way offensively for a team that can be dangerous just not in the way the Oilers are.

The Oiler offense is ridiculously deep. They are the first team since 1995-96 to have three 100-point players and Zach Hyman quietly had a great season with 83 points himself. The Kings will have a monumental task ahead of them trying to keep the Oilers off of the score sheet. Copley and the defense will have to play out of their minds if they hope to propel the Kings forward to the next round.

Series Prediction: Oilers 4 - Kings 1

Colorado Avalanche (1) vs. Seattle Kraken (WC1)

This is perhaps the biggest mismatch in the Western Conference. The Kraken made a huge leap from their inaugural season to make the playoffs for the first time ever. Their reward is the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche.

The Avalanche (+650) have three of the most dynamic players in the game. Nathan MacKinnon (111 points), Mikko Rantanen (105 points), and Cale Makar (66 points) have the ability to take over any game. Makar should be healthy and good to go for the playoffs but has had his share of injury concerns this season.

The Kraken (+4000) were propelled by a career year from Jared McCann (40 goals, 70 points) and a tandem effort from Martin Jones (27-13-3) and Philipp Grubauer (17-14-4) in net. The Kraken aren’t as explosive as the other top teams but do a lot of little things right and have benefited from solid goaltending.

On paper, this one should not be close. The three-headed monster for the Avalanche is healthy and ready to dominate. Makar won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP a year ago and is a Bobby Orr-level difference-maker. The Avalanche have a stout defensive group (Samuel Girard, Bowen Byram, Devon Toews, Makar) that can shut down the Kraken and allow the big two on offense to do what they do best.

Series Prediction: Avalanche 4-1

Dallas Stars (2) vs. Minnesota Wild (3)

The Central Division as a whole was perhaps the toughest in all of hockey this year. Both the Wild and Stars managed to keep the race with Colorado for the division crown going right until the very end of the regular season.

Dallas (+1500) was quietly a very good team this year, coming one game away from winning the Central Division. Jason Robertson (46 goals, 109 points) is a bonafide superstar that leads a talented offensive attack for Dallas. Jake Oettinger (37-11-11) emerged as a potential star himself, taking the bulk of the load in goal.

Minnesota (+2200) quietly remained in contention all year long, even despite a late injury to superstar Kirill Kaprizov. Marc-Andre Fleury (24-16-4) and Filip Gustavason (22-9-7) have proven to be one of the best tandems in the game. Offensively, the Wild struggled without Kaprizov, though center Matt Boldy stepped up to have his first 30-goal year.

This is going to be a tight series from top to bottom. Minnesota is going to need their two-headed monster in net to continue leading the way. Kaprizov will be back but Dallas holds the clear advantage on the offensive end of things. Expect a six- or seven-game series here.

Series Prediction: Dallas 4-3