Sabre Noise
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NHL Playoffs Predictions: Western Conference Picks

By Melissa Kania

Apr 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Winnipeg Jets center Andrew Copp (9) battles Los Angeles Kings defenseman Luke Schenn (left) and Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Lewis (right) for the puck during the third period at Staples Center. The Winnipeg Jets won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Winnipeg Jets center Andrew Copp (9) battles Los Angeles Kings defenseman Luke Schenn (left) and Los Angeles Kings center Trevor Lewis (right) for the puck during the third period at Staples Center. The Winnipeg Jets won 4-3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin today… a long, difficult quest in search of Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Who will be the one, on that fateful day in June, to lift the Stanley Cup?

Yesterday, I covered the first round of the NHL playoffs in the Eastern Conference.

Today, I’ll work over my predictions for each of the first-round series matchups in the NHL’s Western Conference.

Dallas Stars vs. Minnesota Wild

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First up: Dallas and Minnesota – aka the Stars vs. the Old North Stars. (Okay, maybe that’s a stretch. Whatever.)

Dallas finished atop the conference with 109 points. The Wild squeaked in as the wildcard with 87 points. The Stars were incredibly dangerous at home, winning 28 of 41 games there.

It’s all setting up for the Stars, and former Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, to be the favorites in the Western Conference — but favorites don’t always win, and in this case, I think the Wild give ’em a run for their money.

Zach Parise, Mikko Koivu, Ryan Suter, Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter… plus former Sabres Jason Pominville and Thomas Vanek…. who says the Wild can’t do it?

I say Minnesota takes it in five.

St. Louis Blues vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Maybe I’m wrong, but it feels like this is an NHL playoff matchup we see a lot.

Chicago’s got Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, plus of course Calder favorite Artemi Panarini, Seabrook, Keith, Hossa, and Corey Crawford.

St. Louis has Vladimir Tarasenko, which in and of himself is a spectacular asset to have heading into the playoffs. Alex Steen, Paul Stastny, David Backes, Kevin Shattenkirk… each team has their own big players.

I’ve got Chicago taking this series in six games. The Blues won’t make it easy for them, but in the end, the Hawks will just be too much.

Anaheim Ducks vs. Nashville Predators

Anaheim’s in as the top seed in their division, while Nashville makes it as a wild card.

In the end, none of that matters once the playoffs start. It’s like a whole new season, and anything can happen. Sometimes the team that you think is going to win does end up winning, sometimes it’s the team that looks like the “underdog.”

In this case…. I think the Ducks take it in five games. The Preds will put up a fight and maybe take the first game, maybe surprising Anaheim a little bit, but the Ducks will quickly squish that and take the series.

Los Angeles Kings vs. San Jose Sharks

This is the only Western Conference matchup that I have headed to seven games, but I think it’ll be a good battle between two of the NHL’s California teams, if nothing else.

Just four points separated the Kings and Sharks at the end of the regular season. The Kings were solid at home, the Sharks good on the road.

Their goal differentials were even close, and all of that combined leads me to believe it’ll be a close series.

In the end, I’ve got the Kings advancing in seven. See also: Jhonas Enroth.

Next: NHL Eastern Conference Picks

The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs begin tonight.

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