Western Conference Playoff Preview 2026
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What are the predictions for the Los Angeles Kings vs Colorado Avalanche series?
Well, we finally know who the Colorado Avalanche are going to beat in the first round. Oh, come on. He said. Hey, listen. This playoff preview is brought to you by Ontario Toyota dealers. Check out visittoyota.ca to build out your new Tacoma. 6,400 pounds of towing capacity. It's powerful. And you should check it out. Plus, it's also got the JBL sound system surround. It's beautiful, especially for the audiophiles among us. Visit toyota.ca to build out yours during red tag days, March through May. Now, I got to tell you this.
How do the Anaheim Ducks compare to the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs?
We got our spark bracket. You want to sign up for this. I wonder, Jesse and Steve, how many people are actually going to go and be like, yes, I unironically am picking the Kings to win this series. I don't think people give them a big shot at this.
No, but it is the NHL, and we've seen two very obvious teams to pick in the first round. Two President's Trophy winners topple. Two record breakers, right? The Tampa Bay Lightning in 2019 with 62 wins. And that was against the Columbus Blue Jackets. That was against the Columbus Blue Jackets. And then the Boston Bruins in 2023 with 65 wins.
What factors influence the Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights matchup?
You went 65 out of 82 games. You couldn't win four out of seven.
With a 3-1 lead. If LA beats them, does that mean they go on a run like the Panthers have?
I don't think so. I don't think so. But like, I've been really impressed with how our Timmy Panarin's fit in.
Two things, Jesse, I want to talk about quickly. All right. First thing, something you've been calling for since game three of the playoffs last year. Jim Hiller is not the coach.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars series?
And the LA Kings are not playing the Edmonton Oilers before we actually get into the roster breakdowns and that sort of thing. I mean, those are two major factors. The boogeyman is not in the first round.
Yeah, thank goodness we don't have round five of that mess because I probably would have protested it and not watched the second. But now I can actually watch this hockey. And it's going to be a little more competitive than people are giving the Kings a chance here. Because when we get to the playoffs, Steve, you're always somebody who's really on this. There's different seasons of the hockey schedule. Playoff hockey is different than regular season hockey. And the Kings have a lot of veterans who are going to get in there and play. postseason hockey. And the goals against is something that not a lot of people are talking about with the Kings in that they are good at stopping their opponents. It's just putting the bucket in the back of the net on the other side isn't something they're very good at.
But over the course of this season, they do have one of the least amount of goals allowed.
How important is goaltending in the Kings vs Avalanche matchup?
So if they can play a little, if they can slow down Colorado, they got a chance.
My understanding is their power play is not good. But, but. Colorado's? No, no, no. Colorado's was bad. It's better now. Maybe it'll be a violent series because both teams know the other can't score. Well, this is the thing. Like, I kind of looked at this. I'm like, well, LA's power play is maybe not the best and they can't score a lot of goals.
What role do veteran players play in the Ducks vs Oilers series?
But Colorado on the power play, also not great. They've improved. They have. I look at this as, I mean, obviously it's the playoffs. It's going to be a five on five series. There's going to be maybe two penalties each way, each game. Let's work from the net out, though. OK, you've got Wedgwood Blackwood. You know, that's been the goaltending tandem since like November of last season. And then you've got on the other end, a guy who's going to get Vesna trophy votes. And that's Darcy Kemper. And Anton Forsberg's been OK, too.
Darcy Kemper has, I think, the most absurd record I've seen in the league this year.
What are the implications of injuries for the Wild vs Stars series?
OK, give it to me.
Nineteen, fourteen and fifteen. That's absurd.
Yeah.
That's absurd. So if you want to, depends how you look at it. He's either 19 wins and 29 losses en route to being a potential Vesna candidate or, oh, well, he got points in frigging 34 games this year. It totally depends how you look at it, but that is absolutely absurd.
Yeah.
Absolutely.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What are the predictions for the Los Angeles Kings vs Colorado Avalanche series?
0:00–0:35
2
How do the Anaheim Ducks compare to the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs?
0:35–1:17
3
What factors influence the Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights matchup?
1:17–1:44
4
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars series?
1:44–2:39
5
How important is goaltending in the Kings vs Avalanche matchup?
2:39–3:00
6
What role do veteran players play in the Ducks vs Oilers series?
3:00–3:38
7
What are the implications of injuries for the Wild vs Stars series?
3:38–4:35
8
What are the overall playoff predictions for the Western Conference?
4:35–53:59