Menu
Sign In Search Podcasts Charts People & Topics Add Podcast API Blog Pricing
Podcast Image

The Steve Dangle Podcast

Western Conference Playoff Preview 2026

17 Apr 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What are the predictions for the Los Angeles Kings vs Colorado Avalanche series?

0.031 - 23.852 Steve Dangle

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.

0

23.892 - 34.503 Steve Dangle

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.

0

Chapter 2: How do the Anaheim Ducks compare to the Edmonton Oilers in the playoffs?

35.023 - 49.258 Steve Dangle

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.

0

49.627 - 77.743 Jesse Blake

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.

0

Chapter 3: What factors influence the Utah Mammoth vs Vegas Golden Knights matchup?

77.723 - 81.281 Jesse Blake

You went 65 out of 82 games. You couldn't win four out of seven.

0

81.583 - 85.945 Steve Dangle

With a 3-1 lead. If LA beats them, does that mean they go on a run like the Panthers have?

0

86.633 - 95.523 Jesse Blake

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.

0

95.923 - 104.072 Steve Dangle

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.

0

Chapter 4: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Minnesota Wild vs Dallas Stars series?

104.873 - 114.143 Steve Dangle

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.

0

114.123 - 131.427 Unknown

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.

0

131.487 - 150.993 Unknown

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.

0

151.053 - 159.304 Unknown

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.

0

Chapter 5: How important is goaltending in the Kings vs Avalanche matchup?

159.425 - 164.732 Unknown

So if they can play a little, if they can slow down Colorado, they got a chance.

0

165.953 - 180.331 Steve Dangle

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.

0

Chapter 6: What role do veteran players play in the Ducks vs Oilers series?

180.371 - 203.2 Steve Dangle

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.

0

203.881 - 212.815 Steve Dangle

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.

0

213.095 - 218.343 Jesse Blake

Darcy Kemper has, I think, the most absurd record I've seen in the league this year.

0

Chapter 7: What are the implications of injuries for the Wild vs Stars series?

218.443 - 219.545 Steve Dangle

OK, give it to me.

0

219.565 - 224.532 Jesse Blake

Nineteen, fourteen and fifteen. That's absurd.

0
0

225.633 - 251.554 Jesse Blake

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.

0

252.215 - 252.315

Yeah.

252.295 - 258.663 Jesse Blake

Absolutely. How does he have more overtime losses than regulation wins? Sorry, regulation losses.

258.703 - 275.063 Steve Dangle

Yeah, it's crazy, but it is true. I mean, Jess, we've seen Kemper in the playoffs. He had a 902 against or I guess he had a 902 the last time he wasn't in a King's uniform last year. Not so hot. 889 save percentage.

Chapter 8: What are the overall playoff predictions for the Western Conference?

275.043 - 279.473 Steve Dangle

three, seven, four goals against average. But again, it was against the Oilers and it was over six games.

0

279.734 - 281.558 Unknown

Oh, you're talking specifically in the playoffs.

0

281.578 - 292.022 Steve Dangle

Yeah, playoffs, playoffs. Yeah. Do we, I mean, he didn't hold up well against the firepower of the Oilers beyond game three last year. Is he going to hold up well against the firepower of the Avs?

0

292.002 - 300.173 Unknown

Yeah, I'm going to disagree with him getting Vesna votes here. I don't think that's... He didn't reach 20 wins. I don't think that's on the table for him.

0

300.613 - 301.194 Steve Dangle

He should get votes.

301.274 - 316.676 Unknown

I think he's like an 890 save percentage, less than 20 wins. He's probably not going to be on my ballot if I had one. On my imaginary ballot, he's not going to be on it. The Kings are going to struggle in this series. Like it's an uphill battle.

317.257 - 338.732 Unknown

And no matter which way you look at it, I think in the other end of the ice in that goal is somebody who will get Vesna trophy votes and probably finish right behind Vasilevsky. You know, depending on where that goes, it might be Wallstead, who knows. But like, I think they're the Kings are second in this series in terms of goaltending.

338.999 - 365.023 Jesse Blake

What would you rather have, Adam? 19, 14, and 5 with a 9.81, or sorry, 8.91. Can you imagine a 9.81? An 8.91 save percentage, or at the other end of the ice, 16, 12, and 5 with a 9.10? I think it's obvious. Now, what if I told you I lied to you? Oh, you did. And those are Anton Forsberg's stats. That's not bad. So I'll go the completely other direction. I think Kemper should be on a short leash.

365.003 - 366.045 Jesse Blake

Interesting.

Comments

There are no comments yet.

Please log in to write the first comment.