Monday 11 March 2019

{coyotes} Stanley Cup Playoffs primer: Western Conference

 

Here is where the Western Conference playoff picture stands today:

 

Calgary Flames (42-20-7)

Where they stand: 91 points; first in Pacific Division

Games remaining: 13 (eight home; five road)

Key games: March 26 at Winnipeg Jets; March 31 at San Jose Sharks

If playoffs started today: Would play the Minnesota Wild in first round

Need to know: The Flames ended a four-game losing streak (0-4-0) with a 6-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday. They were outscored 14-5 in those games.

 

San Jose Sharks (41-19-8)

Where they stand: 90 points; second in Pacific Division

Games remaining: 14 (eight home; six road)

Key games: March 18 vs. Vegas Golden Knights; March 31 vs. Calgary Flames

If playoffs started today: Would play the Golden Knights in first round

Need to know: The Sharks are second in the NHL in scoring, averaging 3.62 goals per game, and have the League's fourth-best power play percentage (25.4).

 

Vegas Golden Knights (38-27-5)

Where they stand: 81 points; third in Pacific Division

Games remaining: 12 (six home, six road)

Key games: March 18 at Sharks; April 4 vs. Arizona Coyotes

If playoffs started today: Would play the Sharks in first round

Need to know: On their recent six-game winning streak, the Golden Knights had four wins against Pacific Division teams. They are 15-6-2 within the division this season.

 

Winnipeg Jets (40-24-4)

Where they stand: 84 points; first in Central Division

Games remaining: 14 (seven home, seven road)

Key games: March 12 vs. Sharks; March 23 vs. Nashville Predators

If playoffs started today: Would play the Dallas Stars in first round

Need to know: The Jets are fifth in the NHL with a 25.1 power play percentage, but rank 24th in penalty killing percentage (78.8).

 

Nashville Predators (39-26-5)

Where they stand: 83 points; second in Central Division

Games remaining: 12 (five home, seven road)

Key games: March 23 at Jets; April 6 vs. Chicago Blackhawks

If playoffs started today: Would play the St. Louis Blues in first round

Need to know: The Predators are ranked 30th in the NHL with a power play percentage of 12.6. They have scored four power play goals in their past 13 games.

 

St. Louis Blues (36-25-7)

Where they stand: 79 points; third in Central Division

Games remaining: 14 (eight home, six road)

Key games: March 12 vs. Arizona Coyotes; April 1 vs. Colorado Avalanche

If playoffs started today: Would play the Predators in first round

Need to know: Since the calendar turned to 2019, the Blues are 19-6-2, including 4-1-1 in their past six games.

 

Dallas Stars (35-28-5)

Where they stand: 75 points; first wild card from Western Conference

Games remaining: 14 (seven home; seven road)

Key games: March 14 at Minnesota Wild; April 6 vs. Wild

If playoffs started today: Would play the Jets in first round

Need to know: The Stars have allowed the third-fewest goals in the League (172) and scored the third-fewest (172).

 

Minnesota Wild (33-28-8)

Where they stand: 74 points; second wild card from Western Conference

Games remaining: 13 (eight home; five road)

Key games: March 19 vs. Colorado Avalanche; April 6 at Stars

If playoffs started today: Would play the Flames in first round

Need to know: The Wild begin a five-game homestand Monday against the Sharks (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN1, SNE, SNP, NHL.TV). Minnesota is 14-13-6 at Xcel Energy Center and 1-4-3 there since Feb. 2.

 

Arizona Coyotes (34-29-5)

Where they stand: 73 points; one point out of second wild card

Games remaining: 14 (six home; eight road)

Key games: March 29 at Colorado Avalanche; March 31 vs. Wild

If playoffs started today: Would not qualify 

Need to know: The Coyotes have won eight of their past nine games and are 11-3-0 since Feb. 9.

 

Colorado Avalanche (30-27-12)

Where they stand: 72 points; two points out of second wild card

Games remaining: 13 (eight home, five road)

Key games: March 19 at Wild; April 1 at Blues

If playoffs started today: Would not qualify

Need to know: Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog is out 4-6 weeks with an upper-body injury. He has an NHL career-high 33 goals and 69 points this season.

 

Chicago Blackhawks (29-30-9)

Where they stand: 67 points; seven points out of second wild card

Games remaining: 14 (seven home; seven road)

Key games: March 24 vs. Avalanche; April 3 vs. Blues

If playoffs started today: Would not qualify

Need to know: The Blackhawks have allowed 254 goals, most in the Western Conference and second-most in the NHL (Ottawa Senators, 257).

Edmonton Oilers (30-31-7)

Where they stand: 67 points; seven points out of second wild card

Games remaining: 14 (eight home; six road)

Key games: March 28 vs. Stars; April 6 at Flames

If playoffs started today: Would not qualify

Need to know: Beginning with their game against the New York Rangers on Monday (9 p.m. ET; ESPN+, SNW, MSG, NHL.TV), the Oilers play four games the rest of the season against teams from the Eastern Conference. Edmonton is 12-13-3 against the East this season.

 

Vancouver Canucks (28-32-9)

Where they stand: 65 points; nine points out of second wild card

Games remaining: 13 (nine home; four road)

Key games: March 17 at Stars; March 30 vs. Stars

If playoffs started today: Would not qualify

Need to know: The Canucks are 1-4-1 in their past six games and 2-6-2 in their past 10.

 

Anaheim Ducks (27-34-9)

Where they stand: 63 points; 11 points out of second wild card

Games remaining: 12 (six home; six road)

Key games: March 14 at Coyotes; March 26 at Canucks

If playoffs started today: Would not qualify

Need to know: The Ducks average 27.7 shots on goal per game, fewest in the NHL.

 

Los Angeles Kings (25-36-8)

Where they stand: 58 points; 16 points out of second wild card

Games remaining: 13 (eight home; five road)

Key games: March 10 at Ducks; March 26 at Oilers

If playoffs started today: Would not qualify

Need to know: The Kings have lost 13 of their past 14 games (1-9-4).

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