Knights highlight a big refresh

The Predators have the Presidents’ Trophy, and the NHL-expansion Golden Knights carry the buzz entering the Western Conference playoffs, which have the potential of resembling nothing from the past.

So step aside Chicago, which missed the playoffs for the first time in nine years, and say bye to the Blues, whose six-year playoff run is over.

The changing of the West’s guard begins at the top, where Nashville clinched its first Central Division title by running away with the league’s best record. And then there’s Vegas, which broke every measureable NHL expansion record for success by going 5124-7 to claim the Pacific Division.

Add in the talent-laden Winnipeg Jets, making their franchise’s third playoff appearance, and youth-filled Colorado Avalanche, who clinched their second berth in eight years, and it results in three of four first-time postseason matchups: Nashville versus Colorado, Vegas versus Los Angeles and Winnipeg facing Minnesota.

PREDATORS vs. AVALANCHE

Colorado with 97 points.

GOLDEN KNIGHTS vs. KINGS

A Golden Knights team put together with other teams’ discards spent the year using a “why not us?” mantra in setting expansion-team records for most wins (51), home wins (29), road wins (22) and longest point streak (10-0-2). Vegas features six 20-goalscorers, including trade-deadline addition Tomas Tatar.

The defensive-minded Kings allowed league-low 202 goals and had the league’s best penalty-killing unit.

JETS vs. WILD

The Jets closed their most successful season in both victories and points on a 20-5-1 run, including winning the final nine home games. Winnipeg is still searching for its first playoff victory after being swept in two previous appearances: by Anaheim in 2015, and by the Rangers in 2007, when Jets were based in Atlanta.

Paul Stastny’s trade-deadline addition provided the NHL’s second-best offence with six 50-plus point producers. Third-year goalie Connor Hellebuyck went 44-11-9.

The Wild limp into its sixth straight playoff appearance with defenceman Ryan Suter (broken right ankle) and forward Jared Spurgeon (torn right hamstring) sidelined.

DUCKS vs SHARKS

The Ducks earned homeice advantage with 3-0 seasonending win over Arizona, coupled with the Sharks’ seasonending 6-3 loss to Minnesota. Anaheim went 25-10-4 since the bye break. Goalie John Gibson is listed day to day with an upper body injury.

The Sharks went 19-13-3 over their final 35 games since Joe Thornton was sidelined with a knee injury.