WESTERN CONFERENCE
DUCKS 51-24-7, 109 points
Season series: Ducks, 3-0-0
WINNIPEG 43-26-13, 99
Power play: Ducks 15.7% (28th), Jets 17.8% (17th).
Penalty killing: Ducks 81.0% (15th), Jets 81.8% (13th).
Top scorers: Ducks, Ryan Getzlaf 25-45—70; Jets, Andrew Ladd 24-38—62.
Outlook: The Jets won six of their last 10 to grab the last West playoff spot. They have speed and do their scoring by committee: nine players scored at least 15 goals. Defenseman Tyler Myers has been a force since arriving from Buffalo in a trade, and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec (2.28 goals-against average, .920 save percentage) was brilliant down the stretch. However, Pavelec has never played an NHL playoff game. The Ducks added speed in deadline-beating trades to augment their size, and they’re formidable up the middle, led by Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler. Coach Bruce Boudreau must avoid over-tinkering with his lineup. The third defense pair often is scary but Boudreau can lean heavily on the other duos.
Pick: Ducks in six. Gm 1 Thursday at Ducks, 7:30 Gm 2 Saturday at Ducks, 7:30 Gm 3 Monday at Winnipeg, 6 Gm 4 April 22 at Winn., 6:30 Gm 5 April 24 at Ducks, TBD Gm 6 April 26 at Winnipeg, TBD Gm 7 April 28 at Ducks, TBD
Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT
ST. LOUIS 51-24-7, 109
Season series: Minn., 2-1-1
MINNESOTA 46-28-8, 100
Power play: Blues 22.3% (fourth), Wild 15.8% (27th).
Penalty killing: Blues 83.7% (eighth), Wild 86.3% (first).
Top scorers: Blues, Vladimir Tarasenko 37-36—73; Wild, Zach Parise, 33-29— 62.
Outlook: The physical, grinding Blues led the West with 248 goals but goaltending remains a question. Will they go with rookie Jake Allen (2.28, .913) or veteran Brian Elliott, who is 6-10 in 18 career playoff appearances? The dynamic Tarasenko and productive Alexander Steen (24 goals, 64 points) missed some late-season games because of lower-body injuries but are expected to be ready. Minnesota was 28-9-3 since Jan. 15, coinciding with its desperation trade for goalie Devan Dubnyk (2.07, .292). The rest was history, as the Wild earned 100 points for the first time since 2006-07. The Wild’s tremendous speed will challenge the brawny Blues.
Pick: Wild in seven. Gm 1 Thursday at St. Louis, 6:30 Gm 2 Saturday at St. Louis, noon Gm 3 Monday at Minnesota, 5 Gm 4 April 22 at Minnesota, 6:30 Gm 5 April 24 at St. Louis. TBD Gm 6 April 26 at Minnesota, TBD Gm 7 April 29 at St. Louis, TBD
*Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT
VANCOUVER 48-29-5, 101
Season series: Calgary, 2-1-1
CALGARY 45-30-7, 97
Power play: Canucks 19.3% (ninth), Flames 18.8% (13th).
Penalty killing: Canucks 85.7% (second), Flames 80.6% (20th).
Top scorers: Canucks, Daniel Sedin 20-56—76; Flames, Jiri Hudler 31-45— 76.
Outlook: Canucks Coach Willie Desjardins did a good job cleaning up after the mess made by former coach John Tortorella. Vancouver, which missed the playoffs last season, finished with three straight wins, but goalie Ryan Miller didn’t have much time to regain his timing after suffering a knee injury. The Flames, though playoff newcomers, played pressure games the last month of the season. They had a better goal differential than the Canucks (+25 to +20) and get ample scoring from their defensemen to supplement the top line of Johnny Gaudreau, Sean Monahan and Hudler. The Flames’ youthful exuberance will prevail.
Pick: Flames in six. Gm 1 Wednesday at Vancouver, 7 Gm 2 Friday at Vancouver, 7 Gm 3 Sun. at Calgary, 7 Gm 4 April 21 at Calgary, 7 Gm 5 April 23 at Vancouver, TBD Gm 6 April 25 at Calgary, TBD Gm 7 April 27 at Vancouver, TBD
Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT
NASHVILLE 47-25-10, 104
Season series: Chicago, 3-1
CHICAGO 48-28-6, 102
Power play: Predators 16.2% (25th), Blackhawks 17.6% (20th).
Penalty killing: Predators 80.8% (18th), Blackhawks 83.4% (10th).
Top scorers: Predators, Filip Forsberg 26-37—63; Blackhawks, Jonathan Toews 28-38—66.
Outlook: Coach Peter Laviolette gave the Predators more freedom on offense, but the key to their playoff return was the excellence of goalie Pekka Rinne (2.18, .923) after hip surgery. Forsberg is a contender for rookie of the year, and defensemen Roman Josi and Shea Weber are Norris Trophy candidates. The Blackhawks had some slumps but goalie Corey Crawford (2.27, .924) shared the Jennings Trophy (team that allowed the fewest goals). Winger Patrick Kane, who had 64 points in 61 games before fracturing his collarbone, might be available. Chicago’s experience and Toews’ leadership will be decisive.
Pick: Blackhawks in seven. Gm 1 Wed. at Nashville, 5:30 Gm 2 Friday at Nashville, 6:30 Gm 3 Sunday at Chicago, noon Gm 4 April 21 at Chicago, 6:30 Gm 5 April 23 at Nashville, TBD Gm 6 April 25 at Chicago, TBD Gm 7 April 27 at Nashville, TBD
Games 5-7 if necessary; times PDT