Nhl playoff schedule western – The NHL playoffs are set to begin, and the Western Conference is sure to provide some exciting hockey. With a number of evenly matched teams, the race for the Stanley Cup is wide open. Here is a look at the schedule, key matchups, and contenders in the Western Conference.
NHL Playoff Schedule
Western Conference
Western Conference
The NHL playoffs are set to begin on May 2, 2023, with the Western Conference playoffs featuring some of the most exciting teams in the league. The top eight teams from the Western Conference will compete for the Clarence S.
Campbell Bowl and a berth in the Stanley Cup Final.
First Round Matchups
The first round of the Western Conference playoffs will feature the following matchups:
| Date | Time | Matchup |
|---|---|---|
| May 2, 2023 | 7:00 PM ET | (1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (8) Edmonton Oilers |
| May 2, 2023 | 9:30 PM ET | (2) Minnesota Wild vs. (7) St. Louis Blues |
| May 3, 2023 | 7:00 PM ET | (3) Dallas Stars vs. (6) Calgary Flames |
| May 3, 2023 | 9:30 PM ET | (4) Winnipeg Jets vs. (5) Nashville Predators |
Key Matchups to Watch
The Western Conference playoffs are set to begin on Wednesday, May 3, and there are several key matchups to watch. Here are a few of the most intriguing:
The Colorado Avalanche are the top seed in the West and are looking to win their first Stanley Cup since 2001. They will face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, a team that is led by Connor McDavid, one of the best players in the NHL.
The Oilers are a dangerous team, but the Avalanche are the clear favorites in this matchup.
Another intriguing matchup in the first round is between the Calgary Flames and the Dallas Stars. The Flames are the No. 2 seed in the West and are looking to make a deep playoff run. The Stars are a young team with a lot of potential, but they will be a tough test for the Flames.
In the second round, the Avalanche could face the St. Louis Blues, who are the No. 3 seed in the West. The Blues are a veteran team with a lot of experience, and they will be a tough opponent for anyone.
The Avalanche are the favorites in this matchup, but the Blues will be a dangerous underdog.
Another potential matchup in the second round is between the Flames and the Edmonton Oilers. This would be a rematch of the 2022 Western Conference Final, which the Oilers won in five games. The Flames will be looking for revenge, but the Oilers will be a tough opponent.
The Western Conference playoffs are sure to be exciting, and there are several key matchups to watch. These are just a few of the most intriguing matchups, and it will be interesting to see how they play out.
Colorado Avalanche vs. Edmonton Oilers
The Colorado Avalanche are the top seed in the Western Conference and are looking to win their first Stanley Cup since 2001. They will face the Edmonton Oilers in the first round, a team that is led by Connor McDavid, one of the best players in the NHL.
The Oilers are a dangerous team, but the Avalanche are the clear favorites in this matchup.The Avalanche have a lot of experience in the playoffs, and they have a lot of talent. They are led by Nathan MacKinnon, who is one of the best players in the NHL.
The Avalanche also have a strong defense, led by Cale Makar.The Oilers are a young team with a lot of potential, but they do not have a lot of experience in the playoffs. They are led by Connor McDavid, who is one of the best players in the NHL.
The Oilers also have a strong offense, led by Leon Draisaitl.The Avalanche are the clear favorites in this matchup, but the Oilers are a dangerous team. The Oilers have a lot of potential, and they could be a threat to win the Stanley Cup this year.
Contenders and Favorites
The Western Conference is shaping up to be a tight race in the 2023 playoffs. Several teams have emerged as contenders and favorites based on their regular season performance and key players.
The Colorado Avalanche, the defending Stanley Cup champions, are once again considered the team to beat in the West. They have a high-powered offense led by Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Valeri Nichushkin. The Avalanche also have a strong defense led by Cale Makar, Devon Toews, and Bowen Byram.
Another top contender in the West is the Edmonton Oilers. The Oilers have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NHL, led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. They also have a solid defense led by Darnell Nurse and Evan Bouchard.
The Los Angeles Kings are another team to watch in the West. The Kings have a balanced team with a strong offense led by Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Viktor Arvidsson. They also have a solid defense led by Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson.
Factors that Could Influence Playoff Success
Several factors could influence the playoff success of the contenders in the Western Conference. These factors include:
- Health: Injuries can play a major role in the playoffs. Teams that can stay healthy will have a better chance of success.
- Goaltending: Goaltending is critical in the playoffs. Teams with strong goaltending will have a better chance of winning.
- Experience: Experience can be a valuable asset in the playoffs. Teams with experienced players will have a better chance of success.
- Momentum: Momentum can be a powerful force in the playoffs. Teams that can build momentum early in the playoffs will have a better chance of success.
Underdogs and Surprises
In the Western Conference playoffs, several teams could potentially emerge as underdogs or surprise performers. These teams possess strengths that could help them upset higher-ranked opponents and make a deep playoff run.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers have been a playoff contender for several years but have yet to advance past the second round. However, they have a dynamic offense led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who can score goals in bunches. If the Oilers can get solid goaltending from Jack Campbell, they could be a threat to any team in the West.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings are another team that has been flying under the radar this season. They have a young and talented roster, led by Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore. The Kings also have a strong defense, anchored by Drew Doughty. If they can continue to play well, they could be a dark horse to make a deep playoff run.
Past Underdog Stories in the NHL Playoffs
There have been several underdog stories in the NHL playoffs over the years. In 2012, the Los Angeles Kings entered the playoffs as the eighth seed in the Western Conference. However, they went on to upset the Vancouver Canucks, St.
Louis Blues, and Phoenix Coyotes to win the Stanley Cup. In 2019, the St. Louis Blues entered the playoffs as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. However, they went on to upset the Winnipeg Jets, Dallas Stars, and Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup.
These stories show that anything is possible in the NHL playoffs, and that any team can make a run to the Stanley Cup if they play well.
Player Performances
Individual player performances can significantly impact the outcome of the Western Conference playoffs. Several key players are expected to have a major influence on their teams’ success.
One of the most important players to watch is Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers. McDavid is one of the most dynamic and dangerous players in the NHL, and he will be looking to lead the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup since 1990. Another player to watch is Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche.
MacKinnon is a former Hart Trophy winner, and he will be looking to help the Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Key Players and Their Potential Contributions
- Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers:McDavid is one of the most dangerous players in the NHL, and he will be looking to lead the Oilers to their first Stanley Cup since 1990.
- Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche:MacKinnon is a former Hart Trophy winner, and he will be looking to help the Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
- Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs:Matthews is one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the NHL, and he will be looking to lead the Maple Leafs to their first Stanley Cup since 1967.
- Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers:Draisaitl is one of the most complete players in the NHL, and he will be looking to help the Oilers win their first Stanley Cup since 1990.
- Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche:Makar is one of the most dynamic defensemen in the NHL, and he will be looking to help the Avalanche repeat as Stanley Cup champions.
Injuries and Suspensions: Nhl Playoff Schedule Western
The Western Conference playoffs are set to begin, and several teams are dealing with injuries and suspensions that could impact their performance.The Colorado Avalanche, the Presidents Trophy winners, will be without star defenseman Cale Makar for the first round of the playoffs due to a head injury.
Makar is one of the most dynamic players in the NHL, and his absence will be a significant blow to the Avalanche’s defense.The Edmonton Oilers will also be without a key player in the first round of the playoffs, as forward Evander Kane is suspended for the first three games of the series against the Los Angeles Kings.
Kane is a key part of the Oilers’ top line, and his absence will be a major loss for the team.The Calgary Flames will be without forward Matthew Tkachuk for the first two games of the playoffs due to a suspension.
Tkachuk is one of the Flames’ leading scorers, and his absence will be a big loss for the team.The injuries and suspensions could have a major impact on the Western Conference playoffs. The Avalanche, Oilers, and Flames are all considered to be contenders for the Stanley Cup, and the absence of key players could hurt their chances of winning.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche are the Presidents Trophy winners and are considered to be the favorites to win the Stanley Cup. However, they will be without star defenseman Cale Makar for the first round of the playoffs due to a head injury.
Makar is one of the most dynamic players in the NHL, and his absence will be a significant blow to the Avalanche’s defense.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers are another team that is considered to be a contender for the Stanley Cup. However, they will be without forward Evander Kane for the first three games of the playoffs due to a suspension. Kane is a key part of the Oilers’ top line, and his absence will be a major loss for the team.
Calgary Flames, Nhl playoff schedule western
The Flames are a dark horse to win the Stanley Cup. However, they will be without forward Matthew Tkachuk for the first two games of the playoffs due to a suspension. Tkachuk is one of the Flames’ leading scorers, and his absence will be a big loss for the team.
Last Point
The Western Conference playoffs are sure to be full of excitement and surprises. With a number of evenly matched teams, the race for the Stanley Cup is wide open. Be sure to tune in to catch all the action.
