Friday we took a look at what the Eastern Conference playoff matchups would be like if they started right now. Today we are going to take a look out west. There is at least one surprise team currently holding down a playoff spot, but if they can stay there is yet to be seen.
Anaheim vs Winnipeg
It is no surprise the Ducks are in a playoff position. Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and company are off to another great start. Anaheim currently leads the NHL with 47 points in the standings. Goalie Frederik Andersen has been spectacular between the pipes.
Perry was leading the NHL in goals before missing some time due to a case of the mumps. Now the star winger will be sidelined for 3-4 weeks with a knee injury. The ducks have also recently signed Ilya Bryzgalov to a one year contract. This will be Bryzgalov's second go round with the team.
Their opponent is the surprising Winnipeg Jets. Captain Andrew Ladd leads the Jets offense with 23 points. Blake Wheeler is just one point behind at 22 and leads the team with 13 helpers.
Ondrej Pavelec has shouldered the load in goal so far. The Jets goalie has a 9-8-4 record with a .914 save percentage and a 2.32 goals against average. Meanwhile Michael Hutchinson has been a pleasant surprise in the back up role. Hutchinson is 6-2-2 with a .937 save percentage and 1.81 goals against average.
The big question is can Winnipeg hold down the spot? Calgary is currently tied with the Jets in points and Minnesota sits just three back.
St. Louis vs Nashville
After leading the Central Division for most of the year, Nashville has slipped to third recently. The Predators were the last team in the NHL to suffer a regulation loss. Filip Forsberg leads the charge offensively. In his first full season, Forsberg leads the team in points and goals and leads the entire NHL in plus minus.
Pekka Rinne is putting up Vezina and potential MVP numbers in goal. Rinne is 19-6-1 with a .937 save percentage and 1.75 goals against average on the year. Rinne has been far and away the best player on the ice most nights for Nashville.
The St. Louis Blues have overcome quite a lot so far this season. Paul stasny, David Backes and T.J. Oshie have all missed time with injury. The goalie situation has also been hit with some injuries. With Brian Elliot going down the Blues signed free agent Martin Brodeur to a one year contract.
The team is led offensivelyby youn star Vladimir Tarasenko. He leads the team with 32 points and 17 goals. Included in the 17 are some highlight reel goal of the year beauties. Now a relatively healthy team, the Blues have moved up the standings on the heels of their current four game winning streak.
Vancouver vs San Jose
Here are two teams that have had great success in the regular season over the years but have failed to tranlsate that into post season success. If this matchup were to happen, once again one of these two teams would be going home early.
San Jose has had season of ups and downs so far. They seem to win a few in a row then lose a few in a row. A lot was made of last year's loss to LA after holding a 3-0 series lead. Joe Thornton was stripped of his captaincy and the Sharks went into camp with an open tryout for the leadership role.
Thornton leads the team in points with 28. Joe Pavelski has passed Logan Couture for the team lead in goals with 15 while former captain Patrick Marleau leads in assists. In goal Antti Niemi is 12-7-3 with a .919 save percentage and 2.42 goals against average.
Vancouver was once ahead of Anaheim in the Pacific Division. They have since fallen nine points back in the standings on the heels of Anaheim's current seven game winning streak.
It is a bit starnge not seeing Roberto Luongo between the pipes for the Canucks. Even stranger is seeing Ryan Miller between them. The longtime Sabre came over in the offseason as a free agent and has posted a 16-7-0 record with a modest .9 save percentage and 2.69 goals against average.
It's no surprise however the Sedins are leading the way. The twins are fittingly tied for the team lead with 26 points a piece while Radim Vrbata leads the team with 12 goals.
Chicago vs Los Angeles
This is the series everyone looks for late in the postseason. For this to be a first round series would be huge for the team that wins it. Chicago started out uneven with their play. The Hawks started to show some signs that they may be on the downswing.
That all changed recently as Chicago ripped off eight straight to forge ahead in the Central. They are always a dangerous team and this year appears that it will be no different. This is a team no one wants to play come postseason time.
The defending champs have also had a bit of an up and down season. Anze Kopitar has not been his usual self. Defensively, everyone knows what LA is about. Even if you get by the likes of Drew Doughty and company, you still have to beat all world net minder Jonathan Quick.
This is the series everyone out west wants to see in the first round as it means you will only have to beat one of the two teams going forward and not both. These two always play great hockey and this would certainly be exciting.
League Leaders through 12/14/14
Goals – Seguin (23)
Assists – Voracek (26)
Points – Seguin (38)
Plus/Minus – Forsberg (24)
Wins – Rinne (19)
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtdf103074
