21-22 WEST Playoff Primer and 1st Rd Predictions 2022-03-07 Western Conference Winnipeg Jets vs Vegas Golden Knights (C1 vs WC2) Team Record GF GA PP% PK% WPG 37-16-9 185 164 22% (T-9th) 78% (T-20th) VGK 34-21-6 179 153 21% (T-11th) 81% (14th) Matchups: Game 1 - WPG 3-2 SOW Game 2 - WPG 3-2 W Game 3 - VGK 3-1 W I don't see this being much of a series. Vegas has traded away their starting goaltender in Jack Campbell and Winnipeg holds nearly all of the statistical advantages between these two teams. Additionally, Vegas ranks 2nd in PIMs on the season, something that will absolutely bite them in the foot come playoff time. Prediction: Winnipeg in 5 Anaheim Ducks vs Arizona Coyotes (P1 vs WC1) Team Record GF GA PP% PK% ANA 36-20-8 183 169 25% (T-3rd) 78% (T-20th) ARZ 32-19-11 193 159 28% (1st) 83% (T-9th) Matchups: Game 1 - ARZ 3-1 W Game 2 - ARZ 3-1 W Game 3 - ARZ 4-1 W Arizona, despite being lower in the standings, has won all three of the matchups between these teams this season. You would expect this series to be dictated by whether Anaheim can stay out of the box, but Arizona had zero PP goals in the 2nd and 3rd matchup. Prediction: Arizona in 6 Colorado Avalanche vs Nashville Predators (C2 vs C3) Team Record GF GA PP% PK% COL 38-18-5 182 139 20% (T-15th) 88% (2nd) NSH 34-14-13 194 178 23% (T-6th) 76% (T-25th) Matchups: Game 1 - COL 4-2 W Game 2 - COL - 4-3 SOW This series will be a battle of home ice, Nashville as the best home ice teams this season and Colorado as the best road team. Based on goal differential and records this series shouldn't be much to watch. If Nashville can stay out of the penalty box this series will be a lot tighter. Unfortunately for Nashville, shootout losses don't count for anything in the playoffs. Prediction: Colorado in 5 Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames (P2 vs P3) Team Record GF GA PP% PK% EDM 35-21-6 174 159 19% (T-21st) 76% (T-25th) CGY 34-21-8 160 153 16% (T-25th) 86% (T-3rd) Matchups: Game 1 - EDM 3-2 W Game 2 - EDM 3-2 SOW Game 3 - EDM 5-3 W This series screams low scoring snooze fest. Fans would call it a defensive battle... If AM34 and THE RAT can carry the Flames they may just have a shot here. Edmonton gets the nod due to the superior goaltending. Prediction: Edmonton in 7 RobertusSolid write up. Like the breakdown game by game. :)21-22 WEST Playoff Primer and 1st Rd PredictionsA look at the western conference playoffs if they started today.• 2 teams Like this 2 years