Stanley Cup Playoffs: Western Conference preview

Even though the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup-champion Pittsburgh Penguins reside in the East, the West is the more tasty conference when it comes to contenders this spring.

First and foremost there is the Presidents' Trophy-winning Nashville Predators, who hope to become only the third club in the 13-season salary-cap era to win both the regular season and postseason titles.

Season series:Jets won 3-1-0 (Wild 1-3-0)

• Oct. 20 @ Winnipeg Jets 4-3
• Oct. 31 @ Minnesota Jets 2-1
• Nov. 27 @ Winnipeg Jets 7-2
• Jan. 13@ Minnesota Wild 4-1

The skinny:A lot will be made about the Jets lack of postseason experience. Only Paul Stastny (55 games), Dustin Byfuglien (43), Matt Hendricks (34), Matthieu Perreault (25) and Blake Wheeler (25) have more than 20 games of Stanley Cup playoff experience. Thirteen Jets have played in four postseason games or less.

Player to watch: Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. The 24-year-old Hellebuyck, who set a record for most wins by an American-born goalie at 44, hasn't played in a postseason game since his senior season at UMass-Lowell, losing 4-3 in the 2014 regional final to Johnny Gaudreau and Boston College.

But the Jets goaltender did play in a combined 10 games for the United States at the 2015 and 2017 World championships, going 9-1-0 with a .930 save percentage.

Prediction:Jets in five. Winnipeg's balanced lineup will be too much for the Suter-less Wild to overcome.

Season series:Predators won 4-0-0 (Avalanche 0-3-1)

• Oct. 17 @ Nashville Predators 4-1
• Nov. 18 @ Nashville Predators 5-2
• March4 @ Colorado Predators 4-3 (OT)
• March16 @ Colorado Predators 4-2

The skinny: These teams were involved in a three-way trade with the Ottawa Senators in the fall that moved Kyle Turris from the Senators to the Predators and 19-year-old defenceman Sam Girard from Nashville to Colorado.

The Predators who lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in last year's Stanley Cup final won the Presidents' Trophy this season because of a deep lineup that boasts strong centres in Turris, Ryan Johansen, Nick Bonino and Mike Fisher.

Nashville also boasts the best defence in the NHL; the team's defencemen have combined for 56 goals this season, the highest total in the NHL.

Player to watch: Nashville centre Kyle Turris. One year ago, it was almost Turris and the Ottawa Senators who met Nashville for the Cup had it not been for a double-overtime goal from then-Penguin Chris Kunitz in the East final.

Prediction: Predators in five. Nashville has more talent and depth as well as determination to return to the final after its six-game loss to Pittsburgh last June.

Season series:Series tied at 2-1-1

The skinny:The Golden Knights shattered records for expansion teams, including points (109), home wins (29) and road wins (22). Led by William Karlsson's 43-goal, 78-point campaign, 11 Vegas players enjoyed their career-best years.

Player to watch: Los Angeles centre Anze Kopitar. The captain bounced back with a Hart Trophy-worthy season with 35 goals and 92 points and will be asked to shut down Karlsson.

Prediction: Kings in seven. It's difficult to bet against the Gerard Gallant-coached Golden Knights since they never faltered in their inaugural campaign. But the Kings have too many clutch players in Kopitar, Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty and netminder Jonathan Quick.

• Nov. 4 @ San Jose Sharks 2-1 (SO)
• Nov. 20 @ San Jose Ducks 3-2 (SO)
• Jan. 21 @ Anaheim Sharks 6-2
• Feb. 11 @ Anaheim Sharks 3-2 (SO)

The skinny: The Ducks finished the regular season 10-1-1 and won their last seven in a row at home, so it was important for them to snatch home ice in this series.

Anaheim in this position despite having 318 man-games lost due to injuries and is still dealing with health questions regarding defencemen Cam Fowler (shoulder) and Kevin Bieksa (hand) as well as goalie John Gibson (upper-body). Fowler will likely miss the first round.

This is the first post-season meeting between to the California rivals since 2009. San Jose is concerned with its 1-4-1 finish after an impressive 8-0-1 stretch. Despite the poor finish, the Sharks went 26-14-7 since they lost Joe Thornton to a serious knee injury. He is doubtful for the series opener.

Player to watch: Anaheim centre Adam Henrique. He's been quite an addition to Anaheim's lineup since arriving via trade with the New Jersey Devils in late November. He has Stanley Cup final experience from his time with the Devils and has contributed 20 goals and 36 points in 57 games with the Ducks.

Prediction: Ducks in seven. Anaheim has plenty of momentum to ride from their late-season play, while San Jose stumbled down the stretch.