Podcast 111-2021 NHL Playoffs: Honda West Division Playoff Preview (Update)

This is Honda West Playoff Preview.

 Colorado Avalanche vs St.Louis Blues

Key Players:  COL-F: N.MacKinnon, M.Rantanen, G.Landeskog, N.Kadri, Alex Newhook, A.Burakovsky, J.Donskoi | D: C.Makar, S.Girard, D.Toews, R.Graves

STL-F: R.O'Reilly, V.Tarasenko, J.Schwartz, B.Schenn, D.Perron, R.Thomas, M.Hoffman | D: T.Krug, J.Faulk, C.Parayko, V.Dunn

X-Factor: Tyson Jost (COL), Jordan Kyrou (STL)

Goalies: P.Grubauer (COL) vs J.Binnington (STL)

The Colorado Avalanche have owned the season series against the St.Louis Blues, winning 5 out of the 8 games. St.Louis certainly knows what it takes to win the Stanley Cup but Colorado is not a good first-round matchup for them.

The Colorado Avalanche is led by Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Gabriel Landeskog and Cale Makar, and have a great supporting cast which includes players such as Nazem Kadri, Alex Newhook, Joonas Donskoi, Sam Girard, Devon Toews, and Andre Burakovsky. Philipp Grubauer has had a tremendous regular season and is a potential Vezina Trophy nominee. Colorado has tons of offensive talent, but when they face a more physical team, they could struggle.

The St.Louis Blues are led by 2019 playoff Conn Smythe winner Ryan O'Reilly, who has the most consistent Blue this season. If St.Louis wants to beat Vegas, players such as Vladimir Tarasenko, Brayden Schenn, and Jaden Schwartz will need to step up. Jordan Binnington had a rocky regular season but finished the season strong, which is good for St.Louis.

Colorado should win this series easily because St.Louis just hasn't played Colorado well this year

Prediction: COL win 4-1

Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild

Key Players: VGK-F: M.Stone, M.Pacioretty, J.Marchessault, W.Karlsson, R.Smith, A.Tuch, C.Stephenson | D: S.Theodore, A.Pietrangelo, A.Martinez, B.McNabb, Z.Whitecloud, 

MIN-F: K.Kaprizov, M.Zuccarello, K.Fiala, J.Eriksson Ek, J.Greenway, M.Foligno, V.Rask, Z.Parise | D: J.Spurgeon, R.Suter, M.Dumba, J.Brodin

X Factor: Tomas Nosek (VGK), Nick Bjugstad (MIN)

Goalies: R.Lehner/M-A.Fleury (VGK)  vs C.Talbot (MIN)

The Minnesota Wild is perhaps the biggest surprise of the season, so it would be shocking if they upset the Vegas Golden Knights. Minnesota actually has the advantage in the season series 5-3, but the team both have scored 24 goals apiece.

The Vegas Golden Knights are led by Mark Stone, a Selke nominee, and is having the best statistical season of his career. The William Karlsson line with Jonathan Marchessault and Reilly Smith was having a quiet year, but they usually are productive come playoff time. Regardless of which goalie plays, the Golden Knights should feel comfortable because both are proven, playoff goaltenders.

Minnesota Wild are viewed as the underdogs in this series, and the Wild will very likely take that to their advantage. The Wild are led offensively by Kirill Kaprizov and have a bruising checking line, which is centered by Joel Eriksson Ek.

Minnesota has a solid defensive core and a red hot goalie in Cam Talbot, which could give Colorado some issues in the series.

The Minnesota Wild is a tough opponent for Vegas, but I think they have enough firepower to win the series.

Prediction: VGK wins 4-2