Wide Open Western Conference

With the Colorado Avalanche not making an appearance in the second round for the first time in

5 years, the western conference is wide open. Edmonton was the betting favorite entering the

start of the conference semifinals, but after inconsistent efforts so far this round, it's anyone's

game. Each of the final four teams have shown weaknesses and inconsistent play throughout

these playoffs. Let's look at each team's goaltending situations and how they affect each team's

chances to win.

Vegas Golden Knights

Adin Hill is now the guy between the posts for the Golden Knights. Goaltending has been a

question all year for the number one seed in the west and that has not changed in the playoffs.

Laurent Brossoit started the playoffs 5-2 before getting hurt in his eighth start, but was carrying

a below .900 save percentage. Hill came into game 3 and saved all 24 shots he faced helping

the Knights take a lead in the series. Game 4 was quite different, allowing four goals on 31

shots. Hill was not good enough for the Knights to take a stranglehold on the series, but the

team in front wasn’t much help either. Going forward I expect there to continue to be

inconsistencies in net for Knights. Their offense is going to have to carry the load for them in

order to get past Edmonton and compete for their first Stanley Cup.

Edmonton Oilers

Stuart Skinner has been holding down the net for the Oilers this postseason. Boasting a 3.31

goals against and .895 save percentage through 10 appearances, Skinner hasn’t been as good

as the Oilers were hoping going into the playoffs. Edmonton is similar to Vegas in that their

offense has to produce four plus goals a game in order to secure a win. It’s tough to ask for that

kind of consistent offensive production throughout the playoffs. The Oilers will be carrying

momentum going into game five in Vegas, let's see if Skinner can put together two strong

games in a row. Although the Oilers have the best two players left in the playoffs, they are going

to need more consistent goaltending and defensive play to secure a trip to the cup final.

Dallas Stars

Jake Oettinger should be the best goalie left in the western conference, but somehow he isn’t.

He has had multiple troubling moments in these playoffs, but has still been good enough at

times for Dallas to be even in this round two series with Seattle. He has a 2.71 goals against

and .903 save percentage through 10 games and has been stellar in the Stars’ six wins only

allowing 11 goals. But in the four losses he's allowed 20 goals and if he continues to have off

games it could come back to haunt the Stars moving forward in the series and the playoffs. The

Stars rely on strong defense, goaltending, and production from their best players. In my opinion

they are the best team remaining in the west as long as Oettinger holds strong.

Seattle Kraken

Phillip Grubauer has been the best goalie in the playoffs on this side of the bracket. In 11 games

he has a 2.97 goals against per game and .909 save percentage. He is the main reason the

Kraken pulled off the big upset against the Avalanche in round one and why they have a

legitimate chance to make a run for the cup. It helps that they have played the best team game

out of all the teams in the western conference these playoffs. There is just a togetherness and

fight the Kraken display that I don’t see from all the teams remaining in the playoffs. Grubauer’s

performance can put them over the top in the west. If the Kraken can pull off another road upset

in game five against the Stars I expect them to win the series.

Everything is on the line now for these four teams. Each series is down to a best of three and

there is no longer room for inconsistent efforts in net or anywhere on the ice. If I was a betting

man, I’d put my money on the winner for the Dallas/Seattle series to represent the west in the

cup final, because of the superior goaltending and defense they've displayed compared to

Vegas and Edmonton. Dallas also has the offensive star power to match anyone, which is why

they are my pick to win the west. It is now that time of year when legends are made and this has

to be the most competitive the final four in the west has been in some time. Who will step up,

and who will fold? I can’t wait to find out.