The All-Star break is over and it’s time for the final sprint for a playoff push. Here are three Western Conference NHL teams to keep an eye on.
As we enter the second half of the NHL regular season, desperation will start to creep in and teams will become more frantic. Especially with the looming trade deadline, the tension is at an all-time high as teams scramble to make the playoffs.
Here are three Western Conference teams to watch as we enter the final stretch.
3. Edmonton Oilers
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The Edmonton Oilers have been a major storyline throughout the entire season but after firing their general manager Peter Chiarelli, the pressure has mounted. Oilers’ CEO Bob Nicholson said in a press conference that the team will not give away its major assets, but will still be hunting for a playoff spot.
Currently, the Oilers roster does not seem good enough to compete with other wild card teams like the Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Vancouver Canucks, but how will they improve the team without giving up something big? This question will follow the Oilers until the trade deadline and then it will be interesting to see where the team goes from there.
Also, if they do make it, we might have an Edmonton-Calgary and Toronto-Montreal first round. HOW SICK IS THAT?
2. Arizona Coyotes
Heading into the All-Star break, the Arizona Coyotes went 6-2-2 beating the New York Rangers 5-0, the San Jose Sharks 6-3, and the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2. This team has a balanced offensive approach, lead by 20-year-old Clayton Keller with 35 points (11G 24A). 16 players on the roster have 10+ points and their goaltending has answered the bell after losing Antti Raanta to injury.
This team has been slammed by injuries, five of them being season-ending ones. The fact that this team continues to remain hungry and competitive despite the key losses shows the kind of character that is in that locker room. For every player that goes down, the Coyotes are able to call someone up who is determined to steal the job.
Will the Coyotes make it to the playoffs for the first time since “Firework” by Katy Perry came out? (2011)
1. Vancouver Canucks
If the Vancouver Canucks can make it to the playoffs, they will be the Cinderella story of the NHL. The four players leading the team in scoring are all under the age of 24 and the one leading the charge is the 20-year-old phenom, Elias Pettersson. Despite missing 11 games to concussions, Pettersson leads his team with 45 points (23G 22A). His career has just started and people are already making Wayne Gretzky comparisons. This player is unbelievable.
If you have never watched a Vancouver Canucks game, you have to. Elias Pettersson alone is enough reason and the young and gun team is pure entertainment.
The team struggled heading into the All-Star break, going 4-4-2 in 10 games, but the break could be the reset button the team needs before they gear up for the first Canuck playoff berth since 2015. If this team can make it, they will be playing with house money. No one expected them to be competitive halfway through the season and yet, here they are.
It will be interesting to see if the Canucks can get the job done and if they do, this year’s playoffs will be full of Canadian teams for the first time in a while.