The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Saturday, April 20th, and it only took to the final games of the regular season before we got the 16 teams qualifying to face off in the Stanley Cup. In addition, it took until the final night of regular season play to get the matchups set in the Eastern and Western Conferences. Some teams like the St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild will wonder what could have been when the playoffs begin on Monday. But now the field is set, it is time to dive into the preview of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs as we quickly look at each series.
2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs First Round Preview
Western Conference
Dallas Stars vs. Vegas Golden KnightsÂ
It is a 2023 Western Conference Final rematch as the Dallas Stars take on the Vegas Golden Knights. The defending Stanley Cup Champions finished in Wild Card 2 in the West. And while everyone is up in arms about players returning, GM Kelly McCrimmon found ways to add to his roster and position them for another run at the Stanley Cup. On the other hand, Dallas is in an all too familiar position, being the favorite and having to play a tough opponent. However, this Stars team is deeper than last year and will seek revenge.Â
The Golden Knights will be healthy with Alex Pietrangelo and Mark Stone back in the lineup. We saw what Vegas did to Dallas last year. When the Golden Knights want to take over games, they will end them early. However, that was later in the playoffs. It sometimes takes the Golden Knights a game or two to find their game. This is where Dallas has to exploit them. If Vegas gets rolling, it will be hard to stop. We know about Jack Eichel and Jonathan Marchessault, but let’s see what Tomas Hertl looks like for the Golden Knights as well.
For Dallas, it is about playing the same way. Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven, Joe Pavelski, Roope Hintz, Miro Heiskanen, Jamie Benn, and Tyler Seguin have played excellently down the stretch. Jake Oettinger is better than Adin Hill and Logan Thompson. However, we saw what the Golden Knights’s defence could do. They lock it down in front of both their goalies. However, this time, the Stars have Chris Tanev, a shot-blocking machine. Feels like this one could go the distance. But we also know this was a team Dallas did not want to face.Â
Winnipeg Jets vs Colorado AvalancheÂ
The Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche are going to be a fun matchup. Whatever team did not win, the division would face off against each other. The Jets got home ice toward the end of the season and are the hottest team coming into the playoffs. Even though Colorado won their last game, they have not been playing well. Considering how deep the Jets are offensively, this is not an ideal matchup for the Avalanche.Â
Winnipeg has found a new belief under head coach Rick Bowness. Not to mention the Jets have been through a lot of adversity that has brought them together as a team. GM Kevin Cheveldayoff made some nice moves at the deadline to bring in Sean Monahan and Tyler Toffoli. Both players have fit in nicely. Monahan gives the Jets more center depth. You can’t forget what the Jets got in the Pierre-Luc Dubois trade either. All those players have played a role in the Jets success as well. But it starts with Connor Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele, and Kyle Connor.Â
It will be tough for Colorado to match the depth of the Winnipeg Jets. The Avalanche will be missing Jonathan Drouin for the series. It comes down to Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, Cale Makar, and the rest of the cast to provide the offense for the Avalanche. We know what MacKinnon can do and Makar has Devon Toews back there along with Sean Walker. However, the Avalanche can’t outscore their problems, which has been their goalie and the second-line center. They thought they resolved it with Casey Mittelstadt. We will see if he has a big series or not.Â
But Alexandar Georgiev has to be just as good as Hellebuyck, if not better, if the Avalanche has a chance. Georgiev has let in way too many squeaky goals this season. We know Hellebuyck is up for the Vezina trophy and is the backbone of the Jets.Â
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Vancouver Canucks vs. Nashville Predators
Another fascinating series to watch is the Nashville Predators taking on the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver was the best team all season in the West until they lost Thatcher Demko. He is back now, and the Canucks look whole again. In addition, the Canucks are playing the right way under head coach Rick Tocchet. The Predators were a borderline playoff team, but an 18-game point streak (16-0-2) got Nashville into the playoffs after the trade deadline.Â
The Predators had a belief all season that they were a good team. It took the Predators time to determine what head coach Andrew Brunette wanted from them. Once they did, it was a cruise city for the Predators. Add in the play of Juuse Saros, and Nashville became a dangerous team. During the NHL Draft, GM Barry Trotz told Full Press Hockey that it would be a fun year in Nashville. He was not wrong. The character guys in the room, especially Ryan O’Reilly and Ryan McDonagh, have helped this young Preds team find their way. Filip Forsberg, Gustav Nyqvist, and Roman Josi have also been excellent. Expect an unsung hero to step up for Nashville.Â
For the Canucks, they need to make a deep run this season. However, nobody expected them to be here, so it is a double-edged sword in Vancouver. Elias Pettersson has been excellent. Brock Boeser, J.T. Miller, Quinn Hughes, and Filip Hronek were also involved. Defensively the Canucks are solid with Hughes and Hronek. However, they will need more from Elias Lindholm in the playoffs. He has struggled since coming to Vancouver. We know that Demko and Saros will be a good matchup, but it will come down to who makes the least mistakes and who will advance.Â
Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings
Here we go again with the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings. It feels like we’ve been here before. With the Kings winning and Vegas losing, this set up the rematch from the previous two playoff rounds. The Kings have the team to compete with the Oilers, but it comes down to getting the timely saves. That is what cost the Kings last year. Up 4-1 in Game 4, that loss turned the series. Edmonton has the firepower and is expected to win this series.Â
Give credit to the Oilers for fighting back after their beginning season woes. Everyone expected them to be here come season end. However, the Oilers are a deeper team than a year ago. Of course, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are the story. Still, Zach Hyman is playing better, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Evander Kane, and the additions of Adam Henrique and Corey Perry give the Oilers depth they didn’t have in years. Add-in Perry makes teams better come the postseason. Again, it comes down to whether Stuart Skinner can stop the puck and whether that defence plays better when it matters most.Â
The Kings need to limit the Oilers’ power play and use their 1-3-1 defensive system to their advantage. It’s not like they can’t play against the Oilers; they can. We have seen it. The Kings have held series leads and the Oilers two big guns off the scoreboard. It is about the timely save for the Kings. We know what Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty can do in the playoffs. We also know Viktor Arvidsson is healthy. It’s time for Dubois and Kevin Fiala to step into Los Angeles.
The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs are already underway with the Western Conference getting underway Sunday night.Â