WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS - COLORADO AVALANCHE VS. EDMONTON OILERS

NHL / Hockey

Written by Chase Howard

For only the third time in NHL history, these two franchises will be squaring up with their Stanley Cup hopes on the line. Expect an exciting offensive series, as these two possess maybe the most high-powered offences in the league. Featuring four of the league's best scores in Conner McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, and Mikko Rantanen; don't be surprised to see some game-breaking plays.

Source (Background Photo): NHL

These teams have taken very different paths to get here. The Avalanche breezed through a first-round series with Nashville Predators. Then despite three one-goal games the Avalanche never were down in the series, handling the St Louis Blues in six games. The Oilers meanwhile needed seven games to escape the Los Angeles Kings in the first round, before requiring only five to get past Alberta rival the Calgary Flames. The Avalanche are playing in the conference final for the first time since 2002 when they lost in seven games to the Detroit Red Wings. The Oilers are playing in the conference final for the first time since 2006, where they beat the Anaheim Ducks to advance to the Stanley Cup Final, before losing in seven games to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Oilers will need to stay as hot as they were against the Flames, against whom the Oilers averaged five goals and 34 shots a game; winning the four straight. Unsurprisingly much of this will rely on McDavid and Draisaitl. Lucky for Edmonton fans oh boy are they coming in hot. Draisaitl scored an otherworldly 17 points (2G 15A) in the five games against the Flames. McDavid was not far behind with 12 (3G 9A); both now have 7 goals and 19 assists for 26 points in 12 playoff games. This is tied for the league lead and seven more than third-place Mika Zibanejad who has played two more games. This means the Avalanche needs Darcy Kemper to be at his best in between the pipes. Despite some struggles this postseason possibly related to an eye injury sustained in game three against the Predators, Kemper has been solid, overall he is 6-2 with a 2.44 GAA and .904 save percentage.

However, Cale Makar is the Avalanche x-factor. Makar had 10 points including three goals in four games against the Preds and despite only having three assists against the Blues he always made his presence felt on the ice, whether even strength or special teams. The Oilers X factor is goaltender Mike Smith who has started every game so far this postseason, going 8-3 with a 2.70 GAA, .927 save percentage, and two shutouts. Facing another high-powered offense in the Avs, Smith needs to come up clutch in big moments and not allow any soft goals. Especially when you consider the Avalanche have the league's best power play this postseason going 10 of 29 (34%) with the man advantage. Yet as mentioned above Edmonton is bringing it on the offensive end, scoring at least four in eight of their 12 games for 4.33 goals per game average.

Overall expect a high-flying fast-paced series, with some glorious hockey highlights for us to awe over. As hard as it is to pick against the Oilers and McDavid with how they are playing, the Avs are similarly excellent, have better blueliners, and more depth down the middle. I picked the Avalanche to win the West before the playoffs and I’m not going back off now, Avs in seven.