The race in the Western Conference is wide open, with the top nine teams separated by nine points. Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado and Minnesota are battling it out for the top three spots in the Central. Nashville likely believes they still have a chance, too, while Seattle, Vegas, LA, Edmonton and Calgary will be battling for Pacific Division placement.

No places are guaranteed at this location.

Would anyone be surprised if Colorado wins the Central despite being 4th today? I would not. The Avs are getting healthier and playing better since January 1st. Heck, the Nashville Predators are 9-4 in 2023 and just three points from last wildcard spot. They need to continue their strong game but they are in the mix too.

The top four teams in the Pacific are separated by three points. It’s shaping up to be the best race in years. But who has the advantage? Health will be an important factor, as will any acquisitions before the March 3rd trading close. (Side note, is this the first Friday trading close in NHL history? Can’t remember one, right?) And schedule strength will also play a big role.

We cannot predict the health and the next 26 days will clear trade acquisitions, but we can take a deep dive into the remaining schedule.

*** (2BTB) = second game of a back-to-back.***

Seattle: (29-15-5, 1st in the Pacific and 3rd most points in the Western Conference).
33 games, 15 at home and 18 away.
They are 8-3-3 against the bottom 11 teams (in standings) and 21-12-2 against the rest.
@ NYI, NJ, NYR (2BTB), PHI, WPG
v. PHI, DET
@SJ
v. BOS, TOR
@ STL, DET, CBJ (2BTB), COL
v. ANA, OTT, DAL, DAL
@SJ
v. EDM
@DAL,NSH,NSH,MIN
against ANA, LA, ARI
@ VAN (2BTB)
v. ARI, CHI
@ ARI, LVK (2BTB)
v. LVK

They have four-, four- and five-game road trips, but they still have 16 games against the bottom 11 teams. They’re in a good place to make their first playoff appearance in franchise history, but those first five road games after the break will likely set the tone for their stretch run.

Los Angeles: (28-18-7, 2nd in PAC and tied for 3rd most points in West).
29 games left, 16 at home and 13 away.
They are 13-2-4 against bottom 11 teams and 15-16-3
against PIT, BUF
@ANA
v. ARI (2BTB)
@MIN, NJ, NYI (2BTB), NYR, WPG
v. MTL, STL, WSH
@KOL
vs. NSH, NYI, CBJ, VAN, CGY, WPG, STL
@ CGY, EDM, SEA, VAN
v. EDM
@LVK
v. COL, VAN
@ANA

They only play nine games in February, so the other Pacific teams will have a chance to overtake them as the Kings have the fourth-highest scoring today. The five-game road trip later this month could dictate how aggressive GM Rob Blake is as of deadline. The Kings are currently the only playoff teams with a -GF/GA difference. They need to improve their goalkeepers.

They have 10 games left against the last 11 teams.

Vegas: (29-18-4, 3rd in PAC, 5th most points in West).
31 games left, 14 at home and 17 away.
They are 14-5-1 against the bottom 11 teams and 15-13-3 against the rest.
@NSH, MIN
against ANA, SJ, TB
@CHI
v. CGY, DAL
@KOL
vs. CAR, NJ, MTL
@ FLA, TB, AUTO, STL (2BTB), PHI
vs. CGY, CBJ
@ VAN, CGY, EDM
v. EDM
@SJ
v. MIN
@MIN, NSH (2BTB)
against LA
@DEL
v. SEA
@ SEA

Thirteen of their last 19 games are on the way, including a five-game trip east. The main story will be Mark Stone’s health. Rumors continue that his back injury will sideline him for the remainder of the season, which would give them $9.5 million in cap space by deadline. But they would be without Stone. Your goalkeeping behavior has really slowed down in the last six weeks. Like the Kings, they are looking for a goalie.

They have nine games left against the bottom 11 teams. You have a tight schedule.

Edmonton: (28-18-4, 4th in PAC and 6th most points in West).
32 games remaining, 14 home and 18 away.
They are 10-3-2 against the bottom 11 teams and 18-15-2 against the rest.
@ DET, PHI, OTT, MTL (2BTB)
vs. DET, NYR
@KOL
v. PHI
@PIT, CBJ
v. BOS, TOR, WPG
@ WPG (2BTB), BUF, BOS, TOR
v. OTT, DAL
@ SEA
against SJ, ARI, LVK,
@ ARI, LVK (2BTB)
vs. LA, ANA
@ LA, ANA (2BTB), SJ, COL
against SJ

They have three four-game road trips, but they’ve been going well so far at 15-7-1. They have 15 games left against the bottom 11 teams. They are on a favorable schedule (competitive quality wise) and should be on a good run to win their division for the first time since 1987.

Calgary: (24-17-9, 5th in PAC and tied 8th on most points in West).
32 games remaining, 16 home and 16 away.
They are 8-4-4 against the bottom 11 teams and 16-13-5 against the rest.
@NYR, DET, BUF, OTT
against DET, NYR, PHI
@ ARI, LVK (2BTB), COL
v. BOS, GOAL, MIN
@DAL, MIN
v. ANA, OTT
@ ARI, LVK
v. Dal
@ LAK, ANA (2BTB)
against LVK, SJ, LAK
@CAR
v. ANA, CHI
@ WPG (2BTB), VAN
against NSH, SJ

They’re done with Eastern Time Zone games on February 13, and their travel distance and competitive quality all the way are very favorable. They have 15 games left against the bottom 11 teams.

Dallas: (28-13-10, 1st in Central and have most points in West).
31 games, 17 home and 14 away.
They are 13-3 against the bottom 11 teams and 15-10-10 against the rest.
home of ANA, MIN, TBL BOS
@ MINIMUM
vs. CBJ (2BTB), CHI
@LVK
V.VAN, ARI
@CHI (2BTB)
v. COL, CGY
@ BUF, SEA, SEA, VAN, EDM, CGY
v. SEA, PIT, VAN
@CHI, ARI, COL
v. NSH, PHI, LVK
@ DET, STL
v. STL (2BTB)

They have 13 games left against the bottom 11 teams in the NHL. They have three sets of BTB games left and their toughest part of the schedule is a six-game road trip in March.

Winnipeg: (32-19-1, 2nd in CEN and 2nd most points in West)
30 games left. 15 at home and 15 on the way.
They are 17-4 against the bottom 11 teams and 15-15-1 against the rest.
v. CHI, SEA
@CBJ, NJ, NYR (2BTB), NYI.
vs. COL, NYI, LAK
@EDM
v. EDM (2BTB), SJ, MIN
@ FLA, TB, AUTO
v. BOS
@NSH, STL
v. ARI
@ANA, LAK, SJ
vs. DET, NJ, CGY, NSH, SJ
@MIN (2BTB), COL.

The Jets have a very difficult itinerary between March 11 and March 28, beginning in Florida and ending in San Jose. You play 10 games in 10 different cities. The two home games are just pit stops between road trips.

They have 10 games left against the bottom 11 teams.

Minnesota: (27-17-4, 3rd in CEN and 7th most points in West).
34 games left, 17 at home and 17 away.
They are 16-3-1 against the bottom 11 teams and 11-14-2 against the rest.
@ARI, DAL
vs. LVK (2BTB), NJ, FLA, COL, DAL, NSH, LAK
@CBJ, TOR (2BTB)
vs. CBJ, NYI
@VAN, CGY
v. CGY
@ WPG, SJ, ARI, STL
against BOS, WSH
@NJ, PHI
v. CHI, SEA
@COL, LVK
v. LVK
@ PIT
v. STL
@CHI
v. WPG
@NSH

The Wild have a 7-game homestand as of this Thursday, but they finish the season with eight games in eight different cities. They have 11 games left against the bottom 11 teams.

Colorado: (27-18-3, 4th in CEN, 8th most points in West).
34 games left, 16 at home and 18 away.
They are 10-7 against the bottom 11 teams and 17-11-3 against the rest.
@ PIT, TB, FLA
v. TB
@MIN (2BTB), STL
v. EDM
@WPG
vs. CGY (2BTB), LVK, NJ
@DEL
against SEA, SJ, LAK, ARI
@ MTL, TOR, OTT, DET
v. CHI, PIT, ARI
@ARI, ANA (2BTB)
v. MIN, DAL
@ SJ, SJ, LAK, ANA
v. EDM, WPG
@NSH (2BTB)

They stretched in March, where they play nine of 12 games against the bottom 11 teams. They have 13 games left against the bottom 11 teams and 12 of them are in their last 21 games. They should make a strong push as I have to assume they will improve their record (10-7) against these teams later on.

Nashville: (24-18-6, 5th in CEN and 10th most points in West).
34 games left, 17 at home and 17 away.
They are 11-6-1 against the bottom 11 teams and 13-12-5 against the rest.
v. LVK
@PHI
against ARI, BOS, FLA
@MIN (2BTB)
v. van
@SJ, ARI
v. pit
@ FLA, CHI, VAN, ARI, LAK, ANA (2BTB)
against DET, CHI, WPG
@NYR (2BTB), BUF
v. SEA, SEA, GATE (2BTB)
@ BOS, pit
v. STL
@DEL
v. LVK (2BTB), CAR
@ WPG, CGY
v. MIN, COL (2BTB)

They play 16 games in March, 10 of them away. They need to be in the running March 3 for GM David Poile to consider having them as a buyer. His challenge is that they only have 10 games in February, so they probably won’t have a playoff spot by then. I don’t see them making it.

They have 11 games left against the bottom 11 teams.

Dec 30, 2022; Seattle, Washington, USA; Edmonton Oilers forward Klim Kostin (21) beats Seattle Kraken forward Brandon Tanev (13) during the third period at the Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-USA TODAY Sports

Nashville has to play great to be in it. I don’t see that, but the races for home field and the two wildcards are going to be great. I see Edmonton and Seattle as the best chances to win the Pacific. Edmonton have found their stride since Jan. 1, and they haven’t relied on any facet of their game to win. They’re scoring on both the 5×5 and the power play and they’ve rediscovered the defensive play they had on the stretch last year and both goalies have been solid.

It also helps that Connor McDavid is chasing 60+ goals and 150 points. I could imagine Ken Holland being more aggressive than Seattle GM Ron Francis as of deadline, and that should only improve the Oilers’ chances of winning the division. Vegas goalies are of concern, but the potential $9.5 million gain in cap space due to Mark Stone ending the year with LTIR would allow Kelly McCrimmon to make some big swings at deadline.

Los Angeles, Minnesota and Calgary will likely battle for the two wild card spots. The Flames have the most favorable schedule and the biggest question will be whether they run more often with Dan Vladar.

Who do you think will win the Central? Who will win the Pacific? Who will miss the playoffs?

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Source: oilersnation.com