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NHL Playoffs 2013: Western Conference Seedings and Matchups Set

By Josh Hill

Apr 27, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Pierre-Marc Bourchard (96) is greeted by right wing Cal Clutterbuck (22) after scoring a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Wild won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Pierre-Marc Bourchard (96) is greeted by right wing Cal Clutterbuck (22) after scoring a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Wild won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 27, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Pierre-Marc Bourchard (96) is greeted by right wing Cal Clutterbuck (22) after scoring a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Wild won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Pierre-Marc Bourchard (96) is greeted by right wing Cal Clutterbuck (22) after scoring a goal during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche at the Pepsi Center. The Wild won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

The West may not yet be officially won, but at least we know what the path to victory looks like. If you’re wanting to make it out of the wild, wild Western Conference in this year’s Stanley Cup Playoffs, you’ll need to go through downtown Chicago and the Blackhawks. After starting out the season in a record setting way, the Chicago Blackhawks locked up the best record in the West and the No. 1 seed. Home ice advantage throughout the playoffs will go a long way in helping the Blackhawks hang another banner in the rafters inside the United Center.

NHL Western Conference Playoff Matchups

1Chicago Blackhawks vs. 8Minnesota Wild
2Anaheim Ducks vs. 7Detroit Red Wings
3Vancouver Canucks vs. 6San Jose Sharks

4St, Louis Blues vs. 5Los Angeles Kings

Anaheim managed to lock up the No. 2 seed in the West while the Vancouver Canucks finished with the No. 3 seed. In the case of Vancouver, they finish with one point less than the St. Louis Blues, but unlike St. Louis, Vancouver finishes the regular season as division champions and are thus awarded the No. 3 seed. But while the Blackhawks are obvious favorites, a closer look at the Western Conference field shows that we could be in store for some crazy matchups and potential upsets. For instance, the Blackhawks get the scrappy Minnesota Wild in the first round, and while they may have limped into the postseason the Wild are dangerous.

That 3-seed will pit the Canucks in a bitter battle in the opening round against the San Jose Sharks who themselves barely missed a top seed in the Western Conference.

The four-five matchup in the West will see the aforementioned St. Louis Blues battling the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings. Both teams experience highs and lows this year with St. Louis being regarded for much of the year as one of the best teams in hockey. The Kings struggled for much of the season but netminder Jonathan Quick has Stanley Cup experience and is always an x-factor.

The picture is set in the Western Conference and we know for sure who is going where and where the path to the Stanley Cup will take us. But beyond that, everything is a mystery as the Stanley Cup playoffs are always up for grabs and all you need to do is get hot to make a run at hockey immortality.

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