Raz’s Series Predictions: 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs – Round 1 (Western Conference) – The Hockey Writers – Previews and Predictions

The pillow fight has finally concluded, and it took until the final day of the regular season for the Round 1 matchups in the Western Conference to be decided. On one hand, you have three of the most talented teams in the league in the Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, and Dallas Stars, and on the other hand, quite a few teams that just don’t compare at all. 

The West is interesting; the Pacific Division was one of the worst divisions we have ever seen, and all that should make for an intriguing first round. Continuing with my series predictions, let’s dive into the Round 1 matchups in the West. 

Vegas Golden Knights (P1) vs Utah Mammoth (WC1) 

Mammoth in 6 games 

The Utah Mammoth, in just their second season, have reached the postseason, but let’s not forget all the struggles this core went through in Arizona. This is a group that has been coming for a while, grown together, and has been waiting for this moment. 

The Vegas Golden Knights didn’t find their groove all season long, and with the roster they have on paper, the struggles they endured were disappointing. Firing a coach is usually a sign that things aren’t going as they were expected, and that was the case with the Golden Knights. They have looked better under John Tortorella, going 7-0-1 to finish the season, but don’t be totally fooled by that, considering the teams they played. 

I’m not sold on either team’s goaltending, and I think that will have the biggest effect on this series. Karel Vejmelka was overworked this season, playing 64 games, and none of the Golden Knights’ goaltenders have looked particularly good either. Carter Hart was on a run to finish the season, but again, take a look at the opponents. I wouldn’t be surprised if he struggled against an extremely skilled and crafty Mammoth offense. 

Special teams is where the Mammoth could land in deep trouble. Vegas’ power play was ranked fifth-best, and its penalty kill eighth. The Mammoth don’t have a comparable special teams in either facet, but they do generate more offense at 5-on-5. Stay out of penalty trouble, and I like the Mammoth’s ability to go to work against the Golden Knights. 

Vegas has a team that is capable of going all the way, and no one would be shocked if they did, but with the way their season went with no real consistency, and the fact that the Mammoth finally took that next big step in their development, I’d like to think they could make some noise. 

Dallas Stars (C2) vs Minnesota Wild (C3)

Stars in 7 games 

This is the series to watch, peak hockey, and it’s a shame that one of these teams will be going home quickly. Both teams are juggernauts, Cup contenders, and have loads of talent and depth in all three areas. Whoever wins this series will go to the conference finals, in my opinion. 

The Stars have been at this for a few years now, unable to solve the Edmonton Oilers whenever their paths cross. I think they are due and headed for a long run. They have the pieces in all three areas of the ice, and played their way to home ice advantage in a divisional race that had no room for error. 

The Wild just cannot make it out of the first round, but all that should go out the window when looking at who is on this team now. They made the big swing for Quinn Hughes and signed Kirill Kaprizov to that massive extension. The Wild’s biggest asset is their defensive group, and that’s huge when considering the multiple offensive threats the Stars possess. 

Analytically, these teams are very close to each other. They both have elite goaltending, and I think it’s ultimately going to come down to experience and familiarity. I can’t imagine this series doesn’t go seven games. I truly think either team is fully capable of winning, but when it comes down to Game 7 and everything on the line, give me the Stars. 

Edmonton Oilers (P2) vs Anaheim Ducks (P3)

Oilers in 6 games 

We all thought the Edmonton Oilers and Los Angeles Kings were inevitable in Round 1, but maybe it’s just Southern California? 

This is by far the best matchup for the Oilers, going up against an extremely young Ducks team that has just taken that next step, and I don’t see the Ducks posing much of a threat unless the Oilers have a complete collapse defensively (which they are more than capable of doing) and Lukas Dostal stands on his head. When it comes to goaltending, give me Dostal over Connor Ingram and Tristan Jarry every day of the week. 

Offensively, the Ducks have the tools to terrorize the Oilers’ goaltending and defensive group, but the same thing can be said on the flip side, aside from Dostal being a tougher goalie to crack (which is why I’m giving the Ducks a couple of games). Both of these teams rely on offense to get things done, and both struggle immensely at keeping things out of the net. If you are going to battle offense with offense, I’d be putting my money on Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to dominate that area of the game, as they have repeatedly, not to mention Evan Bouchard’s offensive domination once the playoffs come around. Add in the fact that this Oilers core has been to two straight Finals, and I don’t think the Ducks have the juice to send them home. 

I don’t think this Oilers team is going back to the Stanley Cup Final, but I also don’t think they are going home in Round 1 because of the Ducks. 

Colorado Avalanche (C1) vs Los Angeles Kings (WC2)

Avalanche in 5 games 

Well, the Kings finally escaped the Oilers in Round 1, but ended up with an even worse fate. In all honesty, the Kings had a rough season and not one that screams competitive playoff team. If it wasn’t for the incompetent Pacific Division, the Kings most likely wouldn’t have clinched their fifth straight playoff berth. 

There’s not a ton to say; everyone is expecting the Colorado Avalanche to absolutely walk all over the Kings and for good reason. 

I have a hard time believing the Kings are going to be able to keep up with the Avalanche at all, and if any series is going to end in a sweep, it will be this one. We all know how good this Avalanche team is, their ability to impose their will on you offensively, and the amount of elite options they can throw at you at any time. They are both the best team offensively and the best team defensively, and can continuously capitalize on the mistakes they force you to make. 

The Avalanche are licking its chops when thinking about the Kings’ defensive group. The Kings don’t have a defenseman capable of shutting down any one of the Avs’ top guys, and don’t have enough offensive talent for it to make a difference in a seven-game series. 

In every which way, the Avalanche are by far the stronger team. They finished first in the entire league by a bunch of points, and ranked first in goals for per game, goals against per game, and penalty kill percentage. The Kings rank near the bottom in all of those stats, aside from goals against per game, where they were the seventh best. 

The Kings can only hope that the Presidents’ Trophy curse comes out to play and that Anze Kopitar’s final dance has some magic in it. It’s not looking great for the Kings, but I mean, anything can happen, and the last time this franchise took on the Presidents’ Trophy winners as an eighth seed, they ended up winning it all.