With the NHL playoffs just around the corner, I figured that it would be a good idea to take a look at who will make the playoffs.

Today, however, I am only going to look at the Western Conference playoff picture.

The Western Conference may have a slight edge over the east when it comes to the playoffs.

The west includes the two best teams in the league (statistically), in San Jose, and Detroit. It is also the home of players like Pavel Datsuyk, Joe Thornton, Henrik Zetterberg, Roberto Luongo, Miikka Kiprusoff, Jarome Iginla, Rick Nash, and others.

Also, since the lockout, the Western Conference has raised the most Stanley Cup banners, two, where the east has only once.

This is how Western Conference standings currently look:

Team/Wins/Points

1. SJ – 50 – 111

2. DET – 49 – 107

3. VAN – 42 – 93

4. CGY  - 43 – 92

5. CHI – 40 – 91

6. CBJ – 40 - 88

7. ANA – 39 – 84

9. STL  - 37 – 83

10. MIN – 36 – 81

11. EDM – 36 – 81

12. DAL  - 34 – 78

13. LA  - 31 – 73

14. PHX – 32 – 71

15. COL – 31 – 64

With Nashville and Anaheim in a tie for the eighth and final playoff spot, and Columbus in sixth five points into the playoffs, don’t be surprised if Columbus makes the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

Also don’t be surprised the Blues make the playoffs, as they are currently on a five game winning streak.

Since Columbus is likely to make the playoffs, and Dallas has just 78 points, the playoff race realistically really only goes from seventh place to eleventh place. With that being said, here is how seventh through eleventh should look as of April 12^th, 2009:

Team

7. NSH

8. STL

9. ANA

10. MIN

11. EDM

Look for Nashville to make the playoffs, while the St. Louis Blues will be part of a photo finish to eighth spot with Anaheim, while continuing their great push for the playoffs. Minnesota and Edmonton, meanwhile, will remain in their current positions.

So, without further Adieu, here is how the playoffs will go down in the Western Conference:

Round 1                       Round 2                      Round 3                    Stanley Cup Finals

1. San Jose                                                       

Vs.                                .                                                            

8. St. Louis                                      

2. Detroit                      1. San Jose

Vs.                                 Vs.

7. Nashville                   6. Columbus                1. San Jose

                                                                           Vs.                            1. San Jose

3. Vancouver                 2. Detroit                     5. Calgary

Vs.                                 Vs.

6. Columbus                 5. Calgary

4. Chicago

Vs.

5. Calgary

Only one change in the Western Conference standings that did not involve a change in the playoffs, and that was Calgary and Chicago swapping spots in the standings. However, they still faced each other in the playoffs.

Look for San Jose to be Western Conference champs. I will announce who I think they will play in the Stanley Cup Finals in the Eastern Conference edition.

*All stats as of 5:58, Tuesday April 1^st, 2009.