By Jacob Messing

The 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs kick off Wednesday, and the Western Conference gets its first taste of action when the Minnesota Wild visit their Central Division rivals in the Winnipeg Jets.

Eight unique matchups are set this spring, and below you’ll find your guide to the West. Tune up on FloHockey’s Eastern Conference preview before diving into the full NHL playoffs schedule. Let’s dive right into the teams staring each other down for the first seven-game series.

Nashville Predators vs Colorado Avalanche

Season series: Nashville, 4-0-0

The Nashville Predators claimed their first-ever President’s Trophy as the league top team of the regular season, but after falling just short in 2017, they’ve got some unfinished business this spring.

The Predators stormed through the playoffs last year after a rocky, injury-filled regular season. They took the hockey world by storm and now return to the playoffs with an even deeper roster. The losses of James Neal and Colin Smith were offset by the additions of Kyle Turris, Nick Bonino, Ryan Hartman, and KHL all-star Eeli Tolvanen. An enviable blue line that skates, scores, and defends sublimely ahead of Vezina Trophy candidate (and arguable frontrunner) Pekka Rinne.

“Those experiences that you take in… they prepare you for the playoff series of the future,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette told Nashville reporter Brooks Bratten. “This team has now been through a lot, and I feel like it can only help in playoff situations.”

After a subpar season in 2016-17—to put it nicely—the Avalanche saw an MVP-candidate breakout season from Nathan MacKinnon, who flourished alongside wingers Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen. The trio was one of the most potent and consistent lines this season, but there’s a significant drop-off in the bottom-nine forward group, especially when it comes to experience.

Injuries to starting goaltender Semyon Varlamov and top-pair defenseman Erik Johnson will be a big problem for the Avalanche without comparable players to step in. The Avalanche do hold the special teams advantage, but only by a slim margin.

Prediction: Colorado won’t be a pushover, but Nashville is too deep and experienced, which will help the Predators move on after five games.

Vegas Golden Knights vs Los Angeles Kings

Season series: Los Angeles, 2-1-1

If someone told you they expected Vegas to make the playoffs and even gain home-ice, they’d be lying. Golden Knights coach Gerard Gallant turned spare parts into a dominant team that maintained a high level of play all season long. In the playoffs, they’ll live or die by three-time Stanley Cup winner Marc-Andre Fleury.

Team leaders Jonathan Marchessault, William Karlsson, and Reilly Smith will need to be at their best given their limited playoff experience and slower end to the season. While the Knights do have other playoff experience, it’s minute compared to the Los Angeles Kings.

TONIGHT. #GoKingsGo

➡️ https://t.co/ofNBvdMcW3 ⬅️ pic.twitter.com/RO8nmuvRJA

— LA Kings (@LAKings) April 11, 2018

Hart Trophy candidate Anze Kopitar is the best forward in the series. Norris Trophy candidate Drew Doughty is the best defenseman in the series. The two teamed up for the 2012 and 2014 Stanley Cup titles and are too powerful on both ends of the ice to lose to a team they bested 2-1-1 this year.

That doesn’t include Jeff Carter, Jonathan Quick, or the amazing bounce-back season from Dustin Brown, all of whom joined Kopitar and Doughty in raising the Cup in 2012 and 2014. Add in the league’s best penalty kill and unmatched defensive depth and you’ll find a knight always answers to his king.

Prediction: Los Angeles will end the feel-good story of the Golden Knights early, as they dump Vegas in six games.

Winnipeg Jets vs Minnesota Wild

Season series: Winnipeg, 3-1-0

Last year, the Jets were consistent goaltending away from becoming a top team in the NHL. This year, Connor Hellebuyck gave them that goaltending as they finished with the second-most points in the league. Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Kyle Connor, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Paul Stastny may be the best top-six in the entire league.

“This is what you play all season for, is to get to the playoffs,” Scheifele said Wednesday. “You’ve got to enjoy it. We play a game that we love, each and every day, and you have to enjoy every second of it.”

They will make the blue line’s job easy with their ability to score on command. The defense, led by Dustin Byfuglien and Jacob Trouba, plays a gritty, physical game while moving the puck forward. The occasional gaffe has been stopped time and again by Hellebuyck, rounding out the team’s incredible group.

Minnesota just doesn’t have the same game-changing talent, speed, or depth of Winnipeg and the boisterous Jets fans will only make matters worse. Eric Staal and Mikael Granlund have been the go-to forwards, but scoring has come in fits and starts after that.

Injuries are bound to happen, but the Wild’s injury to Ryan Suter is by far the worst possible one to have. Suter is an incredible defenseman who controls play and gets the hardest matchups every game. Jared Spurgeon is a game-time decision for game one, but should he play, he’ll need to shake off rust of having a month off.

Prediction: Winnipeg’s offense is too deep for the Wild to contain or out-score; they’ll send Minnesota home after six games.

Anaheim Ducks vs San Jose Sharks

Season series: San Jose, 3-0-1

Two teams built for playoff hockey will bring one of the best matchups of the first round.

Anaheim staved off injuries all season long and now, finally healthy, they’ve gone 8-1-1 over their past 10 games, going from a bubble team to having home ice advantage. An injury to Cam Fowler leaves a big hole on the blue line, where Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm, and Brandon Montour are old and slow veterans who can’t match the Sharks top forwards.

We’re ready for the Stanley Cup Playoffs! #PaintItOrange #LetsGoDucks pic.twitter.com/gHFCKRwbCp

— Honda Center (@HondaCenter) April 9, 2018

The question mark for Anaheim is John Gibson, the season-saving netminder who continually bailed out the injury-riddled team to fit for a playoff spot all season long. He may be in net for game one, which would be a big difference than 37-year-old Ryan Miller who isn’t the same goalie as he was in his prime.

The status of San Jose’s Joe Thornton is up in the air, but a rally to “win one for Joe” could help the Sharks fight through to the second round. Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture, and deadline acquisition Evander Kane have held down the offense. Kane has scored nine goals and 14 points in 17 games with the Sharks while playing alongside some of the best linemates he’s ever had.

Brent Burns runs the defense, but the defensive-first games of Marc-Eduard Vlasic, Justin Braun, and Brendan Dillon are what help goaltender Martin Jones put up such solid numbers annually.

Prediction: San Jose will take the series in game seven, ending Anaheim’s hot play as the Sharks continue their chase for the elusive Stanley Cup.

Have a question or a comment for Jacob? You can find him on Twitter @JMessing23.