Vegas Golden Knights: Three Western Conference Finals Predictions

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The Vegas Golden Knights VS Winnipeg Jets will be a Conference Finals to remember.

We’re just minutes away from more history out of both these franchises. This is the first time the Vegas Golden Knights and Winnipeg Jets have ever made it to the Western Conference Finals. Before the season started, sports media outlets such as USA Today Sports didn’t have both teams making to the postseason.

However, these two squads defied all the odds, and they’ll duke it out for a chance to make the Stanley Cup Finals. There’s no doubt that this is going to be the Golden Knights toughest challenge of the season. They’ve never experienced an opponent like the Jets in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

After the end of every series, everyone can start off fresh on the stat sheet. Players will rise to the occasion, and some will fail under pressure. Here are three predictions ahead of the Jets-Golden Knights series.

3) Shea Theodore will have a big series against the Jets

LAS VEGAS, NV – APRIL 11: Shea Theodore #27 celebrates his goal with teammate Deryk Engelland #5 of the Vegas Golden Knights against the Los Angeles Kings in Game One of the Western Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena on April 11, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/NHLI via Getty Images) /

We all know there needs to be a player or two that needs to step up in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. There needs to be production in other areas besides the first or second line on this roster. This series is built on speed and skill, and that’s precisely what Shea Theodore brings to the backend of the Golden Knights.

When he’s playing confident, he’s one of the Golden Knights best defenseman. He quarterbacks the first power play unit, plays with proven veteran Deryk Engelland and isn’t afraid to dish out some hits. And the good news is he’s only 22-years old.

Golden Knights Head Coach Gerard Gallant will rely on the first pairing of Nate Schmidt and Brayden McNabb a ton in this series. But it’s essential that Theodore provides some offense coming from the blue line while the shutdown pairing can focus on Winnipeg’s first line.

The Langley, British Columbia native, has had a decent playoff run thus far. Theodore has racked up two goals, three assists, and 5 points in ten games. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if Theodore raises his game in a series that is built around his strengths.

2) Special teams will play a vital role in the Golden Knights success.

LAS VEGAS, NV – FEBRUARY 15: (L-R) James Neal #18, William Karlsson #71 and David Perron #57 of the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate after Perron assisted Karlsson on a second-period power-play goal against the Edmonton Oilers during their game at T-Mobile Arena on February 15, 2018, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

It’s important not to give any man-advantage opportunities to a team that’s as skilled as the Winnipeg Jets. They can hurt you from anywhere in the lineup, and that could pose a problem for the Golden Knights. The depth on Winnipeg is much stronger than Los Angeles and San Jose.

They also have a tremendous power play as they sit in at 25% conversion rating on the power play. Players like Mark Scheifele, Patrik Laine, Blake Wheeler and Dustin Byfuglien thrive in that role. It’s important to stay out of the box against this team as much as possible.

On the flip side, the Jets don’t have the best penalty kill percentage as they come in at 74.2%. So when the Golden Knights do go on the power play, they need to make it count. The Golden Knights themselves don’t have a great power play percentage as they come into this series at 17.5%.

Vegas struggled mightily on the power play but got better with the man advantage in the series against the San Jose Sharks. They’ll need to continue that trend if they want to beat a tough Jets team.

3) Vegas Golden Knights will defeat the Winnipeg Jets in seven games

WINNIPEG, MB – FEBRUARY 1: Vegas Golden Knights players celebrate following a 3-2 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on February 1, 2018, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

As soon as I found out the Jets would be facing the Golden Knights, I’ve been going back and forth on this series. But at the end of the day, I think the storybook season of the Vegas Golden Knights will continue into the Stanley Cup Finals. Of course, this series could go the other way, but I believe the bottom half of the roster will play a significant role in this series against the Jets.

The Jets have a lot more elite players than the Golden Knights do. However, if the Golden Knights continue to get production from Cody Eakin, Ryan Carpenter, Oscar Lindberg, and Alex Tuch, I really like their chances. Having Luca Sbisa back in full swing of things could also play a huge role as he’s playing with offensive defenseman Colin Miller.

As for the goalie matchup, its close. Connor Hellebuyck is a Vezina Trophy finalist and has had a fantastic season. Marc-Andre Fleury is playing like a player that has more to prove even after winning three Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh.

I’d say the goalie matchup is a wash and both goaltenders will look great in this series. Fleury will make his highlight reel saves and as will Hellebuyck. But there’s no real advantage for either one of these fantastic goaltenders.

Next: Vegas Golden Knights Mailbag: Stanley Cup Playoffs, Free Agency, Cody Glas

All in all, here’s how I see the series playing out. After a big win on home ice in game six, the Golden Knights will rally late and defeat the Jets in game seven. William Karlsson will net the game-winner with seven minutes left and send the Vegas Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Finals. How do you see the series playing out?

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