The Pacific Division will be represented by what looks like at least four teams during the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning on April 16th.  With the wild card race in the Western Conference not nearly as tight as the one going down on the other side of the country, intriguing playoff matchups in the west will take shape sooner rather than later. The teams out of the Pacific represent everything and anything an opponent could possibly be: a favorite, an underdog and a divisional matchup that will be nothing short of entertaining right from the get go.

Here’s a look at the potential matchups that teams out of the Pacific Division may very well find themselves a part of come mid-April.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (7) Minnesota Wild

The Sharks have played fantastic hockey all season long and would be the clear first round favorites if they were to face off against the Wild. Led by veterans Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton, the Sharks have too much firepower for Zach Parise and his Minnesota teammates to handle. Home-ice advantage will be key for the Sharks as they have absolutely dominated at home, going 26-5-5 at the SAP Center so far on the season.

(8) Phoenix Coyotes vs. (1) St. Louis Blues

If the Sharks fail to catch the Blues for top spot in the west, don’t expect the Coyotes to stand any chance of moving on to the second round. The Blues are currently 7-2-1 in their last 10 games and don’t appear to be showing any signs of slowing down. The Blues’ addition of Ryan Miller quickly solidified them as the favorites to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals.

(3) Anaheim Ducks vs. (6) Los Angeles Kings

This is by far the most intriguing potential playoff matchup not only within the Pacific Division, but perhaps also in the whole conference. Although the Ducks have already beaten the Kings twice on the season, they were in all relatively tight games, not including a shootout win for the Kings back in December. These two teams match up perfectly.

The Kings, only two years removed from being crowned Stanley Cup Champions, are playing great hockey. They have won seven of their last 10 games and look poised to stay on a roll down the stretch. The Ducks on the other hand, have slowed down a bit and would no longer be considered the favorites in a matchup against their division rival, despite being the higher seed. This will undoubtedly be a series that could very well come down to being a good old-fashioned game seven thriller.