Yesterday we took a look at the potential Eastern Conference matchups. The 2013 season has pretty much been a sprint with the season cut in half due to the lockout. Most teams only have 10 games left, so each game could be the difference in making the Stanley Cup playoffs or spending a long offseason wondering about what went wrong.

Of the 15 teams in the Western Conference, 13 still have a legitimate shot at making the second season. Only Calgary and Colorado are really “out of the picture”, but will happily spoil anyone else’s postseason plans if they are taken lightly. 

Only Chicago has clinched a spot in the dance so far with Anaheim right behind them atop the Pacific Division. The Northwest Division is a dog fight with Vancouver and Minnesota taking turns at the top of the division. Eight points separate the eighth place Detroit Red Wings and the 13th place Nashville Predators.

Here is how the Western Conference lines up if the season ended today

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1) Chicago Blackhawks vs. 8) Detroit Red Wings

Don’t be fooled by the Easter Sunday massacre that the Blackhawks handed out in Hockeytown. The Blackhawks are arguably the most talented team in the Western Conference, but Detroit is probably not the team they would like to see in the first round. Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa and Duncan Keith lead an explosive attack for Chicago. The Red Wings have been both brilliant and awful at times this season. In a seven game series anything can happen. With all the talent in Detroit, namely Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Niklas Kronwall and Jimmy Howard, this series could be a seven game coin flip.

2) Anaheim Ducks vs. 7) St. Louis Blues

The Ducks and Blues have played some amazing games so far this year. Two of the three games have required extra time with the Ducks taking a shootout in February and the Blues stealing a 2-1 overtime win in St. Louis March 16. The Blues have the talent to skate with anyone, but they have also been inconsistent this year and have had erratic goalie play. Jaroslav Halak has been injured as much as he has played this season, and the Blues will need him if they want to have a prayer in this potential series. T.J Oshie, Chris Stewart, Kevin Shattenkirk and Alex Pietrangelo lead the Blues attack. The Ducks are led by Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan, Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu. In goal, coach Bruce Boudreau will have to decide if he wants to use the battle-tested Jonas Hiller or rookie sensation Viktor Fasth in net.

3) Vancouver Canucks vs. 6) Minnesota Wild

What is turning into quite the rivalry is the perennial Northwest Division winner Vancouver and the upstart Minnesota Wild. The Wild were the shopping spree winners last summer adding Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to their roster. Dany Heatley, Mikko Koivu and Niklas Backstrom finally get some help and the Wild have challenged the talented Canucks for supremacy within the division. Vancouver, as always, will go as far as Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin will take them. With the potential goaltending controversy on the back-burner, the Canucks have flown under the radar in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks and Ducks have enjoyed the headlines and the defending President’s Trophy winners are happy to leave it that way. Alexandre Burrows and Cory Schneider have played strong supporting roles for the Sedins as the Canucks look to make up for last season’s embarrassing first round exit.

4) Los Angeles Kings vs. 5) San Jose Sharks

These two bitter rivals started the season headed in opposite directions. The defending champion Kings played with hung-over indifference, while the Sharks came out of the gates with a ball of fire. Patrick Marleau has since cooled off after his goal-scoring bonanza to begin the season. Joe Thornton, Joe Pavelski, Logan Couture and Dan Boyle anchor the up-tempo San Jose attack. Antti Niemi could warrant Vezina Trophy consideration after some spectacular play this season. The Kings have righted their celebratory, self-aggrandizing ship and have been one of the better teams in the league in the second half of the shortened season. Jeff Carter keeps scoring, Anze Kopitar keeps getting better and lately there has even been a Mike Richards, Drew Doughty and Jonathan Quick sighting. Kings and Sharks have one of the best and most underrated rivalries in the NHL. Let’s hope these two hold their spots in the standings.