Chicago Blackhawks
Mike Irace
The second half of the NHL season is officially underway, and it’s time to decide who is the best in the West. Three teams in the Western Conference make a case for that title: the Chicago Blackhawks, the Dallas Stars and the Los Angeles Kings.
As of right now, the Western Conference is still controlled by the reigning Stanley Cup Champions Chicago Blackhawks. With a 36-16-4 record, the Hawks are not only on top of the Central Division, but also the entire Western conference. They lead the Western Conference with 76 points and are trailing the Washington Capitals by just four points for the NH leadL.
The Hawks first-half success comes from a roster filled with unbelievable talent, including a player with an MVP-like season: Patrick Kane.
Coming off a summer filled with drama and distractions, Kane has put it all behind him and is playing better than he ever has before. Kane leads the NHL in points (76) and goals (32) and makes everyone around him better on the ice, especially his fellow linemates Artem Anisimov and Artemi Panarin.
If Kane and the rest of the team keep it up, they could have the Blackhawks heading to another Stanley Cup Final. Anything can happen during the second half of this season, such as injuries, losing streaks or tough road trips, but if the Hawks play as good as they did in the first half, they are well on their way to another Western Conference title.
Los Angeles Kings
Joshua Nelson
The Western Conference in the NHL boasts four teams that are capable of being the Western Conference’s best team. With the way the Chicago Blackhawks have been playing as of late, they would be the obvious choice. However, the Los Angeles Kings seem to be flying under the radar as the best team.
Despite the their recent losing skid, the Kings have all the tools necessary to make a run for their third cup in five seasons.
All-Star goalie Jonathan Quick is allowing an average of 2.24 goals per game and has always been known to step up his play when pressure arises.
As for offense, the Kings have one of the deepest teams in the league with 10 players who have at least 19 points each. The offense is lead by Anze Kopitar, who has 46 points, and the “That 70’s Line” which features Jeff Carter (35 points), Tyler Toffoli (38 points) and Tanner Pearson (21 points). The Kings don’t have the star power of other elite offenses, but they have plenty of talent to put up goals when needed.
The Kings are out to prove last year was a fluke for them. Even with the recent struggles, this team is too skilled to not be considered the best.
