What We Learned: West playoff race feels wide open

While there are a number of top teams in the Eastern Conference, all jockeying for playoff position, the fact is that the whole thing is a little boring.

Barring a total disaster, the Boston Bruins are winning the No. 1 seed in the East because they are 10 points clear of the next-closest team in the standings, with a game in hand. That race is over.

But in the West? Things are just starting to heat up.

For a little while, Vegas looked like the clear favorite, holding the inside track for a good chunk of the season. But injuries and surges from other teams have come together in the last couple weeks to make it interesting.

Instead, Dallas and Winnipeg are ahead of the Golden Knights in the standings, and Seattle is two points back with a couple games in hand. All have points percentages north