Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference X factors

The 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on Sunday with two Western Conference series — the Winnipeg Jets versus Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks versus Nashville Predators — kicking things off. 

There are no shortage of superstars in this year's field, but there are always some X factors that can swing a series in a particular direction, whether it be a goaltender, a depth player or a head coach. 

Here are four of the biggest potential X factors for the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

Juuse Saros, goaltender, Nashville Predators

Right there in the Vezina Trophy race seemingly every year, Saros is the kind of goaltender who can steal a playoff series if he gets hot enough. He led the NHL in saves (1,672) and finished sixth in wins (35) with a 2.82 goals-against average and .906 save percentage.

Saros has been a top-five regular-season goalie for a handful of years, but his track record in the playoffs — he's 3-7-0 — isn’t spectacular despite having excellent underlying metrics with a 2.63 GAA and .914 save percentage. 

Vancouver was the sixth-highest scoring team during the regular season with 3.40 goals per game, and Saros will have to be on his game for the Predators to have a shot at pulling the upset.

Mark Stone, right wing, Vegas Golden Knights

It seems like every year, the Golden Knights find a way to use long-term injured reserve to their benefit come playoff time. This year is no different as Stone, who’s been on LTIR, has been cleared to return to practice and is expected to be activated ahead of the team’s playoff opener on Monday.

The 31-year-old forward had 16 goals and 53 points in 56 regular-season games, but he’s been known to turn it up a notch in the playoffs. Stone had 11 goals and 24 points in 23 playoff games last year en route to a Stanley Cup championship win with Vegas, and he scored 13 goals and 29 points in 27 postseason games in 2018 and 2019. 

If Stone is putting the puck in the net, it could be the difference in Vegas’ series against the top-seeded Dallas Stars.

Cam Talbot, goaltender, Los Angeles Kings

Perhaps no goaltender has a more daunting task in the first round this year than Talbot does in trying to shut down the high-octane Edmonton Oilers lineup, which features Connor McDavid (32 goals, 132 points), Leon Draisaitl (41 goals, 106 points), Evan Bouchard (18 goals, 82 points) Zach Hyman (54 goals, 77 points) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (18 goals, 67 points).

Talbot had an impressive 2.50 goals-against average and .913 save percentage during the regular season, but he went 0-2 against the Oilers and allowed seven goals in two games. 

If the Kings stand any chance to make this a series, Talbot is going to have to bring his "A” game every night. 

Jared Bednar, head coach, Colorado Avalanche

Until about three weeks ago, it looked as if the Avalanche could possibly claim their fourth straight Central Division title. They were tied with the Stars for the division lead with 97 points and were four points clear of the then-third place Jets. 

However, a 4-5-2 run over their final 11 games dropped them to third in the division, and many have pointed the finger at Bednar as to why.

It's hard to see the eighth-year head coach getting fired two seasons removed from winning a Stanley Cup, but his seat is definitely warm. 

Winnipeg is arguably the hottest team in the NHL heading into the postseason, having won its last eight games, and in a matchup where the rosters are as evenly matched as this one, it may come down to whether Bednar can out-coach his counterpart, Rick Bowness.