It’s my Parting Shot for the first of four straight days of The Fearless Predictor…..

Today and tomorrow will be dedicated to T-F-P’s take on how the N-H-L will shake down this season. Today, it will be picking the order of finish in both divisions of the Western Conference. Tomorrow, it’ll be the Eastern Conference and a Stanley Cup prognostication.

In the Western Conference, we start with the Pacific Division. Top spot will be a battle all season long between Edmonton and Vegas with the Oilers prevailing. Somewhere along the line, the Oil will learn that defence is more important than offence and make a late push, as they get ready for the playoffs, to overtake the Golden Knights – who, like Edmonton, don’t exactly have an elite goaltender to lean on! After those two, the Pacific Division will see the L-A Kings in third and qualify for the playoffs, Vancouver in fourth and grab the first wild-card post-season berth while Calgary, Anaheim, Seattle and San Jose – in that order – will miss the playoffs!

In the Central Division, the Dallas Stars are going to step up and put the strange end to last season behind them. How can I not go with new head coach Glen Gulutzan, a former Saskatoon Blades’ player, to make the Stars shine bright this season. It’s the push needed to get the most balanced team in the Conference over the top! Colorado will finish second and Winnipeg will be third and guarantee a playoff spot. After that, it’s Utah in fourth and claiming the second wild-card post-season berth. The also-rans, not making the playoffs, in order, will be Minnesota, St. Louis, Nashville and Chicago!

You’ll notice that my personal biases are not coming into play here. Even though I despise the Edmonton Oilers, getting Connor McDavid a contract extension before the season starts is huge. The distraction of him not having signed was getting to be a little much to watch, so getting rid of the daily questions will allow for normalcy in Edmonton – or, at least as much as you can get in a hockey-mad Canadian city. Then, there’s my Winnipeg Jets. They won the President’s Trophy last season and had the M-V-P and Vezina Trophy winner in Connor Hellebuyck, then flamed out in the second round of the playoffs! There will be a drop-off this season, but not as bad as some may think!

Wait until what I have to say tomorrow!!

That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!