In the Western Conference, the race for playoff spots is heating up as teams battle it out for seeding and wild card berths. With Friday's action set to shape the postseason matchups, several teams are still in contention for playoff berths and favorable seedings.

As it stands, the current matchups in the Western Conference are as follows: the Dallas Stars hold the top seed and will face off against the Vegas Golden Knights, while the Winnipeg Jets will take on the Colorado Avalanche. The Vancouver Canucks are set to clash with the Nashville Predators, and the Edmonton Oilers will go head-to-head with the Los Angeles Kings.

The St. Louis Blues find themselves on the brink of elimination, as they could be knocked out of playoff contention if they lose to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights secure a point against the Minnesota Wild. However, the focus remains on the seedings in the Pacific Division.

The Vegas Golden Knights are currently three points and four regulation wins behind the Los Angeles Kings, who hold the third seed in the Pacific Division. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are in the second spot, and they have a chance to seize the Pacific crown. The Oilers will face off against the Arizona Coyotes and still have an opportunity to overtake the Vancouver Canucks, who currently hold the top spot. The Oilers trail the Canucks by four points and four regulation wins but have two games in hand and a crucial matchup against the Canucks on Saturday.

The team that finishes atop the Pacific Division appears poised to face the Nashville Predators, who currently hold the first Western wild card spot. The Predators, with 95 points and 36 regulation wins, are in a tight race with the Los Angeles Kings for the wild card position. They are tied in points and regulation wins with the Kings but possess a three-point and four-win advantage over the Golden Knights.

As the regular season approaches its conclusion, the playoff races intensify, with teams battling not only for postseason berths but also for favorable positioning in the upcoming 2024 NHL Draft Lottery.

It should be noted that the Boston Bruins will face off against the Tampa Bay Lightning in the race for the number one pick, while the Florida Panthers will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs. The New York Rangers will go head-to-head with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Carolina Hurricanes will square off against the New York Islanders.

The playoff scenarios and matchups are still fluid, with several games left to play. The Vegas Golden Knights can secure a playoff berth with a win against the Minnesota Wild, coupled with a loss for the St. Louis Blues against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Edmonton Oilers, meanwhile, stand a chance to clinch home-ice advantage in the first round if they avoid a regulation loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

Fans can catch all the action via NHL Power Play on ESPN+, with games not televised on TNT or NHL Network available for streaming.

As the regular season draws to a close, teams in the Western Conference will continue to battle it out, with the draft lottery on the horizon and the playoff picture gradually coming into focus. The prospects of an intense and thrilling postseason loom large, promising hockey fans an exhilarating finish to the 2023-2024 season.