from Helene Elliott of the LA Times,

Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis, whose team is 7-3-1 against the East and 4-4-1 within the West, believes there's deep quality in the West.

"I think the teams are better in the West, that the way the game is played, the size and speed out here, is really strong," he said. "I think you look at these games you play against Western opponents as great games. I think overall the competition in the West right now is perhaps a little bit better."

Boudreau said West teams are more accustomed to traveling long distances and have a scouting edge.

"We get to watch all the Eastern games. And they can't watch us," he said. "I'll watch every Eastern game, or at least I'll have an idea of how they play before we play them. Sometimes when they play us I think they might not have seen us play all year."

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