NHL Playoff Races Heat Up

[Sal]

With little more than two weeks to go in the regular season, the NHL enters the stretch run with roughly about 25 of its 30 teams hoping to land one of 16 slots which will put them in the Stanley Cup Playoffs which will start on April 9th. The way it works is the top 8 teams in each conference make it, the bottom 7 don't, with the division leaders guaranteed one of the top 3 spots no matter how they finish in the overall standings, which creates a rather odd situation when you see where Carolina is. They should be 7th but are 3rd instead because they lead their division---but likely not for long the way Washington and Florida are playing. Here's how the standings look at this precise moment. Expect them to change regularly in the next 2 weeks.

Eastern Conference
Team GP Pts
1. * New Jersey 73 91
2. * Montreal 74 90
3. * Carolina 75 85
4. Pittsburgh 73 89
5. Ottawa 73 87
6. NY Rangers 74 87
7. Boston 73 83
8. Philadelphia 74 82
9. Buffalo 74 81
10. Washington 75 80
11. Florida 74 78
12. Toronto 74 76
13. NY Islanders 74 71
14. Atlanta 76 70
15. Tampa Bay 73 66
* = Division Leader

Tonight's key games:

Montreal at Boston (Go Habs Go! At least for tonight. )

St. Louis at Ottawa (Senators eyeing a return to 1st.)

Tampa Bay at Pittsburgh (Penguins still hanging in despite loss of Crosby.)

Carolina at Florida (Panthers are red hot; Hurricanes trying to keep their distance from Wash. and Fla.)

Western Conference
Team GP Pts
1. y-Detroit 74 102
2. x-San Jose 74 97
3. * Minnesota 74 87
4. Anaheim 75 92
5. Dallas 75 89
6. Vancouver 73 84
7. Calgary 73 84
8. Colorado 74 84
9. Nashville 74 80
10. Edmonton 74 79
11. Phoenix 74 77
12. Chicago 74 77
13. Columbus 74 77
14. St. Louis 73 71
15. Los Angeles 74 62
* = Division Leader

Tonight's key games:

Colorado at Calgary (Two teams in a real logjam in the standings.)

Vancouver at Edmonton (Both teams fighting for their lives when they're not fighting each other.)

Stay tuned. Things can change in a hurry by tomorrow.

[Sal]

Today's updated standings:

Eastern Conference
Team GP Pts
1. * Montreal 75 92
2. * New Jersey 73 91
3. * Carolina 76 87
4. Pittsburgh 74 91
5. Ottawa 74 89
6. NY Rangers 74 87
7. Boston 74 83
8. Philadelphia 74 82
9. Buffalo 74 81
10. Washington 75 80
11. Florida 75 79
12. Toronto 74 76
13. NY Islanders 74 71
14. Atlanta 76 70
15. Tampa Bay 74 66
* = Division Leader

Key Games Tonight:

Leafs at Sabres (Go Blow, Buffalo!)

Islanders at New Jersey (Devils can take over top spot with a win.)

Rangers at Philadelphia (Rangers look safe, Philly isn't)


Western Conference
Team GP Pts
1. y-Detroit 75 104
2. x-San Jose 74 97
3. * Minnesota 74 87
4. Anaheim 75 92
5. Dallas 75 89
6. Vancouver 74 86
7. Calgary 74 86
8. Colorado 75 84
9. Nashville 75 80
10. Edmonton 75 79
11. Phoenix 75 78
12. Chicago 74 77
13. Columbus 74 77
14. St. Louis 74 71
15. Los Angeles 75 64
* = Division Leader

Two West games tonight, neither will affect the standings.

[Mikado]

Why does Toronto get giant dark letters? (The hockey World doesnt revolve around the Leafs, much as Leafs fans might THINK it does)

I don't know if Les Canadiens will go more than a round or two, but, next year, look OUT!

[Sal]

Originally Posted by Mikado

Why does Toronto get giant dark letters? (The hockey World doesnt revolve around the Leafs, much as Leafs fans might THINK it does)

It does to me! Wait until the playoffs start. We could see the Leafs and Habs meet in the first round. It's a big longshot at this point but it's still a possibilty.

No wonder you're already looking ahead to next year.


Anyway, Leafs are 4 points behind the Bruins and they play each other twice this week. Winner takes 8th place and a potential playoff date with the Habs. Either way, I sense Boston is a little scared. That could work against them which would be fine with me.


Happy Easter!

[TJ]

Are people forgetting about the Capitals and Panthers? I think at least one of them will make it as the 8th seed. If Boston played Montreal every game, they'd never win. Not sure how much longer Toronto can win without Sundin and Antropov. Will it be worth it to the Leafs fans to make the playoffs to go out in round 1?

Go Vancouver!

[Sal]

Originally Posted by TJ

Are people forgetting about the Capitals and Panthers? I think at least one of them will make it as the 8th seed. If Boston played Montreal every game, they'd never win. Not sure how much longer Toronto can win without Sundin and Antropov. Will it be worth it to the Leafs fans to make the playoffs to go out in round 1?

Go Vancouver!

I think Washington will make it but I'm not sold on Florida. I think they'll cool off soon. What is keeping both teams alive is the fact that they play in a fairly weak division along with Carolina, Atlanta, and Tampa Bay. Whoever leads the division at the end of the season will make the playoffs but if you finish 2nd you could be out of luck. Right now the Leafs' focus is squarely on Boston, since the Bruins are only 4 points ahead of them and both teams will face each other Tuesday in Toronto (with Sundin possibly returning) and Thursday in Beantown before going to Montreal on Sat. in what I'm hoping will be a first round preview, but by then they could be out of it. I'll know better on Friday.