Here we are again with a wild finish coming in the Western Conference. FIVE teams currently tied at 70 points for the last three playoff spots and only 10 points separating 3rd from 12th. Chicago was in 10th just two nights ago. One win can move you up several spots.
1 Vancouver 87
2 Detroit 80
3 San Jose 76
4 Phoenix 75
5 Los Angeles 72
6 Chicago 70
7 Dallas 70
8 Minnesota 70
Nashville 70
Calgary 70
Anaheim 68
Columbus 66
St. Louis 63
I'm really pulling for Columbus and St. Louis to move up and LA and Dallas to drop out. The top four teams seem to be playing well enough to almost say "they're in". Vancouver would have to have a complete collapse to not make the playoffs.
The East is a little more spread out, but the Devils (blistering hot) and Islanders are all of a sudden playing themsleves back into the picture while the Habs, Rangers and Canes seemingly want to give up their playoff spots. The Flyers, Lightning and Caps are the teams to beat IMO... unless the Devils continue their onslaught and make the playoffs.
1 Philadelphia 86
2 Tampa Bay 77
3 Boston 75
4 Pittsburgh 78
5 Washington 74
6 Montreal 71
7 NY Rangers 68
8 Carolina 65
Buffalo 62
Toronto 61
Atlanta 60
Florida 57
New Jersey 56
NY Islanders 54
The only team on the outside looking in that I'm pulling for are the Leafs. 1967 is a long time ago.
The West is crazy - the next to last team in the West, Columbus, would be the 8 seed in the East, while the last Western team, St. Louis, would only be one win out.
Coyotes had a hot streak - won 8 in a row, including a win at Philly, before losing the next night to Tampa.
dbackjon wrote:The West is crazy - the next to last team in the West, Columbus, would be the 8 seed in the East, while the last Western team, St. Louis, would only be one win out.
Tough to compare that. The East is actually 101-96-32 vs the West, so it's not like you can make much of a case for the West to be better than the East. I think you have four very good teams in each conference right now, and the West's next 6 are slightly better on average than the East's next 6.
Also note that I didn't include Colorado (59) and Edmonton (48) in the West standings and Ottawa (49) in the East because they are all cooked as far as playoffs go.
dbackjon wrote:The West is crazy - the next to last team in the West, Columbus, would be the 8 seed in the East, while the last Western team, St. Louis, would only be one win out.
Tough to compare that. The East is actually 101-96-32 vs the West, so it's not like you can make much of a case for the West to be better than the East. I think you have four very good teams in each conference right now, and the West's next 6 are slightly better on average than the East's next 6.
Also note that I didn't include Colorado (59) and Edmonton (48) in the West standings and Ottawa (49) in the East because they are all cooked as far as playoffs go.
We're still mathematically in it. Just need to win out, basically.
Backstrom is the kind of goalie who could carry a team on a long run in the playoffs when he is in top form.
with Koivu and Latendresse set to come back in a week or two... and a pretty favorable schedule - the wild should be one of those teams that make it in.
North Dakota State University Bison 2011 and 2012 National Champions
Wild beat Anaheim in overtime with 7 seconds left... now have 72 points
it looks like the west is finally starting to sort itself out - however, next week it could all reverse itself... and we could be right back where we started.
North Dakota State University Bison 2011 and 2012 National Champions
89Hen wrote:
Tough to compare that. The East is actually 101-96-32 vs the West, so it's not like you can make much of a case for the West to be better than the East. I think you have four very good teams in each conference right now, and the West's next 6 are slightly better on average than the East's next 6.
Also note that I didn't include Colorado (59) and Edmonton (48) in the West standings and Ottawa (49) in the East because they are all cooked as far as playoffs go.
We're still mathematically in it. Just need to win out, basically.
Boy do I wish the playoffs could start now... Washington vs Pittsburgh, Boston vs Montreal and the Flyers get Carolina instead of Buffalo (Flyer killers in the recent past).
Caps trade Steckel for Jason Arnott and get Dennis Wideman for a minor and draft pick. Hopefully they work out better than the two they picked up last year at the deadline.
Caps add Wideman, Sturm, and Arnott and lose Steckel (draft picks, expiring contracts, obscure minor leaguer, yada yada yada) - lots of playoff experience, lots of potential if everyone learns BB's "system" over the next few weeks.
Of course, if Mike Green doesn't come back 100% I'm not sure it'll do much good...
Chicago was in 10th just two nights ago. One win can move you up several spots.
Just need to win out, basically. 
