The Final Countdown to the Playoffs

[GypsieDeathBringer]

Gold teams have earned a 1st round bye.  Green teams are locked into a playoff spot.  Top 10 teams make the playoffs with the 1st 6 getting that important 1st round bye.

From 5 playoff spots to 9 spots have been locked up.  4 First round byes have been earned.  Jockeying for the last couple of 1st round byes will be interesting, but clearly the big question will be if the Bruins can hold off the pack for the last playoff spot. 


1    Winnipeg Jets   (36-6) -  Went 1-1 last week.  They have the top spot locked up.  A great showing by the Jets.  This Carey Price concussion might really damage what should've been a long playoff run.

2    St. Louis Blues   (33-9) - 1-1 last week just getting edged out by the Canucks.  Carolina/Pittsburgh are left.  The Carolina game will essentially be for who gets 2nd or 3rd. 

3    Carolina Hurricanes   (33-9) - 1-1 last week.  Gibson's 900th lower body injury this year is going to gunk up the works something fierce.  Hurricanes only hope is the 1st round bye is enough time for a recovery.  Remaining against Detroit/St.Louis.  Seeding looking like 2 or 3.
   
4    Buffalo Sabres   (27-15) - They went 1-1 last week to guarantee themselves into the playoffs.  Games remain against Arizona/Montreal, Colorado/Winnipeg.  Possible seeds are  4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9  which shows how much work there is left to do.

5    Colorado Avalanche   (30-12) - 1-1 last week being beaten by what might be a historic output from the Oilers. Remaining games against Buffalo/Montreal.  They are locked into the 5th spot.

6     Vancouver Canucks   (27-15) previously 7th- Another undefeated weak clinches a playoff spot for the Canucks.  Remaining games against Anaheim/Edmonton.  Had another monster week.  Whoever gets them in the 2nd round of the playoffs will lose.  I don't guarantee many things, but I guarantee that. Possible seeds are 6,7,8, or 9
   
7    Anaheim Ducks   (27-15) previously 6th -  0-2 last week following an 0-2 the week before.  Remaining games against Toronto/Vancouver. Could go up  6, stay at 7, or down down down to 8 or 9.  Things are trending south even faster.

8    Edmonton Oilers   (26-16) Previously 8th  - 2-0 last week to cement a playoff spot.  Washington/Vancouver will be game to secure the much needed 1st round bye this year.  Seeding could be 6,7,8,9, or 10

9   Philadelphia Flyers   (26-16)  Previously 9th -   2-0 last week to secure a playoff spot.  Remaining games against Vancouver/Washington. Seeding could be 6,7,8,9, or 10

10     Boston Bruins   (24-18)  Previously 10th  -  Buoyed only by a ridiculously favorable schedule granting them 82 played games last week these Bruins went 2-0 to essentially lock in the last playoff spot.  Remaining games against Pittsburgh/Chicago. Seeding could be 9,10 or out of the playoffs at 11,12 if they lost both games and then teams below scored a boatload more points to break the tie breaker. .

11    Montreal Canadiens   (23-19) Previously 12th - Another 2-0 last week to push them to the brink of the playoffs. Colorado/Philadelphia are their last games, which will be a couple of real nail biters.  They have to win both games and have the Bruins lose both of their games as they most likely will not overcome their point difference of 139 points to Boston to break the tie.  Seeding could be 10 or out of the playoffs at 11,12,13

12    Toronto Maple Leafs   (22-20) Previously 11th - Lost both games last week to essentially end their playoff run.  Remaining games against Anaheim/Detroit.  They also got hosed by Boston's advantageous schedule.  They'd need to win both games this week, have the Bruins lose both games while outscoring them by 73 points and then have the Canadiens go at least 1-1 while maintaining their points lead of 67 points.  Possible seeds 10 or out of the playoffs at 11,12,13

13    Washington Capitals   (21-21) Previously 13th-    1-1 last week, which pushes them outside the playoff picture.  A fine season though for sure.

[Rob]

on our way! 

[snugerud]

I am happy about the first round bye.  My teams have been historic tankers when it come to playoffs so all bets are off....

[shooter47]

There will be some interesting games this week with important playoff seeding at stake. The race for number 4 is still going between Buffalo and Philadelphia. Buffalo can clinch with a just a single victory this week but if they go 0-2 and Philly goes 2-0 Philly would shoot all the way up to the 4th seed.

The race for #6 and the final bye is also up in the air between Anaheim and Vancouver. They play this week which means they both control their own destiny. Edmonton still has a shot to get the #6 but it will be tough (They need to go 2-0 this week, have Anaheim beat Vancouver and then have both Anaheim and Vancouver lose their other matchups).

[GypsieDeathBringer]

I meant to explain how the Oilers week was historic.  They scored 229 points on 58 games played.  Averaged almost 4 pts/game, which is about a full point higher than a great week. 

[jmtrops]

too many injuries for me last week, my playoff hopes are done

[dedreger]

This Carey Price concussion might really damage what should've been a long playoff run.

Yeah, I think the bad juju may have followed the franchise from L.A.  Let's see if I can manage to lose a series by a fraction of a point again.

[dedreger]

... and down goes Matt Murray in practice.  Awesome.

[WestCoastExpress]

... and down goes Matt Murray in practice.  Awesome.

Dregs,

At least you've got 2 weeks until things really matter. This week's matchups plus your bye week. Hope your boys get healthy over that time!