LOGIN | REGISTER | RSS FEEDS

The Confluence

Eastern playoff races looking just a bit clearer

by Tony on 03/27/09 at 10:03 AM ET
Comments (0)

With just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, there really isn’t any potential matchup in the Eastern Conference playoff races that you could be comfortable in predicting right now.

But the teams that will be involved are starting to weed themselves out, and there are a few teams that had better step it up, or they can start planning their golf vacations.

Let’s take a look:

If you start from the bottom, Buffalo has the advantage that they have games in hand over all of their competition for the final playoff spots.  But even with nine games remaining, they currently still sit seven points away from 8th place Montreal.  It’s not looking good for the Sabres.

The Florida Panthers, with 83 points, sit only two points from the Canadiens, but with one more game played.  For what it’s worth, only three of their final seven games are against potential playoff teams.  They have a legitimate chance to overtake the Habs, who’ve won two in a row after really struggling, losing five straight.  The remaining schedule is a bit tougher for the Habs as well, playing 5 of their last 8 against potential playoff teams.  It may very well come down to the Apr. 11th regular season finale at home vs. the Penguins that determines the Canadiens’ fate.

The Rangers currently sit in 7th place in the East with 87 points, two points ahead of Montreal and one point behind Pittsburgh.  The potential issue for the Rangers is that every one of their remaining seven games is against playoff teams, including their final two games in a home-and-home series against Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh has been red-hot since Dan Bylsma took over the reins from Michel Therrien.  They currently are in 6th place in the East, one point behind Carolina (with a game in hand), and one point ahead of the Rangers.  Five of their final seven games are against potential playoff teams.  Four of their final five games are on the road.  That Apr. 11th matchup vs. the Habs may not necessarily determine whether or not the Pens make the playoffs, but if could very well determine the Pens’ 1st round playoff opponent.

Carolina has joined the Penguins in the red-hot category, going an identical 7-1-2 in their last 10 games.  They are in the 5th slot in the East with 89 points, one point behind the Flyers (with three more games) and one point ahead of the Pens (one more game).  They do, however, have the least amount of games remaining with six.  Five of those six are against potential playoff teams, including two on the road in New Jersey.

The Flyers really control their own destiny, with nine games remaining and sitting in 4th place with 90 points.  Combine that with the fact that only four of those nine remaining games are against potential playoff teams, and barring a big setback, could easily be looking at locking up home ice for the 1st round.

The top three teams in the East are sitting pretty with no serious threat coming up from behind.  The Bruins look like they’ll hold onto the top slot in the East.  Both the Devils and Capitals are seven points in front of the Flyers, although the Caps would have to be toppled by Carolina.

So how does all of that translate into potential playoff matchups ??

If you start at the top, the Bruins could face a few different teams - most likely Montreal, Florida or the Rangers.  Of course, a Boston/Montreal matchup would be great, those teams don’t exactly like each other.  The Bruins took 3 of 4 from the Panthers.  The Rangers might pose a good challenge for Boston, they’ve taken 2 of 3 meetings so far, and would matchup with Boston’s physical style.

For the Devils, they quickly became the team you don’t want to face as soon as Marty Brodeur came back, tossing shutouts left and right. They could face several teams, including Carolina, Pittsburgh, the Rangers, Montreal and Florida.  Devils/Rangers would be interesting, to say the least.  Devils/Penguins would certainly be a huge test for Crosby, Malkin and the boys.

The Caps are the big wild card as the playoffs get closer.  They’ve certainly got the offensive ability, but will their goaltending hold up in a playoff scenario ??  I think the NHL would just love a Caps/Pens series (count me in there as well).  But I believe the Rangers would give the Caps a test as well.  I could see Sean Avery and Alex Ovechkin becoming good friends that series.

Before the Hurricanes’ recent run, it sure looked like it was shaping up to be a Flyers/Penguins first round.  It still may very well go that way, and that certainly be a bloodbath, but there’s just no way of knowing how it’s going to turn out.  The Flyers having home-ice advantage is huge, though.  That crowd can be quite imposing to certain teams if they’re ready for it.

We’ll see how everything turns out, it should be fun.

Filed in: | The Confluence | Permalink
 Tags: NHL-Hockey, Pittsburgh+Penguins,

Comments

Be the first to comment.

Add a Comment

Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.

Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.

Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.

Most Recent Blog Posts

About Kukla’s Korner

Kukla’s Korner is updated around the clock with the work of our own talented bloggers, plus links to the best hockey writing around the internet.  We strive to bring you all the breaking hockey news as it happens.

The home page allows you to see the latest postings from every blog on the site. Subscribe here.  For general inquiries and more, please contact us anytime.

Get the top online sports betting bonuses available to sports betters!

Go Ad Free On KK

Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.