Predictions: Who will make the Playoffs?
Well now that we know what each team will essentially look like for the remainder of the season, I'm willing to make some predictions as to who will make the playoffs. It's a dangerous business, one in which my reputation as a psychic will probably be destroyed but I'm willing to go there anyways. As I write, the Eastern Conference is as tight as ever, and the Western Conference has been close for a couple of months. The East has 6 teams fighting for the final four playoff spots and only two points seperating Montreal in 5th with 75 points from Carolina in 10th with 73 points. The West has a bit more seperation but also has more teams vying for fewer spots. Between 6th and 13th there is only a spread of five points: Nashville, Columbus, and Dallas are all tied for 6th with 70 points while Los Angeles is all the way down in 13th but is still close with 65 points.
So it comes down to the predictions. What team has more games left? What team has good chemistry, good goaltending, or made good deadline acquistions? Are there players coming back from injuries, or who have recently gone out with an injury? What team has an easier schedule (quality of opponents, more games at home or on the road, and how do they fare at home or the road)? Throw all these factors in, and finally add what your gut is telling you and from that I make my predictions. So here they are.
Eastern Conference
1. Boston: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
2. New Jersey: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
3. Washington: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
4. Philadelphia: Goaltending is an issue but this team will be fine outscoring the competition.
5. Florida: Chemisty and a vote of confidence in keeping Jay Bouwmeester put Florida into the playoffs.
6. Pittsburgh: Finally fielding a full lineup and from that they have won their last five (four of which were without Crosby). Last years run to the cup has given them the experience they need.
7. Montreal: Though the team is playing poorly at the moment, they have 11 or 17 games left at home and are the 2nd best team in East at home.
8. Carolina: Getting Eric Cole will spark this team, especially Eric Staal. Having four of their last five at home will also help.
9. N. Y. Rangers: Good bye Glen Sather, well I'm not sure you'll get fired but you deserve it. The Rangers made some of the biggest moves at the deadlines but I don't think it will help their power play, and that will be their downfall: scoring goals.
10. Buffalo: Personally I'm rooting for Buffalo but they finish the season playing 7 games in 11 days; 4 of those games are against division leaders.
Also missing the playoffs: Toronto, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Atlanta and N.Y. Islanders.
Western Conference
1. San Jose: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
2. Detroit: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
3. Calgary: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
4. Chicago: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
5. Vancouver: Two scoring lines, a great goaltender, a healthy defence, and no chemistry issues. Oh and they are the hottest team in the NHL right now.
6. Columbus: If Steve Mason plays as well as he has they'll be in. It also doesn't hurt that they have one of the easier schedules left in the NHL.
7. Dallas: This team has had a dramatic turnaround since Sean Avery left. Sometimes it's all about chemistry.
8. Edmonton: Good moves by Steve Tambellini at the deadline. Kotalik should fit well with Hemsky, he's played with him before in the 2006 Olympics. Injuries could drop them out of the playoffs though.
9. Nashville: They have 11 of 17 games left on the road and are 12-17-2 on the road. Hard to overcome that. They need better goalscoring and in that they really miss Alex Radulov.
10. St. Louis: They've made a nice run and will continue to play well but just won't make it. The biggest problem is that they're actually moving further away from a lottery pick.
11. Minnesota: Lack of offence, injuries to your top 2 forwards (Brunette and Gaborik) and 11 of your 18 final games on the road: Minnesota's just not gonna make it.
12. Anaheim: Simply put they've played too many games and just aren't gonna get hot in time for the playoffs. Bob Murray was smart enough to realize this and re-tool for next year and their future.
13. Los Angeles: Traded one of their young stars in Patrick O'Sullivan for a more proven scorer and added some experience, but it will take some time until Justin Williams is back to his normal self. Look for L.A. to make the playoffs next year.
Also missing the playoffs: Colorado, Phoenix
The 6 teams with a chance for John Tavares: N. Y. Islanders, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Colorado, Ottawa.
So it comes down to the predictions. What team has more games left? What team has good chemistry, good goaltending, or made good deadline acquistions? Are there players coming back from injuries, or who have recently gone out with an injury? What team has an easier schedule (quality of opponents, more games at home or on the road, and how do they fare at home or the road)? Throw all these factors in, and finally add what your gut is telling you and from that I make my predictions. So here they are.
Eastern Conference
1. Boston: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
2. New Jersey: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
3. Washington: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
4. Philadelphia: Goaltending is an issue but this team will be fine outscoring the competition.
5. Florida: Chemisty and a vote of confidence in keeping Jay Bouwmeester put Florida into the playoffs.
6. Pittsburgh: Finally fielding a full lineup and from that they have won their last five (four of which were without Crosby). Last years run to the cup has given them the experience they need.
7. Montreal: Though the team is playing poorly at the moment, they have 11 or 17 games left at home and are the 2nd best team in East at home.
8. Carolina: Getting Eric Cole will spark this team, especially Eric Staal. Having four of their last five at home will also help.
9. N. Y. Rangers: Good bye Glen Sather, well I'm not sure you'll get fired but you deserve it. The Rangers made some of the biggest moves at the deadlines but I don't think it will help their power play, and that will be their downfall: scoring goals.
10. Buffalo: Personally I'm rooting for Buffalo but they finish the season playing 7 games in 11 days; 4 of those games are against division leaders.
Also missing the playoffs: Toronto, Ottawa, Tampa Bay, Atlanta and N.Y. Islanders.
Western Conference
1. San Jose: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
2. Detroit: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
3. Calgary: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
4. Chicago: Guaranteed Playoff Spot
5. Vancouver: Two scoring lines, a great goaltender, a healthy defence, and no chemistry issues. Oh and they are the hottest team in the NHL right now.
6. Columbus: If Steve Mason plays as well as he has they'll be in. It also doesn't hurt that they have one of the easier schedules left in the NHL.
7. Dallas: This team has had a dramatic turnaround since Sean Avery left. Sometimes it's all about chemistry.
8. Edmonton: Good moves by Steve Tambellini at the deadline. Kotalik should fit well with Hemsky, he's played with him before in the 2006 Olympics. Injuries could drop them out of the playoffs though.
9. Nashville: They have 11 of 17 games left on the road and are 12-17-2 on the road. Hard to overcome that. They need better goalscoring and in that they really miss Alex Radulov.
10. St. Louis: They've made a nice run and will continue to play well but just won't make it. The biggest problem is that they're actually moving further away from a lottery pick.
11. Minnesota: Lack of offence, injuries to your top 2 forwards (Brunette and Gaborik) and 11 of your 18 final games on the road: Minnesota's just not gonna make it.
12. Anaheim: Simply put they've played too many games and just aren't gonna get hot in time for the playoffs. Bob Murray was smart enough to realize this and re-tool for next year and their future.
13. Los Angeles: Traded one of their young stars in Patrick O'Sullivan for a more proven scorer and added some experience, but it will take some time until Justin Williams is back to his normal self. Look for L.A. to make the playoffs next year.
Also missing the playoffs: Colorado, Phoenix
The 6 teams with a chance for John Tavares: N. Y. Islanders, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Phoenix, Colorado, Ottawa.
Labels: John Tavares, playoffs
posted by Aidan Tiefenbach at
6:27 PM
2 Comments:
So I posted this before tonight's Carolina-Tampa Bay game and what happens, Eric Staal and Eric Cole prove me right less than three hours after I wrote it. Eric Staal had a 6 point night (4g, 2a) and Eric Cole had 4 assists (all on goals that Staal had a point on as well). They just play great together and have great chemistry. Smart move by Jim Rutherford to get Cole back and spark Staal's play.
I'm with you on the West, though I think Anaheim will do better than 12th. I'm still not sold on Carolina in the East, either, but you might be right.
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