We’re getting near the part of the season where every game involves a heavy dose of scoreboard watching. Teams not only need their two points, but some help from other teams to either grab a playoff spot or take a better playoff position headed into the post season. We’re going to start updating the playoff picture daily here on Pro Hockey Talk, starting today as we gear up for matchup between the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers, two teams fighting for the final spot in the East. After the jump, the standings of the Eastern and Western conferences, as well as some thoughts on each.
Western Conference
| DIV | GP | W | L | OT | Pts | GF | GA | DIFF | Home | Away | L10 | Streak | ||
| 1 | Chicago Blackhawks | CEN | 71 | 45 | 19 | 7 | 97 | 234 | 179 | +55 | 26-7-3 | 19-12-4 | 4-4-2 | |
| 2 | San Jose Sharks | PAC | 71 | 43 | 18 | 10 | 96 | 231 | 187 | +44 | 22-6-8 | 21-12-2 | 3-6-1 | Lost 4 |
| 3 | Vancouver Canucks | NW | 72 | 44 | 24 | 4 | 92 | 236 | 187 | +49 | 26-8-2 | 18-16-2 | 6-2-2 | |
| 4 | Phoenix Coyotes | PAC | 72 | 45 | 22 | 5 | 95 | 198 | 177 | +21 | 26-10-2 | 19-12-3 | 8-2-0 | Won 8 |
| 5 | Los Angeles Kings | PAC | 70 | 41 | 24 | 5 | 87 | 207 | 185 | +22 | 20-12-3 | 21-12-2 | 5-4-1 | Won 1 |
| 6 | Nashville Predators | CEN | 72 | 41 | 26 | 5 | 87 | 203 | 201 | +2 | 21-12-2 | 20-14-3 | 7-3-0 | Won 5 |
| 7 | Colorado Avalanche | NW | 70 | 40 | 24 | 6 | 86 | 211 | 185 | +26 | 22-11-2 | 18-13-4 | 5-5-0 | Lost 1 |
| 8 | Detroit Red Wings | CEN | 71 | 35 | 23 | 13 | 83 | 193 | 192 | +1 | 19-10-5 | 16-13-8 | 7-2-1 | Won 1 |
| 9 | Calgary Flames | NW | 71 | 36 | 26 | 9 | 81 | 181 | 177 | +4 | 18-16-3 | 18-10-6 | 7-3-0 | Won 2 |
| 10 | St Louis Blues | CEN | 71 | 34 | 28 | 9 | 77 | 194 | 196 | -2 | 12-17-5 | 22-11-4 | 7-3-0 | Won 2 |
| 11 | Dallas Stars | PAC | 71 | 31 | 27 | 13 | 75 | 206 | 227 | -21 | 20-10-6 | 11-17-7 | 3-6-1 | Won 1 |
There are three big races right now, that will have a major impact on the playoff picture in the West. First, the Chicago Blackhawks have been able to -- somehow -- overcome the San Jose Sharks for the lead in the conference. Thanks to the Sharks’ unseemly losing streak, they’ve opened the door for a three-way battle for tops in the West that includes.... the Phoenix Coyotes.
Yes, the franchise and team that was the laughing stock of the sports world last summer has now snuck into the picture for the No. 1 seed in the West, riding an incredible eight-game winning streak. A win today against the Dallas Stars -- coupled with a San Jose loss to Edmonton -- and the Coyotes could find themselves in first place in the West. Incredible.
The other race is towards the bottom of the conference, with the Detroit Red Wings trying to hold off the Calgary Flames. Mathematically, this is the closest race but they also have St. Louis and Dallas still within shooting distance as well. The Stars are too inconsistent to put together the sort of streak needed to be considered seriously, but a losing streak of any kind by those above them and it’s certainly a possibility. The Red Wings have a chance to open up their lead today, as they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Eastern Conference
| DIV | GP | W | L | OT | Pts | GF | GA | DIFF | Home | Away | L10 | Streak | ||
| 1 | Washington Capitals | SE | 72 | 48 | 14 | 10 | 106 | 283 | 203 | +80 | 26-4-4 | 22-10-6 | 7-1-2 | Won 1 |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | ATL | 72 | 42 | 24 | 6 | 90 | 224 | 205 | +19 | 21-10-4 | 21-14-2 | 6-2-2 | |
| 3 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 70 | 38 | 22 | 10 | 86 | 195 | 177 | +18 | 21-9-6 | 17-13-4 | 5-4-1 | Won 2 |
| 4 | New Jersey Devils | ATL | 71 | 42 | 25 | 4 | 88 | 189 | 169 | +20 | 24-10-1 | 18-15-3 | 5-4-1 | Lost 1 |
| 5 | Philadelphia Flyers | ATL | 71 | 37 | 29 | 5 | 79 | 211 | 196 | +15 | 21-12-2 | 16-17-3 | 4-4-2 | Lost 1 |
| 6 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 72 | 37 | 30 | 5 | 79 | 194 | 212 | -18 | 23-10-4 | 14-20-1 | 2-7-1 | Lost 5 |
| 7 | Montréal Canadiens | NE | 72 | 36 | 29 | 7 | 79 | 196 | 198 | -2 | 18-13-4 | 18-16-3 | 7-2-1 | |
| 8 | Boston Bruins | NE | 70 | 31 | 27 | 12 | 74 | 174 | 180 | -6 | 14-14-6 | 17-13-6 | 4-5-1 | Lost 1 |
| 9 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 71 | 31 | 29 | 11 | 73 | 215 | 229 | -14 | 18-13-5 | 13-16-6 | 4-5-1 | Won 3 |
| 10 | New York Rangers | ATL | 71 | 31 | 31 | 9 | 71 | 185 | 195 | -10 | 15-17-6 | 16-14-3 | 4-4-2 | Lost 2 |
| 11 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 71 | 30 | 33 | 8 | 68 | 198 | 221 | -23 | 19-14-3 | 11-19-5 | 6-3-1 | Won 2 |
Currently, the Washington Capitals are the only team that’s locked up a division title, but the Sabres have a good firm grasp on their lead in the Northeast division; I doubt the Ottawa Senators are going to go off on any sort of winning streak anytime soon. The Capitals also have a good firm lockdown on the No. 1 spot in the conference.
There are still some good races to keep an eye on. The Penguins, thanks to an overtime loss to the Hurricanes yesterday, have opened up a shot for the New Jersey Devils to take over the lead in the Atlantic division, although New Jersey was shutout yesterday against St. Louis as they failed to take advantage of Pittsburgh’s slip. Neither team plays today.
Finally, we have the most intriguing race in the NHL. Everyone’s attention has been on the battle between New York and Boston for 8th in the conference, all the while the Atlanta Thrashers have snuck into the picture and threaten to knock both out of the playoffs. The Rangers and Bruins have been amazing to watch, as they’ve stumbled and struggled to even muster a fight when the opportunity arises to make a move.
Don’t take your eyes off the Ottawa Senators, however. They’re historic fall could take them out of the playoffs, opening up the chance for two of the Atlanta, New York and Boston trio to make the playoffs. And then, most likely, get promptly ousted by the Washington Capitals.