Saturday, April 30, 2011

Round 2 Underway

I didn't get a chance to write out my predictions for this round before it started, so I figured I'd wait until one game was in the books for each series. Let's see if I can keep up my good streak, I was 7 for 8 in the first round, the only series I got wrong was Philly over Buffalo. I am keeping my predictions from when the series began regardless of how the first game turned out, though may use events of those games to reinforce my arguments. Interestingly enough, identical seeds from each conference won their series. Also interestingly enough, my prediction is that the same will happen this time around. So far my two Eastern winners are leading, and my two Western winners are down.

EAST
1. Washington Capitals vs. 5. Tampa Bay Lightning-TBL leads 1-0
Both of these Southeast rivals have potent offenses and sturdy defenses, but the thing that will set them apart in this series is goaltending. Michal Neuvirth adn Dwayne Roloson entered this series as the top two goalies in the playoffs thus far. However, Neuvirth is young and unproven, and did not face all that much fire from the Rangers in the five game series. Dwayne Roloson meanwhile, played 7 games and is 41, and still put up those numbers. He has tons of playoff experience and will be especially important if this series goes the distance, as of last series he is 6-0 in his career in Game 7s. Also, Tampa's issues late this year came when Steven Stamkos wasn't socring. He began to regain his scoring touch late in the last series and could break away and lead the charge in this series.
Prediction: Tampa Bay wins

2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 3. Boston Bruins-BOS leads 1-0
There are two main reasons why the Bruins will win this series: goaltending and history. Tim Thomas has let in a few bad goals so far these playoffs, but was also a major reason why the Bruins won their series. Philadelphia used 3 goalies in the first series and so far after one game have already used two in this series. The Flyers offense is much better than the Bruins, and their defense probably has an edge as well, but if the Flyers goalies can't keep the puck from going in, they have no chance in this series. The Bruins had two major issues in the first series, and one of those already seems to be on the mend. David Krejci and Milan Lucic were awful in the first series, but David Krejci found his game today with a two goal performance. The most glaring issue is the Bruins' power play. After eight games, the Bruins are 0 for 26 on the power play. They will need to solve this issue if they really want to win games. History was against the Bruins in the first series, but they beat the odds and won a seven game series for the frist time since 1994, won a series after dropping the first two games for the first time in franchise history, and won a 7 game series without scoring a power play goal for the first time in NHL history. The Flyers also won a series using three goaltenders for the first time in NHL history. With last year's epic debacle agaisnt the Flyers fresh in the Bruins' mind, they should be extra fired up to prove themselves in this series and avenge their past failure.
Prediction: Boston wins

WEST
1. Vancouver Canucks vs. 5. Nashville Predators-VAN leads 1-0
This is a questionable choice perhaps, but after seeing the near epic collapse of the Canucks in the first round, anything can happen. Judging by the ridiculous effect that the return of Dave Bolland to the Blackhawks lineup had on the Canucks, one notices that the best way to counter the Canucks flashy, talented offense is with grit and hard work. The Predators have just the kind of lineup that can do that. The only concern here is that the Predators don't have many talented scorers, but if they can wear down the Canucks and keep the games close, they have an outstanding chance of reaching the Conference Final. Roberto Luongo has been shaky in net and Pekka RInne has been very good. The Predators forwards were awful in game 1, as shown by Bary Trotz's fury after the game, but still they only lost 1-0. Trotz's disappointment with the team is likely to fire them up to bring their A game for the rest of the series. This is sure to be an exciting and close series fought between two teams backstopped by two Vezina nominees and coached by two Jack Adams nominees.
Prediction: Nashville wins

2. San Jose Sharks vs. Detroit Red Wings-SJS leads 1-0
Stability and consistency are my keys to why Detroit will win this series. The Sharks showed flashes of brilliance in their first round series vs. the Kings. They showed they can ignite for a few quick goals, but they also showed they can give up a few quick goals just as easily. They have a potent offense and a steady defense, but there are definitely holes that the Kings were able to exploit on multiple occasions, which should be found much more easily by the experienced Red Wings. Last year's Stanley Cup winning goaltender Antti Niemi had a goals against average of 3.99 in the first round and Antero Niittymaki was stellar when he saw action. Still, Todd McLellan is sticking with Niemi, but he will need to change his mind if Niemi starts to look like he did against the Kings. On the Wings side, Jimmy Howard has found some consistency in net, which has really been the only question mark the Wings have ever had. Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg should be returning to add to an already expert lineup. Their back end is full of crafty veterans, too. Nicklas Lidstrom has played over 250 playoff games and amazingly has averaged a goal every 5 games. All of these players have a ton of playoff experience and many are left over from the Cup team from three years ago. The Wings are in a 1-0 hole right now, but were very close to winning that game. They lost the game only 2-1 in Overtime on a deflected shot that would have missed the net. The Wings are also fresh from the long break after their sweep of Phoenix and should be able to handle the wear and tear better if the series goes deep.
Prediction: Detroit wins

Monday, April 25, 2011

Making the Rounds

Now that we're about two weeks into the playoffs, we may as well check in on each first round series, see what's going on, what to expect, and how my initial predictions are looking.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
1. Vancouver Canucks vs. 8. Chicago Blackhawks-Series tied 3-3
With the powerhouse Canucks, it didn't come as much a surprise when Vancouver took a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. But after that, Roberto Luongo is starting to show why he may be the new Evgeni Nabakov. For all of his extraordinary regular season numbers, Evgeni Nabakov never showed up in the playoffs for the Sharks, who let the goaltender go after a decade of disappointment. So far with the Canucks, Bobby Lu has put up elite numbers every year, but the Canucks have yet to get very far come April. His team has been eliminated by Chicago in the playoffs for the past two seasons, and believe it or not, have a serious chance at the hat trick. Since grabbing the 3-0 lead, the Canucks have lost two games in dramatic fashion plus an overtime thriller to the down-but-not-out defending champs. Luongo was even pulled in one of them, and Alain Vignault chose to start Corey Schneider in Game 6, though he was later injured on a penalty shot and replaced by Luongo. Facing the sweep, Chicago ignited for a 7-2 win, and followed it up with a 5-0 pounding in Vancouver. The chances of Chicago making the miraculous comeback are slim to none on paper, but they are now only one road win away in a year where the road team seems to have the advantage. If they can keep the pedal to the floor, they could pull it off. This is Vancouver's series to lose.
Previous prediction: Vancouver wins
Status: seemed pretty good, but not anymore. next victor wins the series. could go either way
2. San Jose Sharks vs. 7. Los Angeles Kings-SJS leads 3-2
The Kings have shown during this series why they should not be counted out. But then again, they have also shown why they should. With the loss of Anze Kopitar, the 7th-seeded Kings entered this series the clear underdogs. They showed their stuff in game 1 by bringing the hungry Sharks into overtime, where they would eventually lose. They followed it up with a 4-0 shutout against one of the best offenses in the league to even the series at a game apiece. Early in the second period of game three, things seemed to be looking good for the Kings. Their quick 4-0 lead in game three after a 4-0 shutout in the previous game probably had many thinking the Kings would soon have the series locked up. But then the Sharks scored 5 second period goals. The Kings would blow this very sizeable lead and go on to lose the game 6-5 in overtime. After this debacle, they needed to bounce back, but were defeated handiliy in game four, 6-3. The Kings responded well with another quick 3-goal explosion in the first period of game 5. They held on for the 3-1 win and now return home to Los Angeles facing a 3-2 deficit. They have showed flashes of brilliance but also flashes of extreme failure. If they can stay at the top of their game, they have a chance to make a comeback. But they need to win both of the next two games, and the Sharks are circling.
Previous prediction: San Jose wins
Status: still looking good

3. Detroit Red Wings vs. 6. Phoenix Coyotes-DET wins 4-0
Though the Coyotes at times put up a decent fight, the Red Wings were as dominant as ever in this series and will be a formidable foe for whoever they face in the next round. They have a nice long break after the sweep to get rested up for their next opponent.
Previous prediction: Detroit wins
Status: Correct

4. Anaheim Ducks vs. 5. Nashville Predators-NSH wins 4-2
After an up and down first four games, the Predators turned it up a notch in games 5 and 6 and are now headed to the second-rond for the first time in franchise history. Mike Fisher is proving to have been a valuable pickup so far in the postseason.
Prediction: Nashville wins
Status: Correct

EASTERN CONFERENCE
1. Washington Capitals vs. 8. New York Rangers-WSH wins 4-1
New York played well at times but could gave the talented caps too many opportunities, including blowing a Game 4 lead of 3 goals going into the thrid period which could have evened the series 2-2. Caps goalies are still unproved, but their offense has been clicking at the right times.
Previous prediction: Washington wins.
Status: correct

2. Philadelphia Flyers vs. 7. Buffalo Sabres-Series tied 3-3
This is a very close series. No team has lead the series by more than a game, and only one game was decided more more than one goal. And that game was decided by two goals, including an empty-netter. The last two games have been decided in overtime. After a comeback win on the road, you would have to think Philly has the momentum coming home for Game 7. Buffalo needs to up their scoring and hold onto a lead. Two of their wins have been 1-0, and yesterday they lost in overtime after giving up a two-goal lead. Buffalo will likely be missing Jason Pominville again after his ankle was sliced open with a skate, and now Tim Connolly is out after a brutal hit from behind by Flyers Captain Mike Richards which yielded no more than a two-minute minor penaltyfor boarding. Derek Roy is returning to the lineup for Game 7 however, which could be a huge spark for the Sabres offense. He was the team's leading scorer when he went down, with 35 points in 35 games, but after missing a significant amount of time, he may not even have time to shake the rust off before the Sabres are sent packing. Chris Pronger was also back in the lineup for Philly yesterday, playing only on the powerplay. The more action he sees, the more effective he will be. The deciding factor in this game 7 could be the goaltending. The Flyers goaltending has been awful for most of the series and Boucher and Leighton have been playing musical chairs in the crease. Ryan Miller has been on and off this series, but when he's on, he can bring the calibur of goaltending to the net that made him last year's Vezina Trophy winner.
Previous prediction: Buffalo wins
Status: could go either way, next victor wins the series.

3. Boston Bruins vs. 6. Montreal Canadiens-BOS leads 3-2
Bston looked awful at home, dropping the first 2 games of the series, but theybounced back very well with two road victories in Montreal and another home win in Game 5, turnong a 2-0 series deficit into a 3-2 series lead. They have shown some resiliency, making the comeback in the series and well as a comeback on the road in Game 4. Now they head into Montreal where they are 2-0 this seires. They now just need to win one of the next two games to advance. This is bound to be a close, hard-battling finish to the seires, after two-straight overtime games between the fiercest rivals in the game. If Montreal gets a lead, they need to do a better job of holding onto it. Boston needs more production out og the Krejci-Horton-Lucic line.
Previous prediction: Boston wins.
Status: wasn't looking good after Game 2, but now the Bruins seems to be in control.

4. Pittsburgh Penguins vs. 5. Tampa Bay Lightning-PIT leads 3-2
Pittsburgh took a 3-1 series lead and the Lightning seemed to be struggling massively. The Lightning's powerful offense finally burst in Game 5, erupting for an 8-2 victory in Pittsburgh, which included two goals each by Stamkos, Gagne, and Kubina. Stamkos's two goals could wake him up from his recent dormacny which could be huge to this series and beyond. When the Lightning are scoring, they are winning. In their two victories this series, they have scored 13 goals. meanwhile in their three losses, they have found the back of the net only 4 times. If their offense is clicking, the Penguins are no match for them. Still, they  would need to pull off victoryies in both of the next two games to advance.
Previous predictions: Tampa Bay wins
Status: looking a little bit better after last game, but Pittsburgh is still in control of this series.


Second Round matchup scenarios by team

WEST:

Vancouver-needs to win Game 7 vs. Chicago to move on.
 If San Jose wins, they will face Nashville.
 If Los Angeles wins, they will face Los Angeles.

San Jose-needs to win Game 6 or Game 7 vs. Los Angeles to move on.
 If Vancouver wins, they will face Detroit.
 If Chicago wins, they will face Chicago.

Detroit-moved on.
 If Vancouver and San Jose win, they will face San Jose.
 If Vancouver and Los Angeles win, they will face Nashville.
 If Chicago and San Jose win, they will face Nashville.
 If Chicago and Los Angeles win, they will face Chicago.

Anaheim-eliminated.

Nashville-moved on.
 If Vancouver and San Jose win, they will face Vancouver.
 If Vancouver and Los Angeles win, they will face Detroit.
 If Chicago and San Jose win, they will face Detroit.
 If Chicago and Los Angeles win, they will face Los Angeles.

Phoenix-elimianted.

Los Angeles-needs to win Games 6 and Game 7 vs. San Jose to move on.
 If Vancouver wins, they will face Vancouver.
 If Chicago wins, they will face Nashville.

Chicago-needs to win Game 7 vs. Vancouver to move on.
 If San Jose wins, they will face San Jose.
 If Los Angeles wins, they will face Detroit.

EAST:

Washington-moved on.
 If Buffalo wins, they will face Buffalo.
 If Philadelphia and Montreal win, they will face Montreal.
 If Philadelphia, Boston and Tampa Bay win, they will face Tampa Bay.
 If Philadelphia, Boston and Pittsburgh win, they will face Pittsburgh.

Philadelphia-needs to win Game 7 vs. Buffalo to move on.
 If Montreal and Pittsburgh win, they will face Pittsburgh.
 If Montreal and Tampa Bay win, they will face Tampa Bay.
 If Boston wins, they will face Boston.

Boston-needs to win Game 6 or Game 7 vs. Montreal to move on.
 If Buffalo and Pittsburgh win, they will face Pittsburgh.
 If Buffalo and Tampa Bay win, they will face Tampa Bay.
 If Philadelphia wins, they will face Philadelphia.

Pittsburgh-needs to win Game 6 or Game 7 vs. Tampa Bay to move on.
 If Philadelphia and Boston win, they will face Washington.
 If Philadelphia and Montreal win, they will face Philadelphia.
 If Buffalo and Montreal win, they will face Montreal.
 If Buffalo and Boston win, they will face Boston.

Tampa Bay-needs to win Game 6 and Game 7 vs. Pittsburgh to move on.
 If Philadelphia and Boston win, they will face Washingston.
 If Philadelphia and Montreal win, the will face Philadelphia.
 If Buffalo and Montreal win, they will face Montreal.
 If Buffalo and Boston win, they will face Boston.

Montreal-needs to win Game 6 and Game 7 vs. Boston to move on.
 If Philadelphia wins, they will face Washington.
 If Buffalo and Pittsburgh win, they will face Pittsburgh.
 If Buffalo and Tampa Bay win, they will face Tampa Bay.

Buffalo-needs to win Game 7 vs. Philadelphia to move on.
 They will face Washington.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

First Round

Well, folks, the playoffs have arrived. The first round opens tonight with 5 games. I'm not going to make any big predictions from here on who is going to win each Conference and who is going to win the Cup, but round-by-round, I will evaluate each matchup and give who has the edge in the current matchups.

In the East:
(1) Washington Capitals versus (8) New York Rangers.
After the acquisition of veteran centerman Jason Arnott at the trade deadline, the Caps went on a serious tear that shot them from the middle of the playoff pack all the way up to the top of the Eastern Conference. Alex Ovechkin is looking like himself again and although recent pickup Dennis Wideman is sidelined with a hematoma in his leg, Mike Green should be returning to the lineup, which will make an already hot team even better. They have some veterans to go along with a lot of young talent and now their biggest concern should be their rotation of three unproven young goaltenders. Michal Neuvirth, Semyon Varlamov, and Braden Holtby were all outstanding during the season, but who knows how they will fare in this new pressure-laden environment, where only Varlamov has seen some action before. The Caps disappointed massively when they were upset in the first round as the top seed last year, but they have learned from their experience and should have the tools and experience to win this time around. While the Capitals have been hot, the Rangers have been seriously offensively challenged of late, winning most of their recent games solely thanks to the outstanding play of Henrik Lundqvist. The return of Chris Drury should spark the offense a bit. He is an incredibly valuable postseason asset and has the nickname "Captain Clutch" for good reason. However, the loss of forward Ryan Callahan does hurt. The Rangers have the talent to score a ton of goals, but they never seem to do so; facing a questionable goaltending team could work to their advantadge here. However, they will have to up their defense to take the load off of Lundqvist in the face of the explosive Caps offense if they want to have any shot at pulling off the upset. Edge: Washington.

(2) Philadelphia Flyers versus (7) Buffalo Sabres
The Flyers shocked the hockey world last year in many ways. They made the playoffs thanks to a shootout victory on the last day of the season. Next they performeed the impossible by overcoming a 3-0 series and 3-0 third period deficit against the Bruins. And they came without two wins of winning the Stanley Cup. At the start of the season, I believed that the Flyers, with their incredibly stacked lineup should be the favorite to win the Cup, and for most of the season, my prediction didn't seem too far off. However, recently, they have been playing poorly and at season's end had relinquished the lead in the Eastern Conference. Their goaltending is, as it always is, umproven. Brian Boucher has had some playoff success, and Michael Leighton was the hero last year. But neither of these goalies are consistent, and the nod is likely to be given to rookie Sergei Bobrovsky. Despite still having a defense that boasts Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Matt Carle, Andresz Meszaros, Sean O'Donnell, and Nick Boynton, the absence of their most prized defensive asset, Chris Pronger, has been a great hindrance to the Flyers of late. Pronger has played in three of the last five Stanley Cup Finals. He lost with the Flyers last year and the Oilers in 06, and he won with the Ducks in 07. His return for the first round remains questionable. Meanwhile, the Sabres have been incredibly hot over the last stretch, propelling themselves into a playoff spot. Ryan Miller is returning from injury, and if he is not a proven big game goaltender, I don't know who is. Brad Boyes has fit in nicely so far, provided a valuable scoring touch, and Drew Stafford is apt to go on a tear if he gets hot. Thomas Vanek is always a danger, especially in front of the net, where he scores a lot of tip-in goals. Look to him to add his name to the score sheet in that fashion, with Pronger not there to push him out of the crease. If Buffalo can ride their hot streak, they have a very good chance to pull off the upset on the defending Eastern Conference champs. Edge: Buffalo.

(3) Boston Bruins versus (6) Montreal Canadiens
This series is shaping up to be the typical energetic, high-drama showdown it always is between the two most bitter rivals in the league, now only escalated since the Chara/Pacioretty incident. The Canadiens ave maangeed to stay consistent over most of the season despite a lamentable myriad of injuries to some of their biggest players. At this point, the Canadiens are the team that needs to prove something, since the last faceoff in Boston, a game which they were expected to win handily, resulted in an embarrassing 7-0 defeat. They have loads of skill and veteran leadership, but those veterans, like Brian Gionta and Scott Gomez, need to step up their game in a year where they have been largely unproductive. While maybe not as skilled as Montreal, the Bruins have a big advantadge, size. The Canadiens are very small, and the Bruins will send their grinders out to pester the fast scorers. The Bruins should keep their physical play disciplined though, for the Canandiens had one of the best power plays in the league during the season, and area where the Bruins have been lately anemic. With Tim Thomas and Carey Price between the pipes, the offenses are going to have to give their best efforts on both ends. Look for this to be a very emotional and hard-hitting drama on the ice and in the stands. Edge: Boston.

(4) Pittsburgh Penguins versus (5) Tampa Bay Lightning
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been the biggest surprise of the second half. Despite missing both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for the better part of 4 months, the Penguins have found a way to win and have home-ice for the first round. This could be a huge factor, because with such recent playoff success, the white-shirt covered arena in Pittsburgh will have an electric atmosphere. The Penguins have a solid defense and an all-star goaltender in Marc-Andre Fleury. Despite all of their success, I have to wodner how long they can keep this up without their two biggest stars. After a hot start, the lightning faltered a bit recently, but picked it up again at the end of the season. Their goaltending is questionable with the age of Dwayne Roloson, but he can be clutch, and had he not been injured nin Game 1 of the 2006 Final, the Oilers likely would have hoisted the Cup. They have a very deep blue line and an incredibly talented offense. With Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis, Vincent Lecavalier, and Simon Gagne, the Lightning can chip away at the sturdy Penguins D and find a way to score. Edge: Tampa Bay.

In the West:
(1) Vancouver Canucks versus (8) Chicago Blackhawks
The Canucks have been the most dominant team in the league all season long. Even when injuries claimed five of their top six defenseman in February, they continued to find a way to win. Their healty defense is outstanding, helping to reduce the goals scored against the Canucks, a job whcih is almost unnecessary when Roberto Luongo is in net.With an elite goalie and an elite defense, the Blackhwaks need to work incredibly hard to score goals. And score goals they will have to. Up front the Canucks are deadline. With this season's Art Ross winner Daniel Sedin, and his twin, LAST season's Art Ross winner Henrik Sedin, plus defensive sepcialist Ryan Kesler who is exploding offensively, their offense is about as deadly as it could be. The defending Champs have plenty of offense too, but after a desperate late-season run, they are tired, and their defense is looking ragged. For the second straight year, they have an unproven backstop. With the elite Cnaucks, the odds are clearly stacked in Vancouver's favor. Edge: Vancouver

(2) San Jose Sharks versus (7) Los Angeles Kings
The Sharks have never had much playoff success. But this could be the year where that all changes. After a mediocre midseason record, the Sharks got hot and have stayed that way. They have one of the most potent offenses in the league, but those players are notorious for underperforming when it counts. These players, i.e. Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Dany heatley, will need to find their big game mentality if the Sharks are to have success. Other forwards Joe Pavelski, Devin Setoguchi, and standout rookie Logan Couture will need to play bog roles as well. After Dan Boyle, the Sharks blue line is not star-packed, but is definitely a very solid group of defenders. Perhaps the biggest reason why the Sharks run could be different this year is between the pipes. After a decade of regular season domination and playoff failure from Evgeni Nabakov, the Sharks now have Antti Niemi, who was a major factor in the Blackhawks championship team last year. He is on a trememdous streak and could carry the Sharks deep into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Kings have a tremendous young goalie of their own in Jonathan Quick. They have a solid core of young defenders led by Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, as well as Cup winner Rob Scuderi. They still have a potent offense with Dustin Penner, Ryan Smyth, Jarret Stoll, and Dustin Brown, but the absence of Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar will hurt them severely. Williams may return to help make this a close series between these two Californian rivals, but ultimately, the Sharks have the deeper, hotter team. Edge: San Jose

(3) Detroit Red Wings versus (6) Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are always an inspiring story. A team that performs despite a lack of respect, a lack of ownership, and a lack of certainty as to what country their home rink will be in next season. Despite the feel-good nature of a Coyotes win, the odds aren't good. They have an outstanding coach in Dave Tippett, an outstanding goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov, and a solid blue line with lots of veterans plus an explosive young offensive-minded D-man in Keith Yandle.The problem? Their offense. Captain Shane Doan led the team this season with just 20 goals. The scoring by committee approach can work for a while, but when you're facing what's been one of the league's most dominant franchises for well over a decade, this type of offense becomes an issue. Even with the questionable status of Henrik Zetterberg and their recent cold strecth, the Red Wings are one of the most dominant, talented, and experienced teams in the league. They have a very skilled offense, a tremendous defense, and a great coach in Mike Babcock. The only question remains streaky young goalie Jimmy Howard, but his inconsistent play shouldn't become a factor until a later round. Edge: Detroit

(4) Anaheim Ducks versus (5) Nashville Predators
This should be a hard fought series from both sides. Anaheim definitely has the stronger offense with Richard winner Corey Perry and ageless veteran Teemu Selanne leading the charge. Nashville has more of a scoring by committee approach, but their hard-working lineup should keep the big scorers in check and gradually wear down the opposition. Each team has a solid defensive corps, but the edge in this series goes to the team with the better goaltender. Anaheim's goaltending is a serious question, as All-Star Jonas Hiller has played one game since late February. Ray Emery and Dan Ellis are inconsistent solutions. For Nashville, Pekka Rinne has been one of the league's best goaltenders all season long, and he will be the difference in this series. If Anaheim does manage to hold off a Predators upset, they will be severely worn out for Round Two. Edge: Nashville

Second Round Matchups if my predictions are correct:

EAST:
(7) Buffalo @ (1) Washington
(5) Tampa Bay @ (3) Boston

WEST:
(5) Nashville @ (1) Vancouver
(3) Detroit @ (2) San Jose

Monday, April 4, 2011

Closing In

I was remiss by not doing my two weeks West analysis like I said I would, but now with only 1 week remaining in the season, here is a brief analysis of all the teams that have not been mathematically eliminated.

Note: for remaining games, *indicates a game-in-hand between 2 teams fighting for a spot, ^ indicates a game-in-hand between 2 teams fighting for their divisional title. H and A are the home and road combinations of games remaining.

EAST
1. Flyers: clinched a spot. Briefly lost 1st place then regained it. Ice cold lately, 3-3-4 in last 10. Need to improve going into playoffs. 3 games remaining. Highest they could finish is 1, lowest they could finish is 5.
Remaining games: 4/5 @ Senators, 4/8 @ Sabres, 4/9 vs Islanders-AAH

2. Capitals: clinched a spot. Still red hot, and will likely overtake Philly, 7-2-1 in last 10 and Ovechkin is back in the lineup. Young goaltenders still a question mark in playoffs. 3 games left. Highest they could finish is 1, lowest they could finish is 5.
Remaining games: 4/5 @ Maple Leafs, 4/6 vs Florida, 4/9 @ Florida-AHA

3. Bruins: clinched a spot and division. Back on track after a brief stumble, 6-2-2 in last 10. Need to finish strong going into playoffs. Been playing low-scoring defensive game lately, need more production. 4 games left. Highest they could finish is 1, lowest they could finish is 3, thanks to their divisional clinch. Right now the only Eastern team guaranteed home ice in the first round.
4/4 @ Rangers, 4/6 vs Islanders, 4/9 vs Senators, 4/10 @ Devils-AHHA

4. Penguins: clinched a spot. Still playing great with injured lineup, 7-3 in last 10. Coould shock some teams in the playoffs, only because that's what they've been doing for 3 months. 3 games left. Highest they could finish is 1, lowest they could finish is 5.
Remaining games: 4/5 vs Devils, 4/8 @ Islanders, 4/9 vs Thrashers-HAH

5. Lightning: clinched a spot. Playing better again after a shaky period, 6-2-2, 5 straight wins. Still questionable consistency, not good for playoffs, but enough talent to make a great run as long as they keep up strong play. 3 games left. Highest they could finish is 1, lowest they could finish is 5.
Remaining games: 4/5 @ Sabres, 4/8 vs Panthers, 4/9 @ Hurricanes-AHA

6. Canadiens: have not clinched. With three games left apiece, they are only 4 points ahead of Carolina. They are far enough ahead that Toronto cannot pass them, but are still in danger of losing a playoff spot if they keep up their recent struggles, 4-6. Highest they could finish is 6, lowest they could finish is 9. If they make the playoffs, they will not get home-ice advantadge.
Remaining games: 4/5 vs Blackhawks, 4/7 @ Senators, 4/9 @ Maple Leafs*-HAA

7. Sabres: have not clinched. Still playing strong, 7-2-2, and Jhonas Enroth is proving to be a capable backup in the place of Ryan Miller. Need to keep up strong play to hold a spot though. They are 1 point behind Montreal in 6th, 1 point ahead of the Rangers in 8th, 3 points ahead of Carolina in 9th, and 6 points ahead of Toronto in 10th. If they get 1 more point, they are guaranteed to finish ahead of Toronto. 3 games left. Highest they could finish is 6th, lowest they could finish is 10th.If they make the playoffs they will not have home ice advantadge.
Remaining games: 4/5 vs Lightning, 4/8 vs Flyers, 4/9 @ Blue Jackets-HHA

8.  Rangers: have not clinched. Buffalo's strong play has pushed them into 8th, but they've been hot themselves, 7-2-1. Need to keep earning points to stay in the top 8. 3 games left, 2 points ahead of 9th place and 5 ahead of 10th. Highest they could finish is 6th, lowest is 10th. If they make the playoffs, they will not have home ice advantadge.
Remaining games: 4/4 vs Bruins, 4/7 vs Thrashers, 4/9 vs Devils-HHH

9. Hurricanes: have not clinched. They are currently out of the playoffs, but are on a tear, 7-2-1, and only  2 points out of 8th, 3 out of 7th, and 4 out of 6th. Need to take as many points as the can in their remaining 3 games. Highest they could finish is 6th, lowest is 10th. If they make the playoffs, they will not get home-ice advantadge.
Remaining games: 4/6 vs Red Wings, 4/8 @ Thrashers, 4/9 vs Lightning-HAH

10. Maple Leafs: have not clinched. The Leafs are hot 7-3, 3 wins in a row. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against them. They can still make it into 7th or 8th, but would need to win out their last three games and have the Sabres Hurricanes, and Rangers suddenly start losing. Win or lose, a valiant effort for the surprising Leafs. Highest they could finish is 7th, lowest is 12th. If they make the playoffs, they will not get home ice advantadge.
Remaining games: 4/5 vs Capitals, 4/6 @ Devils, vs Canadiens*-HAH

11. Thrashers: eliminated.

12. Devils: eliminated.

13. Islanders: eliminated.

14. Senators: eliminated.

15. Panthers: eliminated.


WEST
1. Canucks: clinched a spot, the division, the conference, and the league. Will have home ice advantadge throughout playoff. 3 games left, as dominant as ever, 8-2-0. Won't bother with their remaining games, because there spot will not be changed.

2. Red Wings: clinched spot and division. Still playing decently, 5-3-2 and Datsyuk is back in the lineup. Detroit is always a threat to take home the cup. Guaranteed home ice advatadge. 3 games left. Highest they could finish is 2nd, lowest in 3rd.
Remaining games: 4/6 @ Hurricanes, 4/8 vs Blackhawks, 4/10 @ Blackhawks-AHA

3. Sharks: clinched a spot. 4 games left. Still playing great, 7-1-2. Antti Niemi has been lights out for weeks. Always a threat to do well, maybe they can actually execute this year. Highest they could finish is 2nd, lowest is 5th. All remaining games are divisional.
Remaining games: 4/4 vs Kings^, 4/6 @ Ducks, 4/8 @ Coyotes^, 4/9 vs Coyotes^-HAAH

4. Kings: have not clinched. Still playing great in the absence of Justin Williams and Anze Kopitar, 7-2-1. Need to finish strong to clinch a spot, and could still take the division as they are only 5 points behind the Sharks with 4 games left. Highest they could finish is 3, lowest they could finish is 9th. 9th place Calgary cannot catch them, but 10th place Dallas can. All remaining games are divisional games-in-hand.
Remaining games: 4/4 @ Sharks^, 4/6 vs Coyotes*^, 4/8 @ Ducks*, 4/9 vs Ducks*-AHAH

5. Coyotes: have not clinched. Also playing strong hockey of late, 7-2-1. 3 games left and equal in points with Los Angeles. Still need a strong finish to hold a spot. Highest they can finish is 3rd, lowest they can finish is 9th. Calagry caan't catch them but Dallas can. All remaining games are divisional games in hand.
Remaining games: 4/6 @ Kings*^, 4/8 vs Sharks^, 4/9 @ Sharks^-AHA

6. Predators: have not clinched. A recent surge has brought them from the bottom of the playoff race into a strong position with only 3 games to play, 7-2-1. Not overly talented, but have some surprising players. Pekka Rinne has been outstanding in net. Can't take their foot off the gas or could still miss out on the postseason. Highest they could finish is 4th, lowest they could finish is 9th. Thanks to tie-breaking procedures, Calgary can't catch them, though they can tie them in points and wins. Dallas could still overtake them.
Remaining games: 4/5 vs Thrashers, 4/8 vs Blue Jackets, 4/9 @ Blues-HHA

7. Ducks: have not clinched. Thanks to explosive scoring from Corey Perry and the ageless wonder Teemu Selanne, the Ducks have shot up in the standings, 7-3. Still need to keep it up if they wish to stay in the hunt. 3 games left. Highest they could finish is 4th, lowest is 10th. All remaining games are divisional games-in-hand.
Remaining games: 4/6 vs Sharks, 4/8 vs Kings*, 4/9 @ Kings*-HHA

8. Blackhawks: have not clinched. Despite a monster run led by Captain Jonathan Toews, the defending champs have cooled off a little, 5-4-1, and dropped into the final playoff spot. They are only 1 point ahead of Calgary and 3 ahead of Dallas, but still have 4 games to play. Highest they could finish is 4th, lowest is 10th.
Remaining games: 4/5 @ Canadiens, 4/6 vs Blues, 4/8 @ Red Wings, 4/10 vs Red Wings-AHAH

9. Flames: have not clinched. After a fanatstic run that put them very much back in the playoff race, the Flames have died down, 4-4-2, and with only 2 games left in a very tight playoff race, could see their hot stretch amount to nothing. Need to win their last 2 games and get some luck from the other teams. Highest theycould finish is 7th, lowest they could finish is 10th. If they make the playoffs, they can not get home ice advantadge.
Remaining games: 4/6 vs Oilers, 4/9 vs Canucks-HH

10. Stars: the Stars faded drastically from their early season success, and in in serious trouble, 2-5-3. If they can right the ship now, their 4 remaining games could be enough to put them in the playoffs, but there are so many teams fighting for the remaining spots that hope is slight. Highest they could finish is 4th, lowest they could finish is 10th. The good news for the Stars is that each of their last 4 games are against struggling teams who are out of the playoff picture. Games-in-hand would be nice to have, but at least they have a chance to beat up on weaker teams to get some much needed points.
Remaining games: 4/5 vs Blue Jackets, 4/7 vs Avalanche, 4/8 @ Avalanche, 4/10 @ Wild-HHAA

11. Wild: eliminated.

12. Blues: eliminated.

13. Blue Jackets: eliminated.

14. Avalanche: eliminated.

15. Oilers: eliminated.