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.
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