NHL 2014-15 Stretch Run - 8 days remaining

It’s sure to be a crazy finish to the 2014-15 NHL season. With one week to go, the standings are still wide open. Only 7 teams have clinched playoff berths so far and only 8 have been eliminated. That leaves 15 teams battling it out for the remaining 9 postseason tickets. Meanwhile, the fight for the bottom of the league is also intriguing with so much hype around the upcoming entry draft. There are many charts out there detailing the standings and the remaining playoff and draft position races, but they can be a little intimidating to look at and difficult to grasp. Below, I have done my best to separate each team so that you can look at them individually and understand their particular scenarios. I will continue to update daily until the season ends on April 11 (may miss tomorrow because of Easter). All postings are written before the day’s games have begun. Visit NHL.com for more info.

Three teams can clinch postseason berths today: Canucks, Islanders, and Capitals.

First off, a little info about how the postseason berths, matchups, and draft order work this season for those who are unfamiliar:

Playoffs:

8 teams make the postseason in each conference (there are 16 teams in the East, 14 in the West). The top three teams in each division make the playoffs, plus the next two best teams in the conference standings. These two are the Wild Card teams. The three divisional teams are seeded 1-3 based on the standings. In each conference, the better of the two division winners hosts the 2^nd wild card in the first round, while the top wild card visits the other division winner. The remaining matchups are within each division, with the 2^nd divisional seed hosting the 3^rd.

Draft:

For the most part, the draft order is based on the reverse of the standings, with a few exceptions. The 14 teams that miss the playoffs are entered into the draft lottery, which for this season affects only the first overall pick. The lower the finish, the greater the chance of winning the top pick. The probabilities are listed at the bottom of this post. For the remaining rounds, the draft positions revert to the reverse standings. For the teams that make the playoffs, the draft positions are a little different based on performance. The four teams that reach the conference finals receive the bottom four picks (#27-30). The remaining 12 get picks #15-26 in reverse standings order. The Stanley Cup champion gets the #30 draft position, the Stanley Cup runner-up gets #29, and the remaining two conference finalists get #27 and #28 in reverse standings order.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

PACFIC DIVISION

ANAHEIM DUCKS

Playoff Status: Clinched berth and Pacific

Current position: 1^st Pacific

Points: 107

Games Left: 2

Possible Finishes: 1^st Pacific (chance at 1^st West, 1^st NHL)

1^st Round Picks: Ducks

Game Today: None

ARIZONA COYOTES

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 29^th NHL

Points: 54

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: #1-#3 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Coyotes, Blackhawks

Game Today: vs. Sharks

CALGARY FLAMES

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 3^rd Pacific

Points: 91

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Pacific, 3^rd Pacific, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #9-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Flames

Game Today: at Oilers

EDMONTON OILERS

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 28^th NHL

Points: 59

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: #1-#4 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Oilers, Penguins

Game Today: vs. Flames

LOS ANGELES KINGS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 2^nd Wild Card

Points: 90

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Pacific, 3^rd Pacific, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #9-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Kings

Game Today: vs. Avalanche

SAN JOSE SHARKS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 4^th Wild Card

Points: 87

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Wild Card, #7-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Sharks

Game Today: at Coyotes

VANCOUVER

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 2^nd Pacific

Points: 95

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Pacific, 3^rd Pacific, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #13-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Canucks

Game Today: at Jets

CENTRAL DIVISION

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Playoff Status: Clinched berth

Current position: 3^rd in Central

Points: 102

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 1^st Central, 2^nd Central, 3^rd Central, 1^st Wild Card (chance at 1^st West, 1^st NHL)

1^st Round Picks: None

Game Today: None

COLORADO AVALANCHE

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 6^th Wild Card

Points: 84

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Wild Card, #6-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Avalanche

Game Today: at Kings

DALLAS STARS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 5^th Wild Card

Points: 84

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Wild Card, #6-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Stars

Game Today: at Predators

MINNESOTA WILD

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 1^st Wild Card

Points: 95

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: 1^st Central, 2^nd Central, 3^rd Central, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #13-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Wild

Game Today: vs. Red Wings

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Playoff Status: Clinched berth

Current position: 1^st Central

Points: 103

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 1^st Central, 2^nd Central, 3^rd Central, 1^st Wild Card (chance at 1^st West, 1^st NHL)

1^st Round Picks: None

Game Today: vs. Stars

ST. LOUIS BLUES

Playoff Status: Clinched berth

Current position: 2^nd Central

Points: 103

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 1^st Central, 2^nd Central, 3^rd Central, 1^st Wild Card (chance at 1^st West, 1^st NHL)

1^st Round Picks: None

Game Today: None

WINNIPEG JETS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 3^rd Wild Card

Points: 90

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #8-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Jets

Game Today: vs. Canucks

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION

BOSTON BRUINS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 2^nd Wild Card

Points: 93

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 3^rd Atlantic, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #11-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Bruins

Game Today: vs. Maple Leafs

BUFFALO SABRES

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 30^th NHL

Points: 52

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: #1-#3 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Sabres, Islanders, Blues

Game Today: at Islanders

DETROIT RED WINGS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 3^rd Atlantic

Points: 93

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: 3^rd Atlantic, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #11-#14

1^st Round Picks: Red Wings

Game Today: at Wild

FLORIDA PANTHERS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 4^th Wild Card

Points: 87

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 3^rd Atlantic, 2^nd Wild Card, #7-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Panthers

Game Today: vs. Lightning

MONTREAL CANADIENS

Playoff Status: Clinched berth

Current position: 1^st Atlantic

Points: 104

Games Left: 3

Possible Finishes: 1^st Atlantic, 2^nd Atlantic

1^st Round Picks: Canadiens

Game Today: None

OTTAWA SENATORS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 3^rd Wild Card

Points: 90

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: 3^rd Atlantic, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #8-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Senators

Game Today: vs. Capitals

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Playoff Status: Clinched berth

Current position: 2^nd Atlantic

Points: 102

Games Left: 3

Possible Finishes: 1^st Atlantic, 2^nd Atlantic

1^st Round Picks: Rangers

Game Today: at Panthers

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 27^th NHL

Points: 64

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: #3-#5 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Maple Leafs, Predators

Game Today: at Bruins

METROPOLITAN DIVISION

CAROLINA HURRICANES

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 26^th NHL

Points: 67

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: #4-#6 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Hurricanes

Game Today: vs. Flyers

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 23^rd NHL

Points: 80

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: #6-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Blue Jackets

Game Today: vs. Penguins

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 25^th NHL

Points: 77

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: #5-#10 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Devils

Game Today: at Rangers

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 3^rd Metropolitan

Points: 96

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Metropolitan, 3^rd Metropolitan, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #13-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: None

Game Today: vs. Sabres

NEW YORK RANGERS

Playoff Status: Clinched berth and Metropolitan

Current position: 1^st Metropolitan

Points: 105

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: 1^st Metropolitan (chance at 1^st East, 1^st NHL)

1^st Round Picks: None

Game Today: vs. Devils

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS

Playoff Status: Eliminated

Current position: 24^th NHL

Points: 79

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: #6-#12 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Flyers, Lightning

Game Today: at Hurricanes

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 1^st Wild Card

Points: 95

Games Left: 5

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Metropolitan, 3^rd Metropolitan, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #12-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: None

Game Today: at Blue Jackets

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Playoff Status: In the hunt

Current position: 2^nd Metropolitan

Points: 96

Games Left: 4

Possible Finishes: 2^nd Metropolitan, 3^rd Metropolitan, 1^st Wild Card, 2^nd Wild Card, #13-#14 draft position

1^st Round Picks: Capitals

Game Today: at Senators

DRAFT LOTTERY PROBABILITIES

#1 position (30^th NHL) – 20%

#2 position (29^th NHL) – 13.5%

#3 position (28^th NHL) – 11.5%

#4 position (27^th NHL) – 9.5%

#5 position (26^th NHL) – 8.5%

#6 position (25^th NHL) – 7.5%

#7 position (24^th NHL) – 6.5%

#8 position (23^rd NHL) – 6%

#9 position (22^nd NHL) – 5%

#10 position (21^st NHL) – 3.5%

#11 position (20^th NHL) – 3%

#12 position (19^th NHL) – 2.5%

#13 position (18^th NHL) – 2%

#14 position (17^th NHL) – 1%