Season Preview-Southeast Division

1. WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Last Season: 48-23-11, 107 points. 1st in Conference (1st in Div.) Lost in Conference Semifinal vs. TBL
Key Gains: Ryan Potulny, Tomas Vokoun, Roman Hamrlik, Joel Ward, Jeff Halpern, Troy Brouwer, Christian Hanson
Key Losses: Boyd Gordon, Marco Sturm, Semyon Varlamov, Matt Bradley, Brian Willsie, Jason Arnott, Eric Fehr, Tyler Sloan, Scott Hannan
Coach: Bruce Boudreau
Forward Lines: 1. Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom, Alex Semin
                         2. Jason Chimera, Brooks Laich, Mike Knuble
                         3. Troy Brouwer, Jeff Halpern, Joel Ward
                         4. Mathieu Perreault, Marcus Johansson, Matt Hendricks
Defensive Pairings: 1. Mike Green, Tom Poti
                                2. Roman Hamrlik, Dennis Wideman
                                3. Karl Alzner, John Carlson
Goalie Tandem: Tomas Vokoun, Michal Neuvirth
Analysis: After a late-season surge to the top of the Conference, the Caps were swept in the second round by the Lightning for another disappointingly early exit. This year, they mean business as they've added tons of experience. Tomas Vokoun is an aging former all-star, who has put together remarkably solid seasons recently considering he played with Florida and she be more than stable in between the pipes. Roman Hamrlik will bring a veteran presence and defensive prowess to a relatively young and offensively-focused defensive corps. Up front, the Caps are far deeper, with former Captain jeff Halpern returning, and most importantly, some strong playoff-minded additions on the wings in Joel Ward and Troy Brouwer. Brouwer was a member of the 2010 Cup team in Chicago and Joel Ward had a goal-scoring explosion this past offseason, helping the Predators reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Ovechkin and Backstrom are expected to have bounce back seasons, and Semin is in the final year of his contract,, making this team frighteningly good in all three facets of the game. I believe that this year they will finally silence their critics and win the Cup.

2. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

Last Season: 46-25-11, 103 points. 5th in Conference (2nd in Div) Lost in Conference Final vs. BOS

Key Gains: Matt Gilroy, Tom Pyatt, Bruno Gervais, Mathieu Garon, Ryan Shannon

Key Losses: Sean Bergenheim, Simon Gagne, Randy Jones, Mike Smith, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Cedrick Desjardins, Mike Ludin, Matt Smaby

Coach: Guy Boucher

Forward Lines: 1. Steve Downie, Steven Stamkos, Martin St. Louis

                         2. Ryan Malone, Vincent Lecavalier, Teddy Purcell

                         3. Adam Hall, Dominic Moore, Ryan Shannon

                         4. Blair Jones, Nate Thompson, Dana Tyrell

Defensive Pairings: 1. Eric Brewer, Victor Hedman

                                2. Brett Clark, Marc-Andre Bergeron

                                3. Pavel Kubina, Mattias Ohlund

Goalie Tandem: Dwayne Roloson, Mathieu Garon

Analysis: After a very strong season that led them within one goal of the Stanley Cup finals, the Lightning remain relatively intact. While they didn;t bring in much, they didn;t lose much either outside of strong playoff performer Sean Bergenheim and the oft-injured Simon Gagne. With Gagne gone, expect Purcell to move onto Lecavalier's line and continue to see his production rise. The Lightning are very deep, and very talented, so the only question is how much gas does Dwayne Roloson have left in the tank?

3. CAROLINA HURRICANES

Last Season: 40-31-11, 91 points. 9th in Conference (3rd in Div.) Did not qualify for playoffs. 

Key Gains: Anthony Stewart, Brian Boucher, Tim Brent, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Tomas Kaberle

Key Losses: Erik Cole, Joe Corvo

Coach: Paul Maurice

Forward Lines: 1. Jussi Jokinen, Eric Staal, Tuomo Ruutu

                         2. Chad LaRose, Jeff Skinner, Anthony Stewart

                         3. Alexei Ponikarovsky, Brandon Sutter, Patrick Dwyer

                         4. Jiri Tlusty, Tim Brent, Zac Dalpe

Defensive Pairings: 1. Tomas Kaberle, Joni Pitkanen

                                2. Tim Gleason, Bryan Allen

                                3. Jay Harrison, Jamie McBain

Goalie Tandem: Cam Ward, Brian Boucher

Analysis: Like the Dallas Stars, the Canes were one game away from making the postseason, which means there wasn't much to fix. However, they didn't do much to push themselves any farther ahead. Kaberle for Corvo was a pretty even trade off. Ponikarovsky had a very disappointing season last year with the Kings, and he and Stewart likely will not be able to make up for the loss of Erik Cole. The Canes have little depth outside of the center position, and a middle of the road defense in front of a streaky goalie in Cam Ward. The Canes could certainly do well enough to make the playoffs, but I find it more likely that they disappoint again this year.

4. FLORIDA PANTHERS

Last Season: 30-40-12, 72 points. 15th in Conference (5th in Div.) Did not qualify for playoffs.

Key Gains: Sean Bergenheim, Marcel Goc, Ed Jovanovski, Scottie Upshall, Jose Theodore, Tomas Fleischmann, Nolan Yonkman, Matt Bradley, Brian Campbell, Tomas Kopecky, Kris Versteeg, Angelo Esposito

Key Losses: Tomas Vokoun, Niclas Bergfors, Marty Reasoner, Darcy Hordichuk, Clay Wilson, Rostislav Olesz, Byron Bitz

Coach: Kevin Dineen

Forward Lines: 1. David Booth, Stephen Weiss, Kris Versteeg

                         2. Tomas Fleischmann, Mike Santorelli, Scottie Upshall

                         3. Sean Bergenheim, Jonathan Huberdeau, Evgeny Dadonov

                         4. Tomas Kopecky, Marcel Goc, Jack Skille

Defensive Pairings: 1. Ed Jovanovski, Brian Campbell

                                2. Dmitry Kulikov, Erik Gudbranson

                                3. Keaton Ellerby, Jason Garrision

Goalie Tandem: Jose Theodore, Scott Clemmensen

Analysis: The salary cap floor did wonders for the Panthers this offseason. Forced to spend, Dale Tallon brought in a ridiculous number of players, and the Panthers are eons ahead of where they were last year, with a ton of depth and young talent. The only problem is, deep as they are, they have no real big scorers. All of their forwards are of a similar skill. Expect the Panthers offense to be scoring-by-committee, unless of course the new found depth behind them finally pushes David Booth and Stepehn Weiss int 30-35 goal scorers. With high-valed veterans in Jovanoski and Campbell added on the back end, youngsters like Kulikov and Gudbranson will have great mentors. Jose Theodore is always a question in net, but Scott Clemmensen has proven both in Florida and New Jersey that he can be very solid in relief stints. The Panthers likely aren't quite playoff ready yet. But they could definitely surprise.

5. WINNIPEG JETS

Last Season: 34-36-12, 80 points. 12th in Conference (4th in Div.) Did not qualify for playoffs.

Key Gains: Tanner Glass, Randy Jones, Derek Meech, Eric Fehr, Kenndal McArdle, Jason Jaffray, Kyle Wellwood

Key Losses: Anthony Stewart, Radek Dvorak, Angelo Esposito, Eric Boulton

Coach: Claude Noel

Forward Lines: 1. Andrew Ladd, Nikolai Antropov, Blake Wheeler

                         2. Evander Kane, Alex Burmistrov, Bryan Little

                         3. Chris Thorburn, Kyle Wellwood, Eric Fehr

                         4. Tanner Glass, Jim Slater, Tim Stapleton

Defensive Pairings: 1. Dustin Byfuglien, Tobias Enstrom

                                2. Zach Bogosian, Mark Stuart

                                3. Johnny Oduya, Ron Hainsey

Goalie Tandem: Ondrej Pavelec, Chris Mason

Analysis: For all the hype surrounding hockey being back in Winnipeg, this is likely to be a disappointing season for the former Thrashers. They added no big names this offseason and look to have a very similar season to last year, except the rising Panthers should finish ahead of them. They have plenty of young talent on the first two lines, but after that, their offense is not at all impressive. They have a solid defense, but Ondrej Pavelec is very streaky in goal. Expect the Jets to win a lot of games at the beginning on pure adrenaline. After that, they will fall back to earth and start losing a lot more games.

Season Preview-Central Division

This is without a doubt the closest division to call. Whereas last year, 4 out of 5 teams in the Pacific Division made the playoffs, with Dallas missing by one game, expect this year's logjam to be here in the Central. Each team has their strengths and weaknesses, but each one of these teams has the potential to clinch a playoff berth.

1. DETROIT RED WINGS
Last Season: 47-25-10, 104 points. 3rd in Conference (1st in Div.) Lost in Conference Semifinals to SJS
Key gains: Ian White, Mike Commodore, Ty Conklin, Chris Conner
Key losses: Andreas Lilja, Brian Rafalski, Kris Draper, Mike Modano, Chris Osgood
Coach: Mike Babcock
Forward Lines: 1. Tomas Holmstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen
                         2. Todd Bertuzzi, Henrik Zetterberg, Danny Cleary
                         3. Patrick Eaves, Jiri Hudler, Valteri Filppula
                         4. Drew Miller, Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader
Defensive Pairs: 1. Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall
                           2. Brad Stuart, Jonathan Ericsson
                           3.  Ian White*, Mike Commodore*
Goalie Tandem: Jimmy Howard, Ty Conklin*
Analysis: Despite the retirement of Brian Rafalski, the Wings are still as strong and deep as ever. They replaced Rafalski and Ruslan Salei with Ian White and Mike Commodore and remain totally intact up front. Expect their offense and defense to dominate opponents as always. Their one question mark remains the same: goaltending. Jimmy Howard is still an unproven goalie. He has moments of brilliance but is overall inconsistent. The team in front of him is good enough to win whether he plays well or not, but, as we saw with the Flyers last postseason, his play will become a much larger factor at crunch time.

2. NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Last Season: 44-27-11, 99 points. 5th in Conference (2nd in Div.) Lost in Conferece Semifinal to VAN

Key gains: Niclas Bergfors, Brett Lebda, Kyle Wilson, Zack Stortini, Jack Hillen, Tyler Sloan

Key losses: Marcel Goc, Steve Sullivan, Joel Ward, Mark Dekanich, Cody Franson, Matthew Lombardi, Shane O'Brien

Coach: Barry Trotz

Forward Lines: 1. Sergei Kostitsyn, David Legwand, Martin Erat

                         2. Blake Geoffrion, Mike Fisher, Patric Hornqvist

                         3. Matt Halischuk, Colin Wilson, Niclas Bergfors*

                         4. Nick Spaling, Cal O'Reilly, Jordin Tootoo

Defensive Pairs: 1. Shea Weber, Ryan Suter

                           2. Kevin Klein, Jonathon Blum

                           3. Jack Hillen*, Ryan Ellis

Goalie Tandem: Pekka Rinne, Anders Lindback

Analysis: The Predators definitely lost more than they gained this summer, and the trade of Cody Franson and Matt Lombardi for Brett Lebda still has me scratching my head. Despite these facts, they are still a very solid team and their strong defense in front of the tremendous Pekka Rinne should keep them in games. Their offense is still filled with nothing but middle of the road talent, but they shouldn't have to score many goals to win games.

3. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

Last Season: 44-29-9, 97 points. 8th in Conference (3rd in Div.) Lost in Conference Quarterfinal to VAN

Key gains: Daniel Carcillo, Sean O'Donnell, Jamal Mayers, Andrew Brunette, Rostislav Olesz, Steve Montador, Sami Lepisto

Key losses: Jake Dowell, Troy Brouwer, Brian Campbell, Tomas Kopecky

Coach: Joel Quenneville

Forward Lines: 1. Michal Frolik, Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane

                         2. Andrew Brunette*, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa

                         3. Bryan Bickell, Dave Bolland, Viktor Stalberg

                         4. Rostislav Olesz*, Ben Smith, Jamal Mayers*

Defensive Pairs: 1. Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook

                           2. Sean O'Donnell*, Steve Montador*

                           3. Niklas Hjalmarsson, Sami Lepisto*

Goalie Tandem: Corey Crawford, Ray Emery*

Analysis: For the second straight year, the Blackhawks underwent some major changes to their roster. However, they may be the stronger for it this time. They still have managed to keep the key guys in Toews, Kane, Sharp, Hossa, Bolland, Keith, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson. In addition they have unloaded some salary by finally giving up Brian Campbell. They didn't get much in return in Olesz, but shouldn't need much out of him. Steve Montador should boost offensive production on the point, and the additions of three veterans should also help this club a lot: Andrew Brunette still is a big offensive producer, Jamal Mayers a seasoned enforcer, and Sean O'Donnell a solid and experienced defenseman. The main question will be if Corey Crawford can repeat his surprising rookie season.

4. ST. LOUIS BLUES

Last Season: 38-33-11, 87 points. 11th in Conference (4th in Div.) Did not qualify for playoffs

Key gains: Brian Elliott, Kent Huskins, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jason Arnott

Key losses: Cam Janssen, Ty Conklin

Coach: Davis Payne

Forward Lines: 1. David Perron, Andy McDonald, David Backes

                         2. Patrik Berglund, Alex Steen, Chris Stewart

                         3. T.J. Oshie, Jason Arnott*, Matt D'Agostini

                         4. Jamie Langenbrunner*, Vladimir Sobotka, Jonathan Cheechoo*

Defensive Pairs: 1. Barrett Jackman, Carlo Colaiacovo

                           2. Alex Pietrangelo, Kevin Shattenkirk

                           3. Kent Huskins*, Nikita Nikitin

Goalie Tandem: Jaroslav Halak, Brian Elliott*

Analysis: The biggest question marks for the blues this season are experience and durability. They have a lot of young talent with 20-30 goal ability as well as highly productive offensive defenseman. The question will be can they produce like they are capable of doing. Their defense may be shaky at times, but veterans Jackman, Colaiacovo, and Huskins should be a steadying influence in front of Halak. While much of the scoring talent up front is young and unproven, Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner were brought in and should be great mentors to the youngsters. Additionally, former Rocket Richard winner Jonathan Cheechoo was brought in. This is a no-lose situation for the Blues. Cheechoo has been awful the past few years and was lucky to even get a contract, albeit a small one. If he can find his old form, the Blues could be extremely dangerous and deep. If not, they didn't risk much. The Blues last season was derailed by injuries early on and a big key to their success will again be staying healthy. David Perron and Andy McDonald are still recovering from devastating concussions and it is still uncertain how much they will play this season.

5. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

Last Season: 34-35-13, 81 points. 13th in Conference (5th in Div.) Did not qualify for playoffs

Key gains: Curtis Sanford, Mark Dekanich, Jeff Carter, James Wisniewski, Radek Martinek, Vinny Prospal

Key losses: Scottie Upshall, Jan Hejda, Jakub Voracek, Mike Commodore, Mathieu Garon, Nikita Filatov, Andrew Murray, Sami Lepisto, Ethan Moreau

Coach: Scott Arniel

Forward Lines: 1. Rick Nash, Jeff Carter*, Kristian Huselius

                         2. R.J. Umberger, Derrick Brassard, Antoine Vermette

                         3. Vinny Prospal*, Samuel Pahlsson, Matt Calvert

                         4. Jarred Boll, Derek Mackenzie, Derek Dorsett

Defensive Pairs: 1. James Wisniewski*, Fedor Tyutin

                           2. Kris Russell, Marc Methot

                           3. Radek Martinek*, Grant Clitsome

Goalie Tandem: Steve Mason, Mark Dekanich*

Analysis: The Blue Jackets made a big splash this summer by adding Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski, but with these acquisitions, it is easy to forget how much they lost. They are definitely a stronger team than last year, but how much stronger remains to be seen. Wisniewski will be a big boost to the blue line, but they are still not very deep after the first pairing. With a questionable defense in front of the enigmatic  Steve Mason, the Blue Jackets could end up letting in a ton of goals. Mason was outstanding as a rookie, but in the two seasons since, has not had a GAA under 3.00. He will need to be as spectacular as we know he can be if he is to lead the Blue Jackets to their second playoff appearance. As questionable as their D may be, the Blue Jackets' offense is as deep as ever. Huselius will be out the first part of the season, but Carter and Nash, both 40-goal talents, should be able to get some scoring done without him. The question will be how the two will share the puck without the playmaker on their wing. After Huselius' return, expect an even greater offensive explosion. Pahlsso, Dorsett, Boll, and MacKenzie should provide a gritty balance, while the remaining forwards, Wisniewski, and Tyutin will give Columbus fearsome power play options.

Season Preview-Pacific Division

1. LOS ANGELES KINGS

Last season: 46-30-6, 98 points. 7th in Conference (4th in Div.) Lost in Conference Quarterfinal to SJS

Key gains: Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Ethan Moreau

Key losses: Alexei Ponikarovsky, Michal Handzus, Brayden Schenn, Wayne Simmonds, Ryan Smyth

Coach: Terry Murray

Forward Lines: 1. Dustin Penner, Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown

                        2. Simon Gagne, Mike Richards, Justin Williams

                        3. Ethan Moreau, Jarrett Stoll, Kyle Clifford

                        4. Scott Parse, Trevor Lewis, Brad Richardson

Defensive Pairs: 1. Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson

                         2. Willie Mitchell, Matt Greene

                         3. Rob Scuderi, Alec Martinez

Goalie Tandem: Jonathan Quick, Jonathan Bernier

Analysis: After coming in 4th place in their log-jammed division last year, the Kings had to face the eventual Conference finalists and division rival San Jose without Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. Since then, they have made a few subtractions but a few even greater additions. There first three lines are riddled with 20-40 goal talent. A healthy Kopitar could be severely dangerous between Captain Dustin Brown and underachieving Dustin Penner. Penner struggles when he arrived in Los Angeles late last season, but he could flourish now that he's used to his new talent-filled environment and return to his 40-goal form.  The acquisitions of former Flyers Simon Gagne and Mike Richards should provide a huge offensive spark as well. Gagne, though often injured, is another 40-goal talent when healthy and on his game, while Richards, last season's captain in Philadelphia, brings leadership, grit and offensive ability to the table. Justin Williams and Jarrett Stoll also have 20-30 goal capabilities. Mix all that offensive talent with a perpetually maturing defense with stars Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson in front of stonewall netminder Jonathan Quick and you get a team that is very hard to beat.

2. SAN JOSE SHARKS

Last season: 48-25-9, 105 points. 2nd in Conference (1st in Div.) Lost in Conference Final to VAN

Key gains: Michal Handzus, Jim Vandermeer, Brent Burns, Martin Havlat, Colin White, James Sheppard

Key losses: Ben Eager, Jamal Mayers, Ian White, Kent Huskins, Devin Setoguchi, Charlie Coyle, Dany Heatley, Kyle Wellwood

Coach: Todd McLellan

Forward Lines: 1.Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Martin Havlat

                        2. Ryane Clowe, Joe Pavelski, Michal Handzus

                        3. Torey Mitchell, James Sheppard, Benn Ferriero

                        4.  Jamie McGinn, Andrew Murray, Andrew Desjardins

Defensive Pairs: 1. Dan Boyle, Brent Burns

                         2. Douglas Murray, Marc-Edouard Vlasic

                         3. Colin White, Jason Demers

Goalie Tandem: Antti Niemi, Antero Niittymaki

Analysis: The Sharks have the same highly competitive team they always do, which is impressive considering the turnover the team made during this offseason. With a speedier system desired, Dany Heatley was shipped off to Minnesota in exchange for speedy scorer Martin Havlat. He may not be a 50-goal threat like Heatley, but he is still a game-changer who could see his 30-goal capabilities go above and beyond that playing with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Dan Boyle will not have to hold the back end load by himself this year, as the Sharks brought in another All-Star caliber offensive defenseman in Brent Burns. In the bottom two pairs, the Sharks have a good mix of offensive ability with Demers and Vlasic and defensive prowess with Douglas Murray and former Devil Colin White. In fact, the Sharks may be a little overloaded at D, with newcomer Jim Vandermeer as a seventh defenseman, which is never a bad problem to have.

3. ANAHEIM DUCKS

Last season: 47-30-5, 99 points. 4th in Conference (2nd in Div.) Lost in Conference Quarterfinal to NSH

Key gains: Andrew Cogliano, Kurtis Foster

Key losses: Andy Sutton, Kyle Chipchura

Coach: Randy Carlyle

Forward Lines: 1. Bobby Ryan, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry

                        2. Jason Blake, Saku Koivu, Teemu Selanne

                        3. Matt Beleskey, Andrew Cogliano, Dan Sexton

                        4. Jean-Francois Jacques, Brandon McMillan, George Parros

Defensive Pairs: 1. Toni Lydman, Lubomir Visnovsky

                         2. Kurtis Foster, Francois Beauchemin

                         3. Cam Folwer, Luca Sbisa

Goalie Tandem: Jonas Hiller, Dan Ellis

Analysis: After Corey Perry's MVP finish propelled the Ducks from almost missing the playoffs to receiving home-ice advantage, the Ducks were dealt a 6-game defeat to the Nashville Predators in the first round. Since then, they have made little change. They replaced Andy Sutton on D with Kurtis Foster and also brought in talented but underachieving young center Andrew Cogliano. With the reigning MVP on the wing with Ryan Getzlaf and Bobby Ryan, it is hard to imagine having a more dangerous top line. Behind that, Teemu Selanne is back for another go after a 30-goal, 80-point season at the age of 40. Outside of shutdown guy Francois Beauchemin, the Ducks have mainly offensive defenseman, which will be their Achilles heel should Jonas Hiller have a recurrence of his vertigo problems that cut his All-Star season so short last year. One thing is sure with this team, they shouldn't have any trouble scoring goals.

4. DALLAS STARS

Last season: 42-29-11, 95 points. 9th in Conference (5th in Div.) Did not qualify for the playoffs. 

Key gains: Vernon Fiddler, Radek Dvorak, Michael Ryder, Sheldon Souray, Jake Dowell

Key losses: Brad Richards, Jamie Langenbrunner, Jason Williams, Jeff Woywitka

Coach: Glen Gulutzan

Forward Lines: 1. Loui Eriksson, Mike Ribeiro, Michael Ryder

                        2. Jamie Benn, Jake Dowell, Brenden Morrow

                        3. Steve Ott, Vernon Fiddler, Adam Burish

                        4. Tom Wandell, Toby Petersen, Scott Glennie

Defensive Pairs: 1. Treor Daley, Stephan Robidas

                         2. Alex Goligoski, Sheldon Souray

                         3. Mark Fistric, Nicklas Grossman

Goalie Tandem: Kari Lehtonen, Andrew Raycroft

Analysis: After a loss on the last day of the season which cost them a playoff berth, the Stars decided to make some changes. After failing to retain stud center Brad Richards, they attempted to fill an offensive void by signing streaky wing Michael Ryder, fresh off a solid championship run with the Boston Bruins. They also took a chance in signing Sheldon Souray, once one of the most feared offensive defenseman in the league who has fallen to the bottom of the bin these last few seasons. Pair these acquisitions with a developing young group of forwards and defenseman, the Stars should be able to put together a solid season.

5. PHOENIX COYOTES

Last season: 43-26-13, 99 points. 6th in Conference (3rd in Div.) Lost in Conference Quarterfinal to DET

Key gains: Alex Bolduc, Boyd Gordon, Mike Smith, Raffi Torres, Curtis McElhinney, Kyle Chipchura, Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Patrick O'Sullivan, Daymond Langkow

Key losses:Eric Belanger, Ed Jovanovski, Andrew Ebbett, Vernon Fiddler, Ilya Bryzgalov, Lee Stempniak

Coach: Dave Tippett

Forward Lines: 1. Ray Whitney, Daymond Langkow, Shane Doan

                        2. Raffi Torres, Martin Hanzal, Radim Vrbata

                        3. Lauri Korpkikosi, Kyle Turris, Taylor Pyatt
                        4. Mikael Boedker, Boyd Gordon, Patrick O'Sullivan

Defensive Pairs: 1. Keith Yandle, Adrian Aucoin

                         2. Derek Morris, Rostislav Klesla

                         3. Michal Rozsival, David Schlemko

Goalie Tandem: Mike Smith, Jason LaBarbera

Analysis: Expect this to be the end of the Coyotes surprising playoff streak. They have plenty of defensive talent, led by the impressive Keith Yandle, but the impressiveness ends there. The scoring-by-committee team did not add any major offensive pieces and even worse, they traded away the only reason that they have made the playoffs these last few seasons: Ilya Bryzgalov. Bryzgalov was shipped off to Philadelphia and replaced with Lightning goalie Mike Smith, who is streaky and nowhere near as talented as Bryzgalov. Bryz consistently puts together Vezina-caliber seasons, while Smith struggles to string together consecutive starts. Don't be surprised to see the Coyotes with a top 5 pick in the 2012 draft.

Season Preview-Northwest Division

So I've been a little lazy this summer....
The plan was to analyze free agency as it happened. But I didn't really get around to that.

So now that I'm back at school toiling away in the computer lab (jk, lulz, this is hardly work), I figure it's time to write up a season preview to summarize everything I should have been writing all along this summer.

So the plan here is I will go division by division, likely in multiple posts, analyzing who left and who's come in to each team, what their strengths and weaknesses are, I'll name their coach, as there are many new ones, show what combinations of lines I would use if I were in their shoes, and I'll give my projected standings for each division.
Note: A player with * is a player new to the team.

Starting with the Northwest Division.....

1st. VANCOUVER CANUCKS:
Last season 54-19-9, 117 points. 1st place (1st in Div.)-Lost in Stanley Cup Final to BOS
Key additions: Andrew Ebbett (PHX), Marco Sturm (WSH), Byron Bitz (FLA)
Key losses: Raffi Torres (PHX), Tanner Glass (WPG), Alex Bolduc (PHX), Chrstian Ehrhoff (BUF)
Coach: Alain Vigneault
Forward Lines: 1. Alex Burrows, Henrik Sedin, Daniel Sedin
                         2. Mason Raymond, Ryan Kesler, Mikael Samuelsson
                         3. Marco Sturm, Manny Malhotra, Chris Higgins
                         4. Jannik Hansen, Max Lapierre, Cody Hodgson
Defensive Pairings: 1. Kevin Bieksa, Alex Edler
                             2. Dan Hamhuis, Sami Salo
                             3. Aaron Rome, Keith Ballard
Goalie Tandem: Roberto Luongo, Cory Schneider
Analysis: After a monster season that ended one win away from glory, the Vancouver Canucks look to be back with a vengeance this season. Most of their roster is still intact, having really only lost Chirstian Ehrhoff and Raffi Torres, and they should gobble up the Northwest title with ease once again. While Ehrhoff was a key presence on their blue line, they still are as deep as anyone on the back end. If Marco Sturm can remain healthy, he should more than replace Torres offensivelyThe two biggest questions seem to be how speedster Mason Raymond will change after a devastating vertebrae injury and if the injured Ryan Kesler can build upon his outstanding 40-goal season.

2nd. MINNESOTA WILD:
Last season 39-35-8, 86 points. 12th place (3rd in Div.)-Did not qualify for playoffs.
Key Additions: Devin Setoguchi (SJS), Charlie Coyle (SJS), Darroll Powe (PHI), Dany Heatley (SJS), Mike Lundin (TBL)
Key losses: Jose Theodore (FLA), Chuck Kobasew (COL), Cam Barker (EDM), Andrew Brunette (CHI), Brent Burns (SJS), Martin Havlat (SJS), Patrick O'Sullivan (PHX), James Sheppard (SJS)
Coach: Mike Yeo
Forward Lines: 1. Guillaume Latendresse, Mikko Koivu, Dany Heatley*
                        2. Cal Clutterbuck, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Devin Setoguchi*
                        3. Kyle Brodziak, Matt Cullen, Eric Nystrom
                        4. Colton Gillies, Darroll Powe*, Brad Staubitz
Defensive Pairings: 1. Nick Schultz, Marek Zidlicky
                             2. Greg Zanon, Clayton Stoner
                             3. Mike Lundin*, Justin Falk
Goalie Tandem: Nicklas Backstrom, Josh Harding
Analysis: The Wild are by no means an outstanding or fearsome club, but should be able to put together a decent season and clinch a playoff berth. A very defensive team, the Wild brought in 50-goal man Dany Heatley and young Devin Setoguchi to help spark their offense. If they can bounce back after down years in San Jose and scorer Guillaume Latendresse can stay healthy, they should be able to provide enough offense to make up for the rest of the roster. With a strong defensive system, solid defenseman, and a consistently good goaltender in Nicklas Backstrom, the Wild don't need that many goals to win games, so these acquisitions should be able to push them over the edge into the playoffs. The loss of All-Star defenseman Brent Burns is a key one, but the remaining defenders should be solid enough in his absence.

3rd. EDMONTON OILERS:
Last season 25-45-12, 62 points. 15th place (5th in Div.)-Did not qualify for playoffs.
Key additions: Eric Belanger (PHX), Cam Barker (MIN), Ben Eager (SJS), Ryan Smyth (LAK), Andy Sutton (ANA)
Key losses: Jim Vandermeer (SJS), Sheldon Souray (DAL), Kurtis Foster (ANA), Zack Stortini (NSH), Andrew Cogliano (ANA)
Coach: Tom Renney
Forward Lines: 1. Ryan Smyth*, Shawn Horcoff, Ales Hemsky
                        2. Taylor Hall, Sam Gagner, Jordan Eberle
                        3. Magnus Paajarvi, Eric Belanger*, Ryan Jones
                        4. Ben Eager*, Gilbert Brule, Linus Omark
Defensive Pairings: 1. Ryan Whitney, Tom Gilbert
                             2. Ladislav Smid, Cam Barker*
                             3. Theo Peckham, Andy Sutton
Goalie Tandem: Nikolai Khabibulin, Devyn Dubnyk
Analysis: The Oilers are a team that is hard to predict this season. They have the potential to surprise the hockey world, but are just as likely to continue to patrol the bottom ranks of the Western Conference this season. IF Ryan Smyth can regain some of his old Edmonton magic and fellow vets and former teammates from the 2006 Cup run Shawn Horcoff and Ales Hemsky can regain their scoring touch, Edmonton could have a very dangerous top line of veterans in front of a lot of energetic and talented youths. The 2nd and 3rd projected lines are riddled with young stars in the making who could explode offensively at any time. The defensive corps are as deep and solid as they have been in years, which may take some of the stress off of an old and faltering Nikolai Khabibulin. Also, should he fail again, Devan Dubnyk put together a promising season last year. If all of these young pieces work together well, the Oilers could find themselves in a surprise playoff position, much like the 2009-2010 Colorado Avalanche. If not, they get another high draft pick.

4th. CALGARY FLAMES:
Last season 41-29-12, 94 points. 10th place (2nd in Div.)-Did not qualify for playoffs.
Key additions: Chris Butler (BUF), Scott Hannan (WSH), Lee Stempniak (PHX)
Key losses: Robyn Regehr (BUF), Ales Kotalik (BUF), Daymond Langkow (PHX)
Coach: Brent Sutter
Forward Lines: 1. Alex Tanguay, Olli Jokinen, Jarome Iginla
                        2. Lee Stempniak*, Matt Stajan, Rene Bourque
                        3. Curtis Glencross, Brendan Morrison, Niklas Hagman
                        4. Tom Kostopoulos, David Moss, Mikael Backlund
Defensive Pairings: 1. Jay Bouwmeester, Cory Sarich
                             2. Anton Babchuk, Chris Butler*
                             3. Scott Hannan*, Brett Carson
Goalie Tandem: Miikka Kiprusoff, Henrik Karlsson
Analysis: The FLames are another hard team to figure out. On the one hand, they have some of the best first line talent in the league, as well as 20-goal scoring ability through the third line. On the other hand, their defense just isn't that great. In front of Miikka Kiprusoff, they may not need it; however, keep in mind that the Flames missed the playoffs last season. They tore it up late in the season and can blame a bad start for there lack of a playoff berth, but they did nothing to improve themselves this offseason. If anything, they may have gotten worse. They traded their best defenseman, Robyn Regehr, to Buffalo for unproven young defenseman Chris Butler. This was seen as a salary dump, but the Flames did not do much to use this freed-up salary. Jarome Iginla is a perennial 40-goal scorer and will continue to perform whether his team does or not, but not much is certain other than that. Olli Jokinen is a talented center with tons of scoring ability, but has been a shade of his former self since leaving Florida. Alex Tanguay is also a talented playmaker who has never quite been the same threat since leaving Colorado. This top line could be one of the biggest producers in the league, which it will need to be if the Flames hope to make the playoffs; or more likely, Iginla will carry the team by himself and the Flames will miss out again.

5th. COLORADO AVALANCHE:
Last season 30-44-8, 68 points. 14th place (4th in Div.)-Did not qualify for playoffs.
Key additions: Chuck Kobasew (MIN), Jean-Sebastien Giguere (TOR), Jan Hejda (CBJ), Semyon Varlamov (WSH), Shane O'Brien (NSH)
Key losses: Peter Budaj (MON), Brian Elliott (STL), Tomas Fleischmann (FLA), John Michael-Liles (TOR)
Coach: Joe Sacco
Forward Lines: 1. Milan Hejduk, Paul Stastny, Chuck Kobasew*
                        2. David Jones, Matt Duchene, Peter Mueller
                        3. T.J. Galiardi, Kevin Porter, Ryan O'Reilly
                        4.  Daniel Winnik, Jay McClement, Brandon Yip
Defensive Pairings: 1. Erik Johnson, Jan Hejda*
                             2. Shane O'Brien, Kye Wilson
                             3. Ryan O'Byrne, Matt Hunwick
Goalie Tandem: Semyon Varlamov*, Jean-Sebastien Giguere*
Analysis: Two years ago, the Colorado Avalnche made a very surprising trip to the playoffs. Last year around the All-Star break, they seemed to be in line to return, but thanks to a historic collapse, they ended the season as the second worst team in the league. They still have plenty of young talent that could be a surprise spark and win this team some games. However, a lot of talent has been shipped off and the Avalanche's defense is one of the worst in the league. This team definitely has potential, and with two new goalies in young talent Semyon Varlamov and aging veteran J-S Giguere, this team could end up having a decent season. But most of the team's talent is still budding and unproven and the Avs are likely to continue sweeping the cellar of the Western Conference for at least another year.

Swift Swaps

Philadelphia's two major deals on Thursday were definitely the biggest moves of Draft Weekend, but there was no shortage of player movement made in the past few days. Here's a look at some of the significant deals around the league.

Toronto Maples Leafs receive D John-Michael Liles from Colorado Avalanche for 2012 2nd-round pick.
This is a move made by two rebuilding teams at different stages of the process. Toronto has been rebuilding for a while and is inching closer to contention. Meanwhile, the Avs are not so far along and are continuing to shed age and salary. Despite his team's terrible season, Liles had a great offensive year, setting a career high in assists with 40 helpers and notching 46 points. His presence could help the offensivley challenged Maple Leafs, whose production is unimpressive outside of talented young scorers Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin, and Phil Kessel. He will likely see power play time, probably with Dion Phaneuf. A power play unit of Grabovski, Kulemin, Kessel, Phaneuf, and Liles could be a fearsome one.

Washington Capitals receive W Troy Brouwer from Chicago Blackhawks for 2011 1st-round pick.
Washington has been running into a problem recently. That problem is that despite their potent offense and two-straight Eastern Conference leading seasons, they have been dealt early playoff losses. What is it that they are missing? It's anyone's guess really, but the acquisition of Troy Brouwer could be a step in the right direction. Brouwer is no superstar, but he blends toughness with 20-goal scoring ability and will add some grit to an already talented lineup. He also bring recent Cup winning experience which could prove invaluable to a team that has is share of postseason woes. Meanwhile, Chicago continues upon the cap-driven dismantling that blew apart their team last offseason.

Minnesota Wild receive W Devin Setoguchi, F Charlie Coyle, and 2011 1st-round pick from San Jose Sharks for D Brent Burns and 2012 2nd-round pick.
After a 31-goal campaign 2 seasons ago, Devin Setoguchi's production has dropped over the past two seasons. However, at 24, he still has tons of potential and a change of scenery could do wonders for his game. He will be leaving a franchise clogged with talent and instantly have a chance to shine as one of the more talented scorers in Minnesota. Also in the deal is Charlie Coyle, a promising young forward who just finished up his freshman season with the Boston University Terriers. The Sharks meanwhile add another All-Star defenseman coming off the best offensive season of his career to play alongside Dan Boyle. The two are very offensively gifted defenseman who will work wonderfully behind a stellar offense. The long term winner in this deal will be Minnesota, and while the Sharks add more offensive talent, they still need a top-tier shut down defender. Minnesota will also need to add more offense in free agency, as well as a defender to fill the void left by Burns.

Edmonton Oilers receive W Ryan Smyth from Los Angeles Kings for F Colin Fraser and 2012 7th-round pick.
Ryan Smyth is a talented goal-scoring, but has lost some of his explosive goal-scoring ability with age. A requested return to his hometown Oilers could bring back some of his old magic. Also, he will act as a mentor for a very young and talented offense. Los Angeles does not get much in return, but with the addition of Mike Richards, they could afford to make a swap like this.

Florida Panthers receive D Brian Campbell from Chicago Blackhawks for F Rostislav Olesz.
This is another obvious salary dump for the Blackhawks. Campbell's contract, with a cap hit upwards of 7 million, was one of the biggest hindrances for the Blackhawks, and now they have dumped it on a team with no cap problems whatsoever. Thanks to a 3.1 cap hit for Olesz, the gain could be bigger, but 4 million more to work with can still come in very handy. Olesz has yet to reach the goal-scoring potential he seems to have, but a move to the much more talented Hawks could help him find a break out performance. Campbell, although coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career, is still one of the league's better defenseman and could be a major piece to build around for the Panthers.

Tampa Bay Lightning receives D Bruno Gervais from New York Islanders for future considerations.
Gervais is a defender with decent potential, but is dipping into his late 20s and needs to break out now. Leaving the defensively pathetic Islanders could help for a better surrounding group could help, but it may be tough for him to crack into the every day lineup in defensively strong Tampa Bay.

Ottawa Senators receive W Nikita Filatov from Columbus Blue Jackets for 2011 3rd-round pick.
Nikita Filatov has been a total bust for the Columbus Blue Jackets after he was expected to be a superstar for many years in Columbus. After a few disappointing seasons, the Jackets have had enough and have sent him to the rebuilding Senators. The Senators have little to lose in this case. Filatov is still young and could still become an explosive scorer. If not, they will continue to search for rebuilding pieces regardless.

Buffalo Sabres receive D Robyn Regehr, W Ales Kotalik, and 2012 2nd-round pick from Calgary Flames for D Chris Butler and F Paul Byron. While Chris Butler could develop into a cornerstone defenseman down the road, the Flames certainly gave up a ton to move Robyn Regehr. Regehr himself is one of the most underrated shut-down D in the league and his presence will be an enormous boost to the Sabres D if he can do well in his first season away from Calgary. Also, Ales Kotalik returns to the only team he's had much success with. He had many strong scoring seasons in Buffalo but has seen limited success resulting in limited playing time since he left. The return to Buffalo could bring him surging back to the player he once was.

Philly Flurry

With the NHL Entry Draft occurring tonight, the Flyers opened back up the trade scene in a big way.

A little while ago, they acquired the negotiating rights to pending UFA and former Vezina-nominated goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov from the Phoenix Coyotes. This was the move the Flyers had been looking for to solve their perpetual goaltending issues. After seeing the goaltending musical chairs that resulted in their second round trouncing by the eventual champion Boston Bruins, it was no mystery that what the Flyers lacked was reliable goaltending. The only problem here was they did not acquire a player under contract. Just last year, they had obtained the negotiating rights to standout defenseman Dan Hamhuis from Nashville, which they quickly traded to Pittsburgh when contract talks faltered. And still, when the free agent market opened, he did not sign with the Penguins, instead heading up to Vancouver.

The Flyers needed to clear cap space if they were to sign Bryzgalov, and they did so with the most surprising coupling of trades you could have imagined.

In one deal, they Flyers sent gifted goal-scorer Jeff Carter to Columbus for young winger Jakub Voracek and first and third round draft picks. In a second deal, they shipped captain Mike Richards off to Los Angeles for Wayne Simmonds and coveted prospect Brayden Schenn. After these deals, Bryzgalov was signed to a nine year deal.

For Columbus, they may have picked up the #1 center they've been missing. Imagine the goal-scoring ability of a line with Jeff Carter centering Rick Nash. This pairing could give monster offensive production, or could backfire gorribly. The only catch with pairing two 40-goal men is where is the set-up guy? Without a set-up man, these two could play a little puck hog and end up COSTING their team some goals. OR they could explode and propel the Blue Jackets into the playoffs. But if the Jacks are to have any postseason success, they still need to fill a massive void on the back end.

For the Kings, they add another star center-man who is a gifted offensive producer with leadership skills galore. With Ryan Smyth reportedly on the move to Alberta, Richards would round out a ferocious top 6 up front which would include Anze Kopitar, Justin Williams, Dustin Brown, Jarrett Stoll, and Dustin Penner, all 20 to 30 to even 40 goal men. With Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson on D, and Jon Quick in net, the talented youth is in place in L.A. for the long term, and all that really remains to be seen as some depth.

From the Flyers perspective, they gave up a ton, but this could end up really paying off for them. Bryzgalov has yet to play in a city with big hockey pressure, but he could end up being the big game goaltender they've been missing, and his presence should aid in the development of promising young goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. Meanwhile, their stellar defense remains intact and while they gave up their two-biggest offensive producers, plenty of offensive talent remains. They still keep guys like James van Riemsdyk, Claude Giroux, Danny Briere, Scott Hartnell, Kris Versteeg, and Ville Leino, who all know how to find the back of the net, plus they brought in two talented young forwards in Voracek and Simmonds to bring in talent and grit, just they way they like it in Philly. But even with Briere moving back to his natural position of center, there may be a depth issue down the middle if the Flyers cannot bring in a number 2 center. Schenn can fill that void down the line, but he is likely not close to ready. That leaves just Darroll Powe and Blair Betts, neither of whom have the talent to anchor a second line. The Flyers also got the 8th overall pick out of the Carter deal, so they may be able to get a top find there as well, but that's a gamble. If they really want another talented center, I would trade a defenseman. They have a very talented group of 6 in Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Matt Carle, Andresz Meszaros, and Sean O'Donnell and surely can afford to let one of them go. There may be a question of leadership with their captain out of the picture, but both Pronger and Timonen have been captains of different teams previously, so there is still plenty of leadership mixed in with all that talent, as well as valuable playoff experience.

Before last season, I guessed that the Flyers would be the most dangerous team in the league, and for most of the season, they were second. But their Achilles heel was predictably their goaltending. Sacrificing offense for Bryzgalov here could be a move that pays huge dividends, and brings the Flyers much closer to drinking from the chalice of champions.

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

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.

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

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.