If the Playoffs started today. March 21st, 2018

[Cheese]

So we are just over half way through the season and playoff partners are being set. Where do things stand now?

Eastern Conference

1. Buffalo Sabres vs 8. New Jersey Devils
2. Philadelphia Flyers vs 7. Washington Capitals
3. Toronto Maple Leafs vs 6. Detroit Red Wings
4. Carolina Hurricanes vs 5. Pittsburgh Penguins

Tampa Bay, Ottawa and Montreal sit just outside the race and are within 4 points of the final spot. Even tighteris the actual 1-8 race itself where only 3 points seperate 3rd thru 8th place. Any kind of streak whether wins or losses could mean in or out of the race.
Who do you like in the current match-ups?



Western Conference

1. Chicago Blackhawks vs 8. Anaheim Ducks
2. Calgary Flames vs 7. St Louis Blues
3. Colorado Avalanche vs 6. Minnesota Wild
4. Phoenix Coyotes vs 5. Edmonton Oilers

This Conference is still extremely tight and until recently where a few teams have put some distance between themselves and the bottom of the order there are still 3 or 4 teams that are currently out of a playoff position that could sneak up to 7th or 8th if they get on a hot streak, but that streak better happen soon. Columbus, LA and Dallas are on the outside looking in and need to get hot soon or end up out. 8 pts seperate 3rd from 8th in the West, get out your shotguns its going to be a stagecoach ride!
What do you think about the west match-ups?





Now is the time to decide, am I in, or am I out, what are your chances of moving up 2 or 3 spots or falling out of the race?
Trade deadline is not far away.

[savardandjokinen]

Oilers have really been slumping since the break finished, but still sit in 5th. Gonna stay the course before I decide if I'm buying pieces for a run or not

[Swayze11]

I have won 7 straight and still cant seem to make up much ground. Flames and Hawks seem to be winning just as much. Can't seem to make up any ground on them.

[Cheese]

So a month later what has changed?

In the East

1. Buffalo Sabres vs 8. New Jersey Devils
2. Philadelphia Flyers vs 7. Washington Capitals
3. Toronto Maple Leafs vs 6. Detroit Red Wings
4. Carolina Hurricanes vs 5. Pittsburgh Penguins

Carolina has fallen out, and Montreal is in, and all the rest of the teams are still in the hunt:

1. Buffalo Sabres vs 8. Montreal Canadiens
2. Philadelphia Flyers vs 7. Detroit Red Wings
3. Toronto Maple Leafs vs 6. Washington Capitals
4. New Jersey Devils vs 5. Pittsburgh Penguins

In the West:

1. Chicago Blackhawks vs 8. Anaheim Ducks
2. Calgary Flames vs 7. St Louis Blues
3. Colorado Avalanche vs 6. Minnesota Wild
4. Phoenix Coyotes vs 5. Edmonton Oilers

The Ducks have fallen out of the race and Columbus has taken their place:

1. Chicago Blackhawks vs 8. Columbus Blue Jackets
2. St Louis Blues vs 7. Minnesota Wild
3. Phoenix Coyotes vs 6. Colorado Avalanche
4. Calgary Flames vs 5. Edmonton Oilers

[Swayze11]

Ducks are terrible

[SportsJunky]

We are trying to hang onto that #1 spot in the east but the team is backsliding. Bad time to be struggling.

Also, did not want to play NJ in the 1st round.

[Cheese]

ok lets see where we are today

[Cheese]

In the East

1. Pittsburgh Penguins vs 8. Washington Capitals
2. Buffalo Sabres vs 7. Montreal Canadiens
3. Philadelphia Flyers vs 6. New York Islanders
4. Toronto Maple Leafs vs 5. New Jersey Devils

Detroit has fallen out, and Islanders are in, and all the rest of the teams are still in the hunt:

In the West:

1. St Louis Blues vs 8. San Jose Sharks
2. Phoenix Coyotes vs 7. Minnesota Wild
3. Calgary Flames vs 6. Edmonton Oilers
4. Colorado Avalanche vs 5. Chicago Blackhawks

The Blue Jackets have fallen out of the race and San Jose has taken their place

Since January 26th there has been little change, mostly to the 8th ranked teams.

[MJK]

If I can manage to sneak in to the playoffs, we get Crosby and Big Byf back I like our chances against anyone! Match the Sharks with anyone and we have a shot, we have nothing to lose.

[TheScorpion]

Since the initial post, we've gone 16-6-5. Pretty good.

[flambers]

Coyotes in the last 10 are 8-2-0, hopefully the team is geared up for the playoffs

[savardandjokinen]

As of April 1 it seems like

EC:
Locks: Pens, Sabres, Flyers
Very high chance: Islanders, Devils
Bubble: Leafs, Habs, Red Wings, Caps
Not out of it: Sens, Canes
Lottery Race: Lightning, Rangers, Panthers

WC:
Locks: Hawks, Yotes, Blues, Flames, Oilers, Avs, Wild
Bubble: Ducks, Sharks
Not out of it: Stars
Lottery Race: Preds, Kings, Blue Jackets, Canucks

[TheScorpion]

Funny how Carolina and the Isles have essentially swapped spots.

[Cheese]

So since I started this in January 3 teams out of the 16 posted in the playoffs fell out. 2 in the east, Carolina and Washington and 1 in the West, Anaheim.

The Islanders and Montreal moved up and the Sharks took the playoffs away from the Ducks on the 2nd to last day.

What does this say? If you aren't in a PO position by early January, chances are slim to move up. 3 out of 16 this year (18%) and that is typical of most years.

[DropIt]

St. Louis went from a bubble team in January to fighting it Out with Chicago for the President trophy in then last 31 games going 20 - 9 - 2 including a 2-0 record against first round opponent Minnesota

[3thirty]

Originally Posted by DropIt

St. Louis went from a bubble team in January to fighting it Out with Chicago for the President trophy in then last 31 games going 20 - 9 - 2 including a 2-0 record against first round opponent Minnesota

So knowing the sim, Minny in 4...

[MJK]

Sharks knew they had a decent team and a couple of trades we had a good shot to make it. We brought in OEL, Zach Smith and Neilson for much needed depth. Got healthy at the right time.

[savardandjokinen]

We’ve had a core group of guys that’s always been getting injured. Made us a test a lot of combos. Eventually made some deals around the deadline and I like our team going into the playoffs, but we still got guys injured. If you look at it, we are probably gonna be the best team rerate wise, so we made moves for next year while taking this year into account

[JonDuke]

So, the only thing undecided is who gets bragging rights in the East, which decides two of the 4 Eastern matchups

If the playoffs started today...



If Buffalo wins tomorrow...

[MJK]

I feel bad for the Hawks.