[OOT] March 22, just four games.

[Dion]

The Blues and the Ducks have not been playing well as of late and that could hurt them come the playoffs. Both teams I suspect would want to enter the playoffs at the top of their game.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Also of note is just how much trouble Boston is in right now. Ottawa is 1 point back with two games in hand. Boston won the Presidents trophy last year and may not make the playoffs this year. This is a big time decline for the Bruins. I doubt any so called expert would have picked both Boston and LA to be outside of the playoffs.

The big thing with Boston is, and even before his injury, Chara looks like half the player he was two years ago. Put that on top of major injuries to key guys, or key guys who just aren't playing well and it's a recipe for disaster.

Still, like the Kings, they are a scary SCARY first round opponent for a team like Tampa Bay. It would be unfortunate for Anaheim if their reward for their season was a first round match with the Kings.

[expatflame]

Wow, Ottawa could now bump Boston out for the final wild card spot

[crapshoot]

Boston were chased hard by the Panthers a few weeks ago and then they responded by pulling away seemingly securing a playoff spot. Now they lost five straight games and lost control of their own destiny. Losing to Buffalo and to both teams who are chasing them is not a great way to play in a crucial stretch to say the least. That's a pretty fragile team right there with a bunch of really tough games coming up, and it's entirely possible that both the Senators and the Panthers will leapfrog the Bruins in the standnings.

[Tsawwassen]

The Ducks sure got lit up. The Rangers smoked them 7-2, Boudreau looked like he was going to blow up at his team.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by expatflame

Wow, Ottawa could now bump Boston out for the final wild card spot

An Ottawa/Montreal first round matchup would be great, but unfortunately send one Canadian team home early.
Apparently, the way Price is playing, if the Habs score once, they win

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

An Ottawa/Montreal first round matchup would be great, but unfortunately send one Canadian team home early.

It could happen but it's tight at the top as Montreal could finish 2nd in the conf or 2nd in the div and play someone else.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

It could happen but it's tight at the top as Montreal could finish 2nd in the conf or 2nd in the div and play someone else.

Yeah... It's most likely the Rangers top the conference, for sure.
I like it better when Canadian teams don't match up first round - but it's looking more and more like Canucks/Flames, assuming Calgary claws their way in.

[codynw]

Ducks are gonna blow it in round 1 again this year.