MatthewFlames
Registered User
THE EASTERN CONFERENCE
Once again, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Western Conference is more competitive, 5 teams from the East qualified for the playoffs today.
1 XCanadiens 72 34 24 4 2 5 3 91
2 XPanthers 71 34 24 3 1 5 4 89
3 XPenguins 71 30 25 5 0 7 4 88
4 XSabres 71 31 25 2 1 7 5 86
5 XDevils 71 31 24 1 3 7 5 86
Congrats to those teams.
The only real question is the battle between the Pens and the Devils for the Atlantic division title. The Sabres have faltered and the trade for Ovechkin has done little, so the Canadiens are in the drivers seat for the North-East.
And why even talk about the South-East. That's the easiest bet in all of fantasy sports. The real question of course is why can't the Panthers win the Presidents Trophy out of this division?
The 6 seed looks almost set for the Islanders - and after that, 7 through 12 all have a chance at making the playoffs.
6 Islanders 71 31 27 2 4 5 2 82
The Hurricanes and Senators hold the last two playoff spots but they're over 12 points behind the 5th placed Devils.
7 Hurricanes 72 29 32 2 2 3 4 74
8 Senators 70 23 28 1 5 5 8 71
The 9th spot today, by tie-breaker only belongs to the Bruins. But the Bruins have played as many as 4 or 5 games more than the teams around it in the Standings and must be outsiders for a playoff spot.
9 Bruins 75 23 33 2 5 4 8 71
It seems more likely that a challenge will arise, whoever likely it may have seemed at points in this season, from the Flyers, Thrashers and the Rangers. If the Rangers could win a few more games on the road it would go a long way to improving their chances.
10 Flyers 70 21 32 5 3 4 5 68
11 Thrashers 70 20 30 1 5 7 7 68
12 Rangers 71 23 35 4 2 4 3 67
The rest of the East is out of it.
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
It's a two horse race for the Presidents Trophy. Once again, the Blues have risen from the ashes and ridden away from the field. They've suffered a small dip in form, but have once again found a winning streak just when it matters. It's their to lose.
The Avalanche have overcome a so-so start to the season and restored their rightful place at the top of the NW division after a difficult season last year. With the Flames average form of late, the division crown is theirs to lose.
1 Blues 70 40 15 3 2 5 5 103
2 Avalanche 73 36 21 5 2 5 4 98
The Stars have had a great season. New GM Zac Niece can gloat about back-to-back wins over the two Western Conference finalists, the Flames and Canucks.
3 Stars 71 33 23 5 1 2 7 88
The wheels almost came off for the Flames, under the controversy of financial irregularities, and a quick turn-around of form. Three big additions at the deadline had steadied the ship, but the Canucks look poised to push ahead of them in the standings. A re-match of the West finals in the first round anyone?
4 Flames 71 37 24 3 1 4 2 91
5 Canucks 72 28 25 3 2 8 6 86
The Red Wings have surprised everyone this season and continue to be steady. They should hang onto a playoff spot without a problem, the real question then becomes, who's gonna win in a Niece-Niece playoff series?
6 Red Wings 71 29 24 2 2 7 7 85
Can 4 out of the 5 NW division teams make it into the playoffs? The Oilers hope so. Despite some rebuilding moves, they're playing the best of the teams in the hunt for the last two playoff spots.
7 Oilers 70 32 23 1 3 3 8 83
The Blue Jackets, Sharks, Predators and Ducks are not out of it yet either. All are within 3 points of that last playoff spot in what will be an epic battle, and one that will come down to the wire.
8 Blue Jackets 70 31 25 1 5 5 3 82
9 Sharks 71 29 27 2 2 6 5 81
10 Predators 71 31 26 3 3 2 6 81
11 Ducks 70 31 28 1 4 5 1 79
It's all about form at this point in the year, which favors the Blue Jackets. If the Preds can find a few more goals, they could challenge. The Sharks have had a lot of ties and have been less convincing than the teams around them. The Ducks are poised to upset - They've got the ability to score and keep the puck out - they just need a little better luck.
Once again, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Western Conference is more competitive, 5 teams from the East qualified for the playoffs today.
1 XCanadiens 72 34 24 4 2 5 3 91
2 XPanthers 71 34 24 3 1 5 4 89
3 XPenguins 71 30 25 5 0 7 4 88
4 XSabres 71 31 25 2 1 7 5 86
5 XDevils 71 31 24 1 3 7 5 86
Congrats to those teams.
The only real question is the battle between the Pens and the Devils for the Atlantic division title. The Sabres have faltered and the trade for Ovechkin has done little, so the Canadiens are in the drivers seat for the North-East.
And why even talk about the South-East. That's the easiest bet in all of fantasy sports. The real question of course is why can't the Panthers win the Presidents Trophy out of this division?
The 6 seed looks almost set for the Islanders - and after that, 7 through 12 all have a chance at making the playoffs.
6 Islanders 71 31 27 2 4 5 2 82
The Hurricanes and Senators hold the last two playoff spots but they're over 12 points behind the 5th placed Devils.
7 Hurricanes 72 29 32 2 2 3 4 74
8 Senators 70 23 28 1 5 5 8 71
The 9th spot today, by tie-breaker only belongs to the Bruins. But the Bruins have played as many as 4 or 5 games more than the teams around it in the Standings and must be outsiders for a playoff spot.
9 Bruins 75 23 33 2 5 4 8 71
It seems more likely that a challenge will arise, whoever likely it may have seemed at points in this season, from the Flyers, Thrashers and the Rangers. If the Rangers could win a few more games on the road it would go a long way to improving their chances.
10 Flyers 70 21 32 5 3 4 5 68
11 Thrashers 70 20 30 1 5 7 7 68
12 Rangers 71 23 35 4 2 4 3 67
The rest of the East is out of it.
THE WESTERN CONFERENCE
It's a two horse race for the Presidents Trophy. Once again, the Blues have risen from the ashes and ridden away from the field. They've suffered a small dip in form, but have once again found a winning streak just when it matters. It's their to lose.
The Avalanche have overcome a so-so start to the season and restored their rightful place at the top of the NW division after a difficult season last year. With the Flames average form of late, the division crown is theirs to lose.
1 Blues 70 40 15 3 2 5 5 103
2 Avalanche 73 36 21 5 2 5 4 98
The Stars have had a great season. New GM Zac Niece can gloat about back-to-back wins over the two Western Conference finalists, the Flames and Canucks.
3 Stars 71 33 23 5 1 2 7 88
The wheels almost came off for the Flames, under the controversy of financial irregularities, and a quick turn-around of form. Three big additions at the deadline had steadied the ship, but the Canucks look poised to push ahead of them in the standings. A re-match of the West finals in the first round anyone?
4 Flames 71 37 24 3 1 4 2 91
5 Canucks 72 28 25 3 2 8 6 86
The Red Wings have surprised everyone this season and continue to be steady. They should hang onto a playoff spot without a problem, the real question then becomes, who's gonna win in a Niece-Niece playoff series?
6 Red Wings 71 29 24 2 2 7 7 85
Can 4 out of the 5 NW division teams make it into the playoffs? The Oilers hope so. Despite some rebuilding moves, they're playing the best of the teams in the hunt for the last two playoff spots.
7 Oilers 70 32 23 1 3 3 8 83
The Blue Jackets, Sharks, Predators and Ducks are not out of it yet either. All are within 3 points of that last playoff spot in what will be an epic battle, and one that will come down to the wire.
8 Blue Jackets 70 31 25 1 5 5 3 82
9 Sharks 71 29 27 2 2 6 5 81
10 Predators 71 31 26 3 3 2 6 81
11 Ducks 70 31 28 1 4 5 1 79
It's all about form at this point in the year, which favors the Blue Jackets. If the Preds can find a few more goals, they could challenge. The Sharks have had a lot of ties and have been less convincing than the teams around them. The Ducks are poised to upset - They've got the ability to score and keep the puck out - they just need a little better luck.
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