Who's In? Who's Out?
Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 7:14 pm
With just over two weeks left in the regular season, it's time for a quick look at the teams battling it out for the post-season in both conferences. We'll look at the current standings, last ten games, the strength of each team's remaining schedule, their 2013-14 record against those opponents, and possible points based on current season and recent results.
EAST
8. Columbus -- [75 gp, 80 pts; last ten games: 2-7-1]
opp. winning pct: .507
record vs. opponents: 6-6-1
other factors: only one point in the last seven games; just dumped several veterans, including starting goalie Pekka Rinne; can the youngsters step up and hold off the Leafs? I'll say yes
projection: 7 pts, 87 overall, 8th place
9. Toronto -- [76 gp, 77 pts; last ten games: 2-6-2]
opp. winning pct: .587
record vs. opponents: 6-7-1
other factors: also has only two wins in the last ten, but they were the two most recent games; very tough remaining schedule, and closes with three road games; are they heating up enough just in time to save the season or has their cold play in March doomed them? I'll say close but no cigar
projection: 8 pts, 85 overall, 9th place
10. Detroit -- [74 gp, 75 pts; last ten games: 5-3-2]
opp. winning pct: .579
record vs. opponents: 5-10-2
other factors: the Wings were looking good two months ago, but 8 wins in their last 22 games took the shine off; a tough schedule against teams they've struggled with this season equals no post-season
projection: 6 pts, 81 overall, 10th place
WEST
6. Anaheim -- [74 gp, 80 pts; last ten games: 6-2-2]
opp. winning pct: .523
record vs. opponents: 11-6-3
other factors: playing quite well despite the loss of Zetterberg; a streaky team, with points in eight of the last ten games, but coming off two straight losses; will their hot recent play carry over for the rest of the season?
projection: 11 pts, 91 overall, 6th place
7. Chicago -- [75 gp, 79 pts; last ten games: 9-0-1]
opp. winning pct: .560
record vs. opponents: 8-6-2
other factors: winners of ten in a row before an OT loss to Ottawa on Friday; some tough teams on the remaning schedule, but they should stay hot enough to stay ahead of MIN and EDM
projection: 9 pts, 87 overall, 7th place
8. Minnesota -- [75 gp, 78 pts; last ten games: 4-6-0]
opp. winning pct: .569
record vs. opponents: 8-9-3
other factors: have lost five of the last six, seriously hurting their playoff chances; currently in eighth, but a tough remaining schedule will make it difficult to get to the post-season
projection: 7 pts, 85 overall, 9th place
9. Edmonton -- [74 gp, 76 pts; last ten games: 6-3-1]
opp. winning pct: .539
record vs. opponents: 10-10-1
other factors: left for dead in mid-January, the Oil has turned things around, and I think they'll squeeze past Minnesota into the playoffs; finishes with four home games, and also hoping Pekka Rinne will prove a better backup than Deslauriers
projection: 10 pts, 86 overall, 8th place
10. St. Louis -- [74 gp, 74 pts; last ten games: 4-4-2]
opp. winning pct: .503
record vs. opponents: 8-10-1
other factors: could prove me wrong, having won their last three; but a dismal early-month stretch (winning just one of nine games) probably has hurt too much to overcome; their remaining strength of schedule is not that strong, however, and they have had a couple of hot streaks already this season; I still think their road is too tough
projection: 9 pts, 83 overall, 11th place
11. Colorado -- [74 gp, 73 pts; last ten games: 2-7-1]
opp. winning pct: .524
record vs. opponents: 8-6-1
other factors: another team that looked great just two months ago; seven wins in twenty-five games would sink anyone, tho; although they're over .500 against their remaining opponents and I pick them to heat up for their final eight games, I think they've made it too hard on themselves with this prolonged swoon
projection: 11 pts, 84 overall, 10th place
EAST
8. Columbus -- [75 gp, 80 pts; last ten games: 2-7-1]
opp. winning pct: .507
record vs. opponents: 6-6-1
other factors: only one point in the last seven games; just dumped several veterans, including starting goalie Pekka Rinne; can the youngsters step up and hold off the Leafs? I'll say yes
projection: 7 pts, 87 overall, 8th place
9. Toronto -- [76 gp, 77 pts; last ten games: 2-6-2]
opp. winning pct: .587
record vs. opponents: 6-7-1
other factors: also has only two wins in the last ten, but they were the two most recent games; very tough remaining schedule, and closes with three road games; are they heating up enough just in time to save the season or has their cold play in March doomed them? I'll say close but no cigar
projection: 8 pts, 85 overall, 9th place
10. Detroit -- [74 gp, 75 pts; last ten games: 5-3-2]
opp. winning pct: .579
record vs. opponents: 5-10-2
other factors: the Wings were looking good two months ago, but 8 wins in their last 22 games took the shine off; a tough schedule against teams they've struggled with this season equals no post-season
projection: 6 pts, 81 overall, 10th place
WEST
6. Anaheim -- [74 gp, 80 pts; last ten games: 6-2-2]
opp. winning pct: .523
record vs. opponents: 11-6-3
other factors: playing quite well despite the loss of Zetterberg; a streaky team, with points in eight of the last ten games, but coming off two straight losses; will their hot recent play carry over for the rest of the season?
projection: 11 pts, 91 overall, 6th place
7. Chicago -- [75 gp, 79 pts; last ten games: 9-0-1]
opp. winning pct: .560
record vs. opponents: 8-6-2
other factors: winners of ten in a row before an OT loss to Ottawa on Friday; some tough teams on the remaning schedule, but they should stay hot enough to stay ahead of MIN and EDM
projection: 9 pts, 87 overall, 7th place
8. Minnesota -- [75 gp, 78 pts; last ten games: 4-6-0]
opp. winning pct: .569
record vs. opponents: 8-9-3
other factors: have lost five of the last six, seriously hurting their playoff chances; currently in eighth, but a tough remaining schedule will make it difficult to get to the post-season
projection: 7 pts, 85 overall, 9th place
9. Edmonton -- [74 gp, 76 pts; last ten games: 6-3-1]
opp. winning pct: .539
record vs. opponents: 10-10-1
other factors: left for dead in mid-January, the Oil has turned things around, and I think they'll squeeze past Minnesota into the playoffs; finishes with four home games, and also hoping Pekka Rinne will prove a better backup than Deslauriers
projection: 10 pts, 86 overall, 8th place
10. St. Louis -- [74 gp, 74 pts; last ten games: 4-4-2]
opp. winning pct: .503
record vs. opponents: 8-10-1
other factors: could prove me wrong, having won their last three; but a dismal early-month stretch (winning just one of nine games) probably has hurt too much to overcome; their remaining strength of schedule is not that strong, however, and they have had a couple of hot streaks already this season; I still think their road is too tough
projection: 9 pts, 83 overall, 11th place
11. Colorado -- [74 gp, 73 pts; last ten games: 2-7-1]
opp. winning pct: .524
record vs. opponents: 8-6-1
other factors: another team that looked great just two months ago; seven wins in twenty-five games would sink anyone, tho; although they're over .500 against their remaining opponents and I pick them to heat up for their final eight games, I think they've made it too hard on themselves with this prolonged swoon
projection: 11 pts, 84 overall, 10th place