2011 NHL Handicapping – Playoff Race Update
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They say the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in professional team sports. That’s probably because the NHL combines the physicality of the NFL and the gruelling, seven-game series format of the NBA. Worse yet for hockey players, the games in the coming week will be just as hard fought as most playoff games. Many playoff slots are up for grabs.
Here’s a breakdown of the current playoff picture for both conferences. Who’s in? Who’s out? Who is on the bubble?
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Clinched
1. Philadelphia Flyers (102 points): The depth is obviously there but we’ll see if the goaltending holds up. This is a recording. A recording from the day Ron Hextall left town.
2. Washington Capitals (99 points): Looking at their record, you’d never know they struggled so much earlier this season. Still – it looks like they’ll face Carey Price, Henrik Lundqvist, Ryan Miller or Cam Ward in the first round. Could we see a repeat of last season’s flop?
3. Boston Bruins (96 points): Built for the playoffs but the Bruins peaked early. Tim Thomas may tire at the worst possible time.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (98 points): No Crosby, no Malkin, no problem? Instead of being exposed as a pretender, the Penguins have revealed themselves as a defensively sound club. Don’t count them out of the hunt for Lord Stanley.
In good shape
5. Tampa Bay Lightning (93 points, 6 GR): This season is already a success for Steve Yzerman’s team. Don’t be surprised if Tampa gets bounced in the first round, however. It could get punished for its wide-open game and Steven Stamkos just isn’t the player he was in the first half of the season.
6. Montreal Canadiens (89 points, 5 GR): I don’t know how they do it. The Habs got booed off the ice after being outscored 11-0 over a three-game stretch last week. Their roster seriously lacks talent. Yet here they are in a playoff spot again. They’ll need Carey Price to pull a Jaroslav Halak in the playoffs.
7. New York Rangers (87 points, 6 GR): The Rangers are playing great hockey when it counts, pulling away from the bubble teams, and they’re a team no one wants to face in round one. King Henrik Lundqvist leads the NHL with 11 shutouts.
On the bubble
8. Buffalo Sabres (85 points, 6 GR): The Hurricanes and Leafs have to be pretty frustrated. They’ve hardly played bad hockey down the stretch but the Sabres keep finding ways to win. In a way, Buffalo looks like a better version of last year’s team: same great goaltending, better offense at the moment.
9. Carolina Hurricanes (82 points, 6 GR): Cam Ward just doesn’t get enough help in the back end. The Hurricanes are hanging by a thread largely because they’ve allowed too many goals this year. Carolina has to start developing its defense corps one of these years.
10. Toronto Maple Leafs (80 points, 5 GR): While their late-season surge is encouraging, especially because James Reimer and Dion Phaneuf have looked so good, the Leafs are almost finished. Their win over Buffalo last night kept them remotely alive. 
Toast
Atlanta Thrashers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Clinched
1. Vancouver Canucks (111 points): Now 13 points ahead of the closest team, the Canucks are the only team in the West to (a) clinch a playoff spot, (b) clinch their division and (c) clinch the top seed in the conference. With or without Manny Malhotra, they’re the team to beat.
In good shape
2. Detroit Red Wings (98 points): Now that Chris Osgood’s injury troubles have gotten the better of him again, Detroit has no choice but to hand the goaltending reins entirely to Jimmy Howard for the playoffs. That’s a good thing. Time to see what he’s made of.
3. San Jose Sharks (97 points): Could this be San Jose’s year? Everything feels different about the 2010-11 season for the Sharks. Less reliant on Joe Thornton, great goaltending, slow start, strong finish…none of those occurrences are typical in the Bay Area.
4. Phoenix Coyotes (95 points): They’re similar to Nashville and Montreal in that I look up and down the roster and don’t see where the wins come from. I suppose, like those other two teams, the Coyotes do it with defense and goaltending.
5. Los Angeles Kings (94 points): Suddenly, the Kings look like the team everyone wants to play. No Anze Kopitar or Justin Williams. That’s two thirds of their top line.
On the bubble
6. Nashville Predators (92 points, 5 GR): The East has three spooky projected low seeds with great goalies and the West has a few of those to – including Nashville. As good as Vancouver is, it doesn’t want to face Pekka Rinne in the first round…
7. Anaheim Ducks (91 points, 6 GR) …or Jonas Hiller. The Ducks may be the most dangerous low seed of all, assuming Jonas Hiller is over his fatigue and dizziness, as they have some great offensive players to back up their tender. Corey Perry is a Hart Trophy candidate and Teemu Selanne just doesn’t age.
8. Chicago Blackhawks (90 points, 6 GR): Obviously, the defending Stanley Cup champs are another annoyingly good low seed. Is it just me or is there not much of a reward for finishing at the top of the West this season?
9. Dallas Stars (87 points, 7 GR): The Stars probably look like the least threatening playoff contender on paper but they do have games in hand on everyone else, so we can’t count them out.
10. Calgary Flames (87 points, 5 GR): The Flames, on the other hand, are in deep trouble, already three points back and having just five games to go. Looks like the old, expensive bunch will flop again.
Toast
Minnesota Wild, Columbus Blue Jackets, St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Edmonton Oilers
