Sixteen teams make it into the playoffs. Eight teams from each conference. At least one team from all 3 divisions within the conferences make it and the next 5 spots is a fight to get in. A team can go from 1st in their division and 3rd in the conference to 9th in the conference and out in a playoff spot and back in a matter of 24 hours depending on other teams wins and losses. It gets heated. For example in 2010 the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. The following season the Blackhawks played a fine season but didn't make the playoffs or so they thought? The Blackhawks were literally packing up their stalls in their locker room when the got word they would be heading to the playoffs to face the Vancouver Canucks in the first round because Minnesota had just beat Dallas in their last game of the season. The twist on this was that Dallas was the stronger team and was expected to win. A win for Dallas meant that they would be heading to the playoffs. Minnesota who was already out of the running for the playoffs came in a played a tough game and won. WIth the Minnesota win it meant the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars were out of the playoffs and the Chicago Blackhawks were in. Chicago got in based on a loss and what a first round series it ended up being. The series end in Vancouver winning the 1st 3 games, Chicago winning the next 3 and game 7 went in overtime. Check it out: Stakes, Passion, Fear and Victory!
So far this season 6 teams have secured spots in the playoffs. The New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues and the Detroit Red Wings have all secured a spot but haven't clinched their divisions. The Vancouver Canucks have clinched the Northwest Division for the 4th consecutive year and with that comes a playoff spot. Ten spots remain, 5 in each conference. With most teams only having 6 or 7 games to go every 2 points from a win counts!
The Western Top 8 : 1) St. Louis Blues 103 points 2) Vancouver Canucks 101 points 3) San Jose Sharks 88 points 4) Detroit Red Wings 97 points 5) Nashville Predators 96 points 6) Chicago Blackhawks 92 points 7) Dallas Stars 87 points 8) Phoenix Coyotes 87 points | The Eastern Top 8: 1) New York Rangers 101 points 2) Boston Bruins 91 points 3) Florida Panthers 87 points 4) Pittsburgh Penguins 100 points 5) Philadelphia Flyers 96 points 6) New Jersey Devils 90 points 7) Ottawa Senators 88 points 8) Washington Capitals 84 points |
Like I say only 6 teams (the ones bolded above) have a playoff spot. Tomorrow the top 8 could look completely different. Here is a quick breakdown of yesterday's games:
#27 Mannyy Malhotra
The Vancouver Canucks beat the Los Angeles Kings 1-0. The only goal scored was by #27 Manny Malhotra early in the 1st period. Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo stopped all 38 shots for his 4th shut out of the year and his 59th career shutout. Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick stopped 24 of 25 shots. This win puts Vancouver only 2 points behind league leader the St. Louis Blues. If the Blues lose tonight to the Nashville Predators and Vancouver wins tomorrow night against the Colorado Avalanche the teams would be tied! Check out Malhotra's 7th goal of the year below!
Tapma Bay's Steven Stamkos celebrating!
Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning helped his team win last night! Stamkos scored the 2nd goal of the night with only 0.6 left on the clock for his 53rd goal this year! Stamkos is one of the strongest players in the NHL. Tampa Bay is 11th in the east with 77 points but with this win over the Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa denied Philly any points to help Philly clinch their division even though they are heading to the playoffs. Stamkos with his 53 goals this season is 1st in the goals race but second in the points race with 88 points total and 9 points behind league leader Evgeni Malkin.
The Detroit Red Wings beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 7-2. Red Wing Tomas Holmstrom scored twice but Henrik Zetterberg assisted 4 of the goals. Todd Bertuzzi assisted 3 goals. Detroit had a 7-0 lead with the 7th goal being scored by Pavel Datsyuk early in the 3rd period but 19 seconds later Columbus's Mark Letestu scored followed by Columbus Captain Rick Nash 9 minutes later.
The Ottawa Senators threw cold water on the Winnipeg Jets hopes of a playoff spot. Ottawa won 6-4. Winnipeg has 78 points and is in 10th place. Jason Spezza, #19 of the Senators probably had the prettiest play yesterday to help Kyle Turris score the 3rd Ottawa goal of the night. Check it out:
The Ottawa Senators threw cold water on the Winnipeg Jets hopes of a playoff spot. Ottawa won 6-4. Winnipeg has 78 points and is in 10th place. Jason Spezza, #19 of the Senators probably had the prettiest play yesterday to help Kyle Turris score the 3rd Ottawa goal of the night. Check it out:
The Calgary Flames beat the Dallas Stars 5-4. Dallas did have the lead 2-1 with Jamie Benn scoring his 2nd goal of the night with only 44 seconds gone in the 2nd period. Then Calgary scored 4 goals in 10 minutes! With this win Calgary is in 11th place with 85 points but only 2 points behind Dallas who has 87 points and in 7th place. It is anybody's game.
The San Jose Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-1. Colorado's lone goal came from former Canuck Shane O'Brien. Joe Pavelski scored twice for San Jose. Colorado is 10th in the west with 86 points but having played the most games at 78. That means they have to win their next 4 games and hope Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles or Calgary tank to get a spot.
Tonight's line up consists of 8 games:
Carolina and Toronto at 4:00
Chicago and New Jersey at 4:00
New York Islanders and Pittsburgh at 4:00
Buffalo and Washington at 4:00
Florida and Montreal at 4:30
Tampa Bay and Boston at 4:30
Nashville and St. Louis at 5:00
New York Rangers and Minnesota at 5:00
The 2 highest stake games would be between the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators because if the Preds win they move within 5 points of clinching their division (which happens to be the Central Division and same as St. Louis) and Vancouver could tie St. Louis as league leader with a win against Colorado on Wednesday night. Then you have the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Washington Capitals. Both team have 84 points, played 76 games but Washington has 1 more win with 38 while Buffalo has 37. A win for Buffalo would mean 2 points and 8th place in the east.
And don't forget to come to Jack Poole Plaza April 1st for Canucks Autism Network's Family Festival. Join in on an Awareness Walk through downtown Vancouver, face painting and VERA's burgers! From 10:00am till 3:00pm. Enjoy X
The San Jose Sharks beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-1. Colorado's lone goal came from former Canuck Shane O'Brien. Joe Pavelski scored twice for San Jose. Colorado is 10th in the west with 86 points but having played the most games at 78. That means they have to win their next 4 games and hope Dallas, Phoenix, Los Angeles or Calgary tank to get a spot.
Tonight's line up consists of 8 games:
Carolina and Toronto at 4:00
Chicago and New Jersey at 4:00
New York Islanders and Pittsburgh at 4:00
Buffalo and Washington at 4:00
Florida and Montreal at 4:30
Tampa Bay and Boston at 4:30
Nashville and St. Louis at 5:00
New York Rangers and Minnesota at 5:00
The 2 highest stake games would be between the St. Louis Blues and the Nashville Predators because if the Preds win they move within 5 points of clinching their division (which happens to be the Central Division and same as St. Louis) and Vancouver could tie St. Louis as league leader with a win against Colorado on Wednesday night. Then you have the game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Washington Capitals. Both team have 84 points, played 76 games but Washington has 1 more win with 38 while Buffalo has 37. A win for Buffalo would mean 2 points and 8th place in the east.
And don't forget to come to Jack Poole Plaza April 1st for Canucks Autism Network's Family Festival. Join in on an Awareness Walk through downtown Vancouver, face painting and VERA's burgers! From 10:00am till 3:00pm. Enjoy X
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