NHL Playoffs: Who's In? Who's Out? Detailed Predictions: Part One

(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

So it's almost the end of March, the NHL Playoffs are coming in a fury! I researched all the data possible, and played out game outcomes and figured out who will make the playoffs. These are predictions. This is how I came to my predictions.

First, I looked at matchups. Say it is San Jose vs Atlanta. Atlanta has been playing cruddy all season. I would give San Jose the two points.

If the game looks like a gimme game, I gave it to the team. If it was a potential playoff team vs a potential playoff team I considered four possibilities: The home record, the away record, the wins, and the points.

If the team was at home I put their home record vs the other teams away record. If it was close I would look at overall wins, and points. After all that detailed research, here are my NHL Playoff matchups.

Eastern Conference

First Seeded Boston Bruins versus Eighth seeded New York Rangers

Second Seeded New Jersey Devils versus Seventh seeded Pittsburgh Penguins

Third Seeded Washington Capitals versus Sixth seeded Carolina Hurricanes

Fourth Seeded Philadelphia Flyers versus Fifth seeded Montreal Canadians

Western Conference

First Seeded San Jose Sharks versus Eighth seeded Nashville Predators

Second Seeded Detroit Red Wings versus Seventh seeded Edmonton Oilers

Third Seeded Calgary Flames versus Sixth seeded Columbus Blue Jackets

Fourth Seeded Vancouver Canucks versus Fifth seeded Chicago Blackhawks

WHAT THE TEAMS NEED TO DO TO HELP THEMSELVES OUT!

This is part one of a two-part series. In this first part, I will take a look at the Eastern Conference and with details tell you what each team in the hunt needs to do! So let's get the fun started!

EASTERN CONFERENCE

First seeded: Boston Bruins (nine games remaining)

Boston is in a comfortable lead in the Eastern Conference. Four of their nine games remaining are against the Islanders, Lightning, Senators, and Maple Leafs. That should be eight points right there. So here is my goal for the Bruins with their fight to the playoffs.

Goal: You face New Jersey, New York Rangers, and Montreal Canadians at home, all fighting for better seeding in the playoffs. Beat two of the three, and gain confidence at home to better help yourselves in the playoffs.

Second seeded: New Jersey Devils (10 games remaining)

New Jersey is in a comfortable second seeded position right now. They have won seven of their last ten games. The Devils arguably are one of the best scoring teams in the league.

They got playoff experience everywhere, but some toughy games down the stretch (at New York Rangers, at Philadelphia, at Chicago, at Pittsburgh, and face Carolina at home on the last game of the season, a team fighting for a playoff spot.)

Goal: My goal for New Jersey is this. Win six of your last ten games, and try to win four of your six road games. Momentum is momentum, and with the playoffs coming, a win is a win no matter how you look at it.

Third seeded: Washington Capitals (eight games remaining)

Out of every team in the NHL, I personally believe that the Washington Capitals have the easiest schedule remaining. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Capitals won the rest of their games.

They face Toronto on the road. Tampa Bay, New York Islanders, Buffalo, and Atlanta at home, and end the season facing Atlanta and Florida on the road.

Goal: Win five of your eight. Play your backup goalie Simeon Varlamov. Get him some playing time and rest up on Jose Theodore. Theodore is very streaky at times. Getting Varlamov some playing time could be needed in the playoffs; however, Theodore has playoff experience, and the rest could help him out!

Fourth seeded: Philadelphia Flyers (11 games remaining)

Philadelphia is almost hands down the most physical team in hockey today. I don't see a player on their team that wouldn't drop the gloves, well, maybe not Jeff Carter. The way he's been scoring though, he has no reason to drop the gloves.

Philadelphia is comfortable in fourth, and winning the division is pretty much not a possibility so here is my goals for Philly.

Goals:

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