NHL Western Conference Playoffs: Who's In, Who's Out (March 14 Edition)

As we reach mid-March, any glance at the Western Conference standings on causes gasps, examination, and pangs of stress from any fans of the teams involved. With just under a month remaining in the season, though, there is still plenty of time for streaks to occur, major injuries to happen, and positions to change.

Here I'll take a look at how well each team is doing, how well they might do in the upcoming four tight, stressful weeks, who the pressure will effect and who it won't, and, finally, who's in and who's out of the 2009 Western Conference playoffs.

The Western Conference playoff race involves about seven teams: Edmonton, Dallas, Minnesota, Nashville, St. Louis, Anaheim, and Los Angeles. They cover the seventh through 13th spots in the Western Conference standings, even though these seven teams are separated by just five measly points.

In fact, six of the teams (all of them but LA) are separated by just two points: a single win.

So, without further introduction, let's get to what you've been waiting for: your team-by-team analysis!

Edmonton Oilers

Currently: 72 points: 32-27-8. 15 games remaining (GR). T-seventh.

The Oilers are a team that has been under the radar all year, because they have no real standout talent, but they are managing to put wins together and currently hold a playoff spot. Trade deadline acquisition Patrick O'Sullivan (from LA) is also fitting in well.

Edmonton also has a fairly easy schedule in the final month, and nine of their 15 games left will be at home.

However, they haven't been that good at home this season, have won just three times in their last 11 games, and they have six games remaining against teams clearly above them in the standings.

Those burdens, plus the close playoff chase, will end up knocking them barely out of the playoffs in a tiebreaker.

Projected Record "Down the Stretch": 7-5-3, 17 points.

Projected Final Record: 89 points: 39-32-11.

Playoffs: OUT

Dallas Stars

Currently: 72 points: 32-28-8. 14 GR. T-seventh.

The Dallas Stars struggled mightily in the first few months of the season, failing to even come close to meet expectations that they had set before the season began. In the winter, though, they were able to come back to together get several long winning streaks going. Now, Dallas is in a playoff position, though they are barely holding onto it.

But Turco has possibly had the worst season of his prominent career, and the defense, so filled with talent, has not been very good at all. So, playoffs seem like an unlikely destination for this team this year.

Projected Record "Down the Stretch": 5-6-3: 13 points.

Project Final Record: 85 points: 37-34-11

Playoffs: OUT

Minnesota Wild

Currently: 71 points: 32-28-7. 15 GR. T-ninth.

They've also been pretty ignored throughout most of the season (except for a great start in October), but Niklas Backstrom's steady goaltending has put them in a good shot for the playoffs.

They have a very tough schedule in the closing week of March, which may end up being the doom of the Wild's hopes, but if Minnesota can survive that, they may end up sneaking into the playoffs!

Projected Record "Down the Stretch": 9-4-2, 20 points.

Projected Final Record: 91 points: 41-32-9.

Playoffs: IN

Nashville Predators

Currently: 71 points: 33-30-5. 14 GR. T-ninth.

The Predators may be in the best position of all these teams to make the playoffs. Despite the fact they've lost three straight, Nashville is still 6-2-2 in L10 and has many big wins already in March.

I think that any sort of decent effort to close the season will result in a playoff berth for the Preds.

Projected Record "Down the Stretch": 8-4-2: 18 points.

Projected Final Record: 89 points: 41-34-7

Playoffs: IN

St. Louis Blues

Currently: 70 points: 31-28-8. 15 GR. T-11th.

St. Louis is another team that has been pretty hot in their last 10 games (7-2-1), and any decent effort will get them in. But I just can't see much offensive talent currently signed as a member of the Blues, nor can most others, and with the goaltending expertise slowly decreasing in skill, the Blues may fall just short come late-April!

Projected Record "Down the Stretch": 6-6-3: 15 points.

Projected Final Record: 85 points: 37-34-11.

Playoffs: OUT

Anaheim Ducks

Currently: 70 points: 32-30-6. 14 GR. T-11th.

The Ducks have been somewhat of a mess for a while now. Even though the goaltending starter has gone back and forth ever since November, neither of them are really that good, and team attitude is starting to fall, too.

Star players are asking to be released (or were asking to be traded), and they may just about completely collapse on themselves under all this pressure.

Projected Record "Down the Stretch": 5-7-2: 12 points

Project Final Record: 82 points: 37-37-8.

Playoffs: OUT

Los Angeles Kings

Currently: 67 points: 29-29-9. 15 GR. 13th.

Did anyone really ever think they might make the playoffs. Well, I guess I thought they might a month ago, but not anymore. The Kings have been as inconsistent as a car on an icy road for several weeks now, and they just have no experience whatsoever in any kind of playoff situation.

Plus the trade deadline was horrific for Los Angeles, as well.

So I'm going against my common theory that awesome jerseys win championships. The Kings won't make it. Period.

Projected Record "Down the Stretch": 4-9-2: 10 points

Project Final Record: 77 points: 33-38-11.

Playoffs: OUT

Final Western Conference Standings

7. Minnesota Wild - 91 pts

8. Nashville Predators - 89 pts

9. Edmonton Oilers - 89 pts

10. St. Louis Blues - 85 pts

11. Dallas Stars - 85 pts

12. Anaheim Ducks - 82 pts

13. Los Angeles Kings - 77 pts