Breaking Down Race for the Bottom NHL Playoff Spots in Both Conferences

It's a hard sprint to the finish.

Much of the action in the final two weeks of the season involves the teams that are fighting for the NHL's final playoff spots.

After the Kings rose from the eighth position in the Western Conference to win the Stanley Cup last year, all teams know they have a chance to make history if they can earn a spot in the postseason. At least in theory.

The Kings were a superior team that found their way late in the season and clinched a playoff position in the final week. This year's contenders don't appear to have that kind of makeup.

The fight in the Eastern Conference is not as compelling as the one in the Western Conference. Realistically, four teams are fighting for three playoff spots. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, so they are basically safe to make the playoffs. The Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers and New York Islanders are trying to hold off the Winnipeg Jets.

It's much more complicated—and interesting—in the Western Conference. The final four spots are all up for grabs. The San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild are holding down fifth, sixth and seventh places, but they have slim leads over the Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Phoenix Coyotes and the Edmonton Oilers appear to have played themselves out of the race.

 



Eastern Conference: All But Certain

Position: 5th place

Points: 51 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 23

The Toronto Maple Leafs have played consistently all season.

The only reason there was any doubt that they would make the playoffs this time around was their history of failure. Last year, the Leafs looked like playoff certainties at the two-thirds mark of the season, and then they collapsed dreadfully.

Their last playoff appearance was in 2003-04, so it's obvious that the team could not take anything for granted.

However, this is a nasty, snarling team that will punish opponents with its fists at the drop of a hat. The Leafs also have plenty of speed and skill thanks to Phil Kessel, Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak. They have also gotten surprising effective play in net from James Reimer and Ben Scrivens.

They dominated the Montreal Canadiens 5-1 April 13, and that game effectively put the Leafs in the playoffs. They have not clinched a spot yet, but they are a solid team that will be a tough out in the postseason.

Eastern Conference: Best Chance

Ottawa Senators

Position: 6th place

Points: 48 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 17

New York Islanders

Position: 7th place

Points: 47 points

Games Remaining: 6

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 18

New York Rangers

Position: 8th place

Points: 46 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 17

The Senators have overcome a slew of injuries to remain in playoff position all season. After a recent slump, they have won two games in a row to right the ship. The Senators have gotten sensational numbers from Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner in goal. Center Kyle Turris and veteran Daniel Alfredsson provide offensive leadership.

The Senators have five of their remaining seven games at home, where they have been a sensational 13-3-3 this season.

The Islanders have been resurgent this season and have an excellent chance to return to the postseason for the first time since 2006-07. The Islanders are led by superstar John Tavares, who may have played himself into the Hart Trophy (MVP) race, and they play a tough physical game every night.

Five of their remaining six games are on the road, but that plays into the Islanders' hands since they are 12-5-2 away from home this season.

The Rangers have had big problems finding their offense this year. That's a surprise, considering they added Rick Nash in the offseason, but he can't do it all by himself.

A late-season trade of Marian Gaborik seemed like a dubious move because of his offensive skill, but the addition of tough competitors like Ryane Clowe and Derick Brassard appear to have helped the team chemistry under combustible head coach John Tortorella.

The Rangers are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. All seven of their remaining games are against likely playoff outsiders.

Eastern Conference: Outside Chance

Winnipeg Jets

Position: 9th place

Points: 44 points

Games Remaining: 6

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 20

New Jersey Devils

Position: 10th place

Points: 40 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 13

Buffalo Sabres

Position: 10th place

Points: 40 points

Games Remaining: 6

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 12

The Jets are just two points behind the Rangers and have won three games in a row. Head coach Claude Noel had gotten a very competitive effort out of this team throughout the season, and the Jets have more talent than they are given credit for. Andrew Ladd is the team's leading scorer with 38 points, while Evander Kane (16 goals) knows how to make big plays at key moments.

Four of the Jets' remaining six games are at home, which works to their advantage. Their final two game are against Washington and Montreal, and those will be difficult assignments.

The Devils and the Sabres are barely breathing in the playoff race. Neither team has much of a chance to get back into it.

The Devils are 1-5-4 in their last 10 games, completely undoing their hot start. The Sabres have been a mess all season. After firing head coach Lindy Ruff, they have played a bit better, but they rarely play with the effort needed to win consistently.

Western Conference: Best Chance

San Jose Sharks

Position: 5th place

Points: 49 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 14

St. Louis Blues

Position: 6th place

Points: 48 points

Games Remaining: 8

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 20

The San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues are both solid teams that have the best chances of filling two of the Western Conference's final four playoff spots.

However, the race is still close, and they have much work to do since the Western Conference is so tight.

The Sharks have been an up-and-down team this year. They looked great at the start, went through a long slump in the middle and then surged again.

Veterans Joe Thornton, Logan Couture and Patrick Marleau are still their offensive leaders, but goalie Antti Niemi is likely their most important player. He has been solid with a 2.19 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage.

After an April 15 road game at Phoenix, the Sharks have a favorable schedule with four straight games at home.

The Blues have not been as consistent as they were last season when they nailed down the second spot in the Western Conference. However, there's a certain resilience about this team as well as a physical toughness.

Chris Stewart (16 goals) and Patrik Berglund (15 goals) are the offensive leaders, but head coach Ken Hitchcock needs David Backes and T.J. Oshie to step up for this team to nail down their spot in the postseason.

The Blues play seven of their final eight games at home, but that may not be a huge advantage since they are just 9-7-1 in front of the home fans this year.

Western Conference: Solid Contender

Minnesota Wild

Position: 7th place

Points: 47 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 18

The Wild have had some difficulty in their last 10 games (3-6-1), but don't sell this team short. They have excellent leadership in Mikko Koivu, Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, and that should be enough to keep the Wild in the postseason when the season comes to an end.

Koivu has a team-high 33 points and is a very responsible player. Parise can score clutch goals and Suter is almost always on the ice.

Four of the Wild's seven remaining games are at home, and that's a big advantage since they are 13-6-2 in front of their own fans this season.

Back-to-back road games against Calgary and Edmonton this week could go a long way towards cementing their playoff spot.

Western Conference: Fighting Chance

Dallas Stars

Position: 8th place

Points: 45 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 19

Detroit Red Wings

Position: 8th place

Points: 45 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 17

Columbus Blue Jackets

Position: 8th place

Points: 45 points

Games Remaining: 6

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 14

It appears to be a major dogfight for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The performance of the Stars is shocking, considering they traded away Brenden Morrow, Jaromir Jagr and Derek Roy at the trade deadline. They have reeled off five straight wins and own the tiebreaker edge over both the Red Wings and Blue Jackets.

The Red Wings are clearly a far lesser version of the team that has been the NHL's best over the last 20 years. However, don't write them off yet.

Head coach Mike Babcock is one of the best leaders in the business, and the Red Wings are a prideful bench. Since they take the ice with Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and hard-hitting Niklas Kronwall, they should not be sold short.

The Blue Jackets were the worst team in hockey last year, and they have ignored prognostications by becoming a very competitive team.

Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (2.01 GAA, .932 save percentage) has helped this team remain in contention even though the Blue Jackets have offensive limitations. Vinny Prospal has a team-high 26 points while new acquisition Marian Gaborik has scored three goals in his first six games with the Jackets.

The Stars have three games remaining against the Chicago Blackhawks, Vancouver Canucks and Los Angeles Kings. Three of the Red Wings' last four games are at home. The Jackets play five of their last six games on the road.

Western Conference: Outsiders

Phoenix Coyotes

Position: 11th place

Points: 43 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 15

Edmonton Oilers

Position: 12th place

Points: 39 points

Games Remaining: 7

Regulation or Overtime Wins: 14

The Coyotes are only two points back of the trio of teams tied for eighth place, but it's going to be tough to leap-frog all of them. Shane Doan is one of the best leaders in the NHL. The Coyotes also have a talented defense, led by Keith Yandle and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the Oilers were in the top eight in the Western Conference and surging. It turned out to be a mirage as they have lost their last five games.

While the young talent is still promising for the future, much work needs to be done to turn potential into production. A 4-1 home loss to the lowly Calgary Flames all but destroyed their playoff chances.

Three consecutive road games at St. Louis, Chicago and Detroit is a difficult assignment for the Coyotes. The Oilers play five of their last seven games at home.