NHL Playoffs: 5 Teams That Could Miss the Postseason

With the NHL season in its final two weeks, teams are making their final push to get in, or stay in, the playoff picture. 

But which teams could have their postseason hopes unravel in the final games and find themselves on the outside looking in? 

We take a look at five teams that could very likely find themselves on a golf course sooner than later.

The New York Rangers

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NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 17: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers defends his net against the San Jose Sharks despite losing his mask on February 17, 2008 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Rangers won the game 3-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/

NY Rangers: 11 games left, six against current playoff teams. 

Could the Blueshirts miss the playoffs for a second year in a row? 

With only four points between the Rangers and the ninth spot, it could be very likely. 

The Rangers have been a team this season that has won a few games, then lost a few.  They haven’t had a winning streak longer than three games all season, which could pose a problem if a team below them gets hot and they finish the season with a two- or three-game losing streak.

The Dallas Stars

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DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Dany Heatley #15 of the San Jose Sharks celebrates a goal against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Dallas Stars: 11 games left, six against current playoff teams.

For much of the first half of the season, the Stars held the lead in the Pacific Division, only to be undone by an awful February, in which they won only three games. 

In the Western Conference, only six points separate the eighth spot from the 11th, so any type of multi-game losing streak could likely prove to be their undoing. 

The New Jersey Devils

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 28: A dejected Brendan Shanahan #18 of the New Jersey Devils leaves the ice after losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round of the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on Ap

New Jersey Devils: 12 games left, nine against current playoff teams.

The Devils have been one of the hottest teams since the All-Star break and have been almost unbeatable. 

Their six-week surge has sparked a lot of optimism among fans, but their wretched first half may be too much to overcome.  With nine of their final 12 games against current playoff teams, it will be a daunting task for the Devils to squeeze their way into the postseason.

The Calgary Flames

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DENVER - MARCH 14: Jarome Iginla #12 of the Calgary Flames drifts to the bench after losing a game to the Colorado Avalanche on March 14, 2007 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Avalanche defeated the Flames, 3-2. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Imag

Calgary Flames: Nine games left, three against current playoff teams.

The Flames are another team that had an awful first half and was left for dead only to come back to life in the second half of the season. 

They are in the eighth spot by one point, but have the fewest games left of any team.  They are greatly assisted by playing in the Northwest Division and have been seemingly handed a gift by getting three of their final nine games against Colorado and Edmonton, two of the worst teams in the NHL.

The Chicago Blackhawks

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PHILADELPHIA - JUNE 02: Kris Versteeg #32 of the Chicago Blackhawks reacts after losing 4-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime in Game Three of the 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Wachovia Center on June 2, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo b

Chicago Blackhawks: 11 games left, seven against current playoff teams.

Stanley Cup hangover?  The Blackhawks seemed to celebrate their championship almost into November.  They had a slow first half, but have been surging as of late, helped by a recent eight-game winning streak. 

The question is, can they be expected to keep up their current pace? 

They will be tested with eight of their final 11 games against playoff teams, including three games against Detroit.  With only two points separating the Blackhawks and the ninth-place team, they don’t have much room for error.