NHL Playoff Preview – Eastern Conference

It is now less than a month until the start of the NHL Playoffs and teams are positioning themselves for the postseason. Some are easily in and others are fighting for their playoff lives. Carolina, Toronto and New Jersey have all been fighting with Buffalo for that coveted last playoff spot but over the last week the Sabres have taken a hold of the 8th and final spot with some inspired play.

Here’s a quick look at the standings as they are today. If the NHL season were to kick into the playoffs today, here’s what the final breakdown will be:

Team	Total Points
1. Philadelphia	96
2. Washington *	94
3. Boston *	88
4. Pittsburgh	92
5. Tampa Bay	89
6. Montreal	87
7. NY Rangers	82
8. Buffalo	79

Only Philly has technically clinched a playoff spot as they lead the entire conference with 96 points.  Washington and Boston are their division leaders which puts them 2nd and 3rd. That’s why the Pens, who have a slightly better record than Boston, are put 4th on the list.

Click the below graphic to expand our first look at the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

Team Most Likely to Win: Philadelphia Flyers have silently dominated the Eastern Conference for months now.  They continue to roll and have the depth to push them deep into the playoffs.

Team Most Likely to Disappoint : The Penguins, who owned the NHL before the All Star break, have lost key players like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.   Now enforcer Matt Cooke is gone and it’s hard tom imagine the Pens going far into the playoffs without their depth. They’re still chugging along rather nicely but it’s hard for to imagine them getting past Philly or Boston or even Washington at this moment.

 

 

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