With wins from Boston, Washington, Ottawa and Florida last night, the playoff race in the East got even more intense. Let's take a look at whats left for them and who will make it in.
Washington Capitals (2nd Metro / 96 Points / 38 ROW / 4 games left)
After beating Montréal in the shootout last night, the Caps moved past the Islanders and Penguins for 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division. On the hands of 50+ and now franchise leading goalscorer Alex Ovechkin, the Caps have won 7 out of their last 9 games. Braden Holtby is having a fantastic season in net, appearing in 69 games with a SV% of .922.
In their remaining 4 games, the Caps face 3 teams battling for a playoff spot and the Conference leading New York Rangers. Thats how I predict them to do:
@ Senators (OT loss), @ Red Wings (OT win), vs Bruins (win), vs Rangers (win)
Predicition: 103 points / 41 ROW for 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division
New York Islanders (3rd Metro / 96 Points / 38 ROW / 4 games left)
Going back to last years offseason, who would have predicted the Islanders to make the playoffs ? Playing their last season in Long Island before moving to Brooklyn, the Isles even lead the NHL in points for a while. The month of March has brought them back down to 3rd place in their division, having lost 8 of their last 10 games.
The Islanders play 3 of their last 4 games against teams not making the playoffs, 2 of them at home.
vs Sabres (win), @ Flyers (OT loss), @ Penguins (OT loss), vs Blue Jackets (win)
Prediction: 102 points / 40 ROW for 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division
Detroit Red Wings (3rd Atlantic / 93 Points / 37 ROW / 5 games left)
The last time Detroit didn't make the playoffs was the spring of 1990 and for most of this years season everything looked promising for them. Then came the month of March and last nights 3rd period collapse against the B's. The Red Wings have now lost 11 of their last 15 games playing without key guys like Pavel Datsyuk and Erik Cole.
One more game than most of their opponents in the playoff race, they play Carolina twice and 3 teams fighting or already in the playoffs.
@ Wild (loss), vs Caps (OT loss), vs Hurricanes (win), @ Canadiens (loss), @ Hurricanes (win)
Prediction: 98 points / 39 ROW for 2nd Wild Card spot -> season series lost vs BOS
Pittsburgh Penguins (1st Wild Card / 95 Points / 38 ROW / 5 games left)
Just like Detroit, the Penguins have dropped in the standings in the month of March. They had trouble catching both New York teams all season long, now even finding themselves behind Washington after losing 7 of their last 10. With Pascal Dupuis and Olli Määttä out for the season and Malkin just coming back, no one is expecting the Pens do go deep in the playoffs.
With 5 games left, the Pens play three non playoff teams including their nemesis from Philadelphia against whom they lost 7 of their last 8 games.
@ Blue Jackets (OT loss), @ Flyers (OT loss), @ Senators (loss), vs Islanders (OT win), @ Sabres (win)
Prediction: 101 points / 40 ROW for 1st Wild Card spot
Boston Bruins (2nd Wild Card / 93 Points / 37 ROW / 4 games left)
You never know when they're going to step it up. They beat the league leading New York Rangers one night, just to need OT to beat Hurricanes or Sabres. Having won their last 4 games, two of them against wildcard opponents, the B's enter a franchise changing week. Not making the playoffs is not an option in Boston, especially not for the Jacobs family.
Boston plays their last home game against the Leafs before traveling down south to Washington and Florida.
vs Leafs (win), @ Capitals (loss), @ Panthers (win), @ Lightning (OT loss)
Prediction: 98 points / 39 ROW for 3rd in the Atlantic Divison -> season series won vs DET
Ottawa Senators (4th Atlantic / 90 Points / 33 ROW / 5 games left)
The hottest team in the league has won 15 of their last 20 games, giving them a chance to make the playoffs which seemed impossible in January. After injuries to starting goalies Anderson and Lehner, their AHL starter Andrew Hammond came in and stole the job. Hammond is the first goalie in NHL history to post wins in 16 of his first 18 starts. His SV% of .946 and GAA of 1.67 seem surreal giving the fact that he's an undrafted college goalie, starting in his 2nd AHL season.
In their last 5 reg. season games, Ottawa faces 2 non playoff teams and has 2 home games against wild card fighting teams.
vs Capitals (OT win), @ Leafs (win), vs Penguins (win), @ Rangers (loss), @ Flyers (win)
Prediction: 98 points / 37 ROW for 4th in the Atlantic Division -> missing the playoffs on ROW
Florida Panthers (5th Atlantic / 87 Points / 28 ROW / 4 games left)
The Panthers were another big surprise this season with their veteran goaltender Roberto Luongo having his best season since his SCF year 2010/11. " Young guns " Nick Bjugstad, Jonathan Huberdeau and last years 1st overall Aaron Ekblad held the Cats in the Wildcard Race for a long time. At the Trade Deadline they aquired all time legend Jaromir Jagr who has since then scored 14 points in 16 games. Their bad performance in February has brought them down in the standing, a fact which 8 wins in their last 15 games couldn't change.
With only 4 games left and 2 of them against playoff powerhouses Tampa and Montréal the Panthers are all but making the playoffs.
vs Lightning (OT win), vs Canadiens (OT loss), vs Bruins (loss), vs Devils (win)
Prediction: 91 points / 30 ROW for 5th in the Atlantic Division -> 7 points out of the playoffs
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