In the situation at hand, the Rangers have 82 points, the Flyers 84, the Bruins 84, the Canadians 86 and the Atlanta Thrashers 81.
Remaining games Rangers 4, Flyers 3, Bruins 4, Canadians 3 and Atlanta Thrashers 3.
Ok, now we’ll take a look at each team’s remaining games, home and away, with the results of the games and see who makes it to Season 2. The final positions will be at the end of the article.
Atlanta Thrashers is in ninth place with 81 points and three games remaining. Well Atlanta, it looks like your hill will be the best one to climb. With only three games left, the teams you have to play are the New Jersey Devils at home, on the road against the Washington Capitals, and at home again against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Both of your home games are going to be blown due to the fact that the Penguins and Devils are still playing for something, the division title. Which means home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Capitals have already won the President’s trophy, but I wouldn’t expect them to sit around and lose the game on purpose. Prediction Atlanta ends their last three games at 1-1-1 giving them a total of 84 points.
They are followed by the New York Rangers with 82 points. The Rangers have been the hottest team out of the five teams looking to reach the last three playoff spots, yet they are still outside looking for ninth place. They control their own destiny if they win the rest of their games properly, as playing four out of four will get them there, but it won’t be easy with a home and a home late in the season against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Rangers’ remaining four games are home games against the Flyers and Maple Leafs and road games against the Buffalo Sabers and Flyers again. Prediction The Rangers will go 2-0-2 in their last four games and finish with 88 points.
The Boston Bruins have four games left and sit at 84 points, therefore another team with a tough schedule. They will have to play two road games against Alex Ovechkin and home games against the Buffalo Sabers and Carolina Hurricanes. The Bruins have been playing decent hockey of late and have picked up two much-needed overtime wins against the Devils and the Maple Leafs. Those two extra points might save his season two bid, but maybe not. I see them going 2-2 in their last four and finishing with 88 points.
The Philadelphia Flyers have 84 points with three games remaining. The Flyers have been on a downward spiral of late due to goaltending issues, but they pulled off a big win against the Detroit Redwings on Easter Sunday. The Redwings have been the hottest team in the league not to lose a game in regulation since Philly beat them 4-3. That game will give them motivation in their last three games, but I see them going 1-1-1 in those games and finishing with 87 points.
The Montreal Canadiens have 86 points with three games remaining. They lead the group and based on my predictions so far, it looks like they will only need three points from the remaining three games to start again. Let’s look at their schedule like this on the road against the Islanders, Hurricanes and the season finale at home against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The three teams the Canadians will face will not make the playoffs, however they will try to play spoiler. And all three of these teams have proven to be tuff opponents of late. Montreal will finish 1-1-1 with 89 points and make the playoffs.
If my predictions are correct, the final standings will look like this: Canadians with 89 points, Bruins with 88 points, Rangers with 88 points, Flyers with 87 points and Thrashers with 84 points. Flyers and Thrashers miss the playoffs.
Follow all these teams down the stretch with video highlights: http://www.puckvideo.com
