The last week of the hockey season

Well...the playoffs are nearing.


The Minnesota Wild clinched a playoff spot tonight.


Alexander Ovechkin scored his 50th goal of the season, although it looks unlikely at this point for the Washington Capitals to make the playoffs this season.


The Toronto Maple Leafs were officially eliminated from playoff contention tonight following a 3-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's very hard to believe the Leafs were very comfortably in a playoff position a month ago.

The Minnesota Wild clinched a playoff spot tonight.

Like there was ever any doubt.

Awesome game between the Jackets and the Coyotes last night.

The Flyers clinched their spot last night too. Unfortunately, like every year since '97, I don't expect them to go very far. Here's hoping.   

MetalGuy71 wrote:

The Flyers clinched their spot last night too. Unfortunately, like every year since '97, I don't expect them to go very far. Here's hoping.   

x2!!!

Go Flyers!!

MetalGuy71 wrote:

The Flyers clinched their spot last night too. Unfortunately, like every year since '97, I don't expect them to go very far. Here's hoping.   

I'm happy for Steve Mason for the Flyers. He is a good goaltender who was dogged for being on a bad Columbus team in recent years. After an excellent rookie season, he didn't have as good a team in front of him for the next few years. After getting traded to the Flyers, he's been doing great. The Flyers got better after he joined. He's been having a great season.

Detroit just clinched a playoff spot.

Jackets clinch. The Stars and the Coyotes still in competition for the final spot. The two teams play each other Sunday, and that game could be the deciding one.

Currently the Stars are two points ahead with two games remaining. The Coyotes have three games left, and will play the Predators tomorrow.

The Columbus Blue Jackets clinched a playoff spot! This marks the first time in five years that Columbus has qualified for the playoffs.

I'm really happy for them.

They reach the playoffs for only the second time in franchise history

Both of the teams that moved from the Western Conference to the East at the beginning of the season qualify for the playoffs.

The Dallas Stars clinched a playoff spot last night. This marks the first time in six years that Dallas will be in the post-season.

Western Conference playoffs are made of 5 central division teams and 3 California teams. By chance, Dallas is the team that ends up playing in the California side of the bracket. That is fitting, considering they were a Pacific division team just a season ago.

Pieces seem to fall in their rightful places in the East as well. Unless Columbus somehow manages to lose against Florida in their last game, the Jackets will end up playing within their division (Penguins) and the Red Wings get Boston and we will have actual intra-divisional playoffs.

Columbus defeated Florida 3-2 this evening.

The Eastern Conference playoff positions have been confirmed:
Boston Bruins (1st in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Red Wings (2nd wild card)
Pittsburgh Penguins (1st in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (1st wild card)
Montréal Canadiens (2nd in the Atlantic Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3rd in the Atlantic Division)
New York Rangers (2nd in the Metropolitan Division) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (3rd in the Metropolitan Division)

When the Western Conference playoff positions are confirmed, I'll start a playoff thread.

going to be an interesting series between the Rangers and Flyers.

Required Fields wrote:

Montréal Canadiens (2nd in the Northeast Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3rd in the Northeast Division)

Bolts can still get to 2nd and earn home ice with a win against the Caps tonight.

West is practically set as well:

Avs - Wild
Blues - Hawks

Ducks - Stars
Sharks - Queens

Lari wrote:

Required Fields wrote:

Montréal Canadiens (2nd in the Northeast Division) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (3rd in the Northeast Division)

Bolts can still get to 2nd and earn home ice with a win against the Caps tonight.

West is practically set as well:

Avs - Wild
Blues - Hawks

Ducks - Stars
Sharks - Queens

I mean Northeast Division, not Atlantic Division. Tampa Bay beat Washington today, so they are the second seed. But they are still playing each other.

An article on the collapse of the Toronto Maple Leafs in the last month:
http://deadspin.com/the-maple-leafs-collapse-is-a-victory-for-rationality-1559848856