Boston and Pittsburgh have dominated the Eastern Conference all season long. The rest of the conference have been in and out of playoff spots during the span. Coming down to the these last few weeks, the East is wide open, as seeding may change nightly.
Atlantic
Boston has clinched the division, but the fight for the second seed is coming down to the wire. The Canadains and Lightning have tried their best to keep pace with the B’s.
Both these teams square off Tuesday in Tampa, in what will be a playoff like atmosphere. Each of the previous three games has gone to overtime/shootout, where the visiting team has won 2-1. Look for this exact same game, if both teams bring their ‘A’ game Tuesday.
Tampa begins a home-stand, and with seeding on the line it should be electric, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum.
Next five games: Montreal (@TBL,@OTT,DET,@CHI,NYI) Tampa (MTL,CGY,DAL,TOR,PHI)
Metro
Pittsburgh hasn’t clinched the Metro yet, but they’re on their way to. Just like the Atlantic, the Metro’s race for the second seed is just as close. Just two points seperate the Rangers and the Flyers.
Both of these teams met this past week, with the Rangers gaining the two points. New York closes the season with three of their last four games at home.
A much tougher road for the flyers, their next three games; @STL, CBJ, and @BOS. They’ll need Glaud Giroux to stay hot down the stretch.
Next five games: Rangers (@VAN,@COL,OTT,CAR) Flyers (@STL,CBJ,@BOS,BUF,@FLA)
Wild Card
This is where things get interesting. Columbus is only four points back from the third seed in the Metro. They’ll need to play better than .500 hockey down the stretch to catch the Flyers.
Between the rest, Carolina and Ottawa can only afford one or two losses if they want to have a chance. Ottawa going 3-4-3 in their last 10 has killed them.
New Jersey and Ottawa however are in action tonight, and can gain ground in this wild card hunt.
Toronto is going in reverse, going 1-9-0, the panic button has been pushed for the Leafs.
It’s safe to say .500 hockey down the stretch will close the door on a teams playoff chances this year, who’s going to choke down the stretch?
Next five games: DET-(BOS,BUF,@MTL,@BUF,@PIT) CBJ-(COL,@PHI,CHI,NYI,PHX) WSH-(DAL,@NJD,@NYI,@STL,@CAR) TOR-(CGY,BOS,WPG,@TBL,@FLA) NJD-(FLA,@BUF,WSH,@CAR,CGY) OTT-(CAR,NYI,MTL,@NYR,@NYI) CAR-(@OTT,@PIT,DAL,NJD,@NYR)
Picks for tonight: OTT,NJD,ANH,MIN
Photo Credit: Getty Images
