The Playoff Chase – February 22 2015

9 years ago

It’s Sunday, and one week has ended and another is about to begin. The Western Conference playoff picture only gets more and more jam-packed.

Let’s check in on the playoff chase.

WINNIPEG (71 POINTS)

Record: 30-20-11 in 61 games; first wild-card team

Tuesday vs. Dallas
Thursday vs. St. Louis

Winnipeg is idle most of the week. They’ll be at 63 games by the end. Realistically, I’d expect a split.

VANCOUVER (69 POINTS)

Record: 33-22-3 in 58 games; second place in Pacific Division

Sunday at NY Islanders
Tuesday at Boston
Thursday at Buffalo

By the end of the week, Vancouver will be at 61 games. Long Island is a tough assignment these days, and Boston will be desperate to stay in a playoff spot with Florida breathing down their neck. Buffalo? Could be a trip-up game, or it could be an easy win.

LOS ANGELES (68 POINTS)

Record: 28-18-12 in 58 games; third place in Pacific Division (1 point behind Vancouver for second place)

Tuesday vs. Detroit
Thursday vs. Ottawa
Saturday at Anaheim

The Kings will be at 61 games when the week is over. They have a tough game with Detroit, an easier one against the Senators, then most likely a trench war with the Ducks.

CALGARY (68 POINTS)

Record: 32-23-4 in 59 games; second wild-card team (1 point behind Vancouver for second place, tied with Los Angeles and San Jose for third place, 3 points behind Winnipeg for first wild-card with 2 games in hand)

Tuesday at NY Rangers
Wednesday at New Jersey
Friday at NY Islanders

Calgary will be at 62 games by Sunday. They have a tough pair of games against the Rangers and Islanders, as well as an easier one against the Devils. Travel won’t be horrible, though. They need to steal a win in New York state somewhere and hope they can beat New Jersey.

SAN JOSE (68 POINTS)

Record: 30-23-8 in 61 games (1 point behind Vancouver for second place, tied with Los Angeles and Calgary for third place/second wild-card)

Thursday vs. Detroit
Saturday vs. Ottawa

Like the Jets, the Sharks are idle. Unlike the Jets, the Sharks are on the outside looking in. Most likely they should split these games this week. They’ll be at 63 games in a week.

MINNESOTA (67 POINTS)

Record: 30-21-7 in 58 games (4 points behind Winnipeg for first wild-card with 3 games in hand, 1 point behind Calgary for second wild-card)

Sunday vs. Dallas
Tuesday vs. Edmonton
Thursday at Nashville
Saturday at Colorado

The West’s hottest squadron is also its busiest, getting up to the 62-game mark by the end of the week. Nashville is the toughest game here, and they have the chance to (a) leapfrog many teams this week and (b) end the playoff hopes of both Dallas and Colorado with wins.

But they’ve gotta cool down eventually, right? Right?

DALLAS (63 POINTS)

Record: 27-23-9 in 59 games (8 points behind Winnipeg for first wild-card with 2 games in hand, 5 points behind Calgary for second wild-card)

Sunday at Minnesota
Tuesday at Winnipeg
Friday vs. Colorado

Dallas can fall out of the race entirely by losing out this week, or they can crawl into the muck with the rest of the teams chasing with a trio of wins. All three games look to be close, but they’re all winnable.

COLORADO (61 POINTS)

Record: 25-23-11 in 59 games (10 points behind Winnipeg for first wild-card with 2 games in hand, 7 points behind Calgary for second wild-card)

Sunday vs. Tampa Bay
Tuesday at Nashville
Friday at Dallas
Saturday vs. Minnesota

Colorado has four games this week, all against teams ahead of them in the NHL standings. They’re far back to begin with. I suspect they’ll fall out of the race this week, unless they somehow win out. In which case, they’ll join the rest of the West in the log-jam.