If the playoffs started right now.......

[No No No.....The other Steve]

Yup, you guessed it, the weakest division in the NHL (the only reason the Red Wings make the playoffs year in and year out AHEM!!!) has every team in the playoffs. Everyone for the last couple of years has been saying that the Central is the weakest division in all of hockey and that's the only reason the Wings get to the playofs and get so many points in the regular season. (I'm going to spew some crap here before St. Louis gets knocked back to 9th or 10th). Where are the Stars, Ducks, Oilers, Avs, Leafs, Sens I have to ask? Oh ya their divisions are so much tougher and have so much competition that it's hard for them!!! Sorry I needed a smile and watching all the people read this with those crow feathers stuck to their chins did just that!!!

:wings: = :stanley: once again!!! Pass it on

 

[Burner]

Up until a couple days ago, the matchups in the East were really interesting:

1. Boston vs. 8. Montreal
2. Washington vs. 7. Pittsburgh
3. New Jersey vs. 6. New York
4. Philadelphia vs 5. Carolina

Obviously things have changed but that would be intense. Montreal vs Boston is probably the most rivaled teams in the NHL playoffs. Then you got the marketing dream of Ovechkin vs Crosby and then New York vs neighbours across the Hudson.

 

[Mike52Green]

Up to date.

East

1. Boston vs. 8. Montreal
2. Washington vs. 7. New York R
3. New Jersey vs. 6. Pittsburgh
4. Philadelphia vs. 5. Carolina


West
1. San Jose vs. 8. St. Louis
2. Detroit vs. 7. Nashville
3. Calgary vs. 6. Coloumbus
4. Chigago vs. 5. Vancouver

 

[kmitchel]

Can someone let me know why St Louis has the spot on Edmonton. Same games played, same win, and I thought Edmonton won the series 4-0?

Kevin

 

[marvelman55]

Can someone let me know why St Louis has the spot on Edmonton. Same games played, same win, and I thought Edmonton won the series 4-0?

Kevin

Edmonton would make the playoffs over St Louis if the two teams were tied based on tie breakers.

 

[Stadium Sports]

Steve: I don't ever recall anyone ever stating the wings only made the playoffs because they played in a very weak division (which was true as they were often the only team to play in the playoffs out of that division), the complaint was because they played so many games against the weakest teams, they had an unfair advantage at the President's Trophy. Your "making the playoffs" comment is news to me - it was always concerning the President's Trophy.

As for their abilities, they have won enough championships along the way to extinguish those critics.

I will go out on a limb here. Although all 5 won't make the playoffs, even if they did, Detroit is the only one that will advance past the first round.
Further limbs.... Detroit will not see the final 4 this year.
SJ and Calgary have the best chances.

 

[Orca Pod]

Yup, you guessed it, the weakest division in the NHL (the only reason the Red Wings make the playoffs year in and year out AHEM!!!) has every team in the playoffs. Everyone for the last couple of years has been saying that the Central is the weakest division in all of hockey and that's the only reason the Wings get to the playofs and get so many points in the regular season. (I'm going to spew some crap here before St. Louis gets knocked back to 9th or 10th). Where are the Stars, Ducks, Oilers, Avs, Leafs, Sens I have to ask? Oh ya their divisions are so much tougher and have so much competition that it's hard for them!!! Sorry I needed a smile and watching all the people read this with those crow feathers stuck to their chins did just that!!!

:wings: = :stanley: once again!!! Pass it on

It had to happen sooner or later. When, as a collective, you are that crappy for that long, you theoretically get better with the draft picks you amass.

These 4 teams also improve in the overall scheme of things in the season that they each play two fewer games against the Wings. Not a lot to do with it, but there's a bit to do with it there.

For the record, the Wings still clean up in the division:

Detroit 14-4-1, 10 up - 5 division games left
Chicago 4-7-6, 3 down - 7 division games left
Columbus 8-8-2, even - 6 division game left
Nashville 9-6-3, 3 up - 7 division games left
St. Louis 11-5-4, 6 up - 4 division games left

Wow. The standings in that division have the potential to really change a lot in the next two weeks with the remaining divisional games.