With 12 days left in the NHL Regular Season, the Flyers, Habs, Bruins, Thrashers, and Rangers find themselves jockeying for the final three spots to the spring formal.
The Bruins, Thrashers, and Rangers were all able to grind out huge wins last night. Nik Antropov came up big for Atlanta - as has been much case for John Anderson's club all season long - and scored the game-winner in the third period against his former mates in Toronto. For the Bruins, Patrice Bergeron - their top forward by a wide margin this season - was able to propel the B's past the Devils 1-0 in the extra session. Meanwhile, the Rangers were able to shake off a disgusting first period performance to top the rival Islanders 4-3.
Philadelphia, Montreal, and Boston currently hold the enviable sixth, seventh, and eight playoff spots. Each team has 82 points with six games remaining. Atlanta sits two points out with five games left, while the Rangers remain four points back with six games to go.
Of Atlanta and New York, you'd have to think the Rangers have the best shot of overtaking one of the three squads with 82 points. The Thrashers remaining schedule features two games against Washington, two games against Pittsburgh, and one contest against the Devils - Ouch. The Rangers next four games feature Tampa Bay (14th), Florida (12th), Buffalo (3rd), and Toronto (15th), before finishing the season with what should be a two-game playoff series against the Flyers.
Let's be real - if the Rangers can't come away with at least three wins in their next four, they don't deserve to get into the playoffs. The Rangers don't need to be scoreboard watchers if (big if) they can just take care of their own business. Their schedule sets up well - no excuses anymore.
While the absence of Ryan Callahan and Sean Avery could be devastating down the stretch, it's been great to see P.A. Parenteau bringing a much needed spark to the Rangers lineup. But, like John Tortorella said after the Leafs game, if Parenteau is one of his top forwards each night, the Blueshirts are in trouble...
First, it was "are they too old?" Then, it was "will they even make the playoffs." Now, the only question left is "how high will they finish?"
Detroit is healthy, well situated in net, and has run roughshod over their opponents upon seeing many of their previously injured players step out of the infirmary and back onto the ice. They are 9-0-1 in their last ten, are currently sporting a six-game winning streak, and are in a great position to finish as high as fifth in the Western Conference, which would most likely result in a first round matchup against the Coyotes.
A closer look at how Detroit has faired against the top four teams in the Western Conference proves that the Wings are still a sure-fire contender: Detroit is 10-3-4 against the Sharks, Hawks, 'Nucks, and 'Yotes.
Anytime you need to go up against a team over the course of a seven-game series and they can throw out Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg down the middle and Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, and Niklas Kronwall on the back-end you're in a for an uphill dog fight. One big difference this season, too - they've received excellence and consistency in net thanks to Jimmy Howard.
Don't discount Detroit.
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