My good buddy Daren Millard suggested the other day that the playoff race in the Eastern Conference is all but over, and he might actually be right.
My good buddy Daren Millard hit upon something interesting the other day. He does this occasionally when he isn't driving his co-workers nuts.
In a rare moment of clarity, Millard suggested the playoff race in the Eastern Conference is all but over. And barring something completely unseen, Millard just might have a point.
As it stands, the Rangers, Bruins, Capitals, Penguins, Devils and Flyers appear to be a lock to participate in the post-season. The Hurricanes currently sit in the eighth and final playoff spot, with a mere 59 games remaining in the regular season, but they are the most likely candidate to fall from grace with one of either the Sabres or Senators overtaking them.
Of course the reality of the situation is any of the bottom feeders could miraculously turn things around and salvage their season. All you have to do is think back one year when the Capitals were plummeting before coach Bruce Boudreau swooped in and saved the day. The Capitals played 37-17-7 down the stretch and Boudreau was named the NHL's coach of the year.
Don't look for Lightning, Tampa Bay or otherwise, to strike twice.
That said, there are still plenty of reasons to key close tabs on the goings on in the East. One of these team will ultimately emerge to face Detroit or San Jose in the final.
The Montreal Canadiens were supposed to be the class of the east, but that has not been the case. Montreal's spotty play enticed GM Bob Gainey to fly all the way across the country to sunny California in a quest to convince mercenary Mats Sundin to sign with his team. The fact the Habs have no cap space didn't discourage Gainey from making his plea suggesting he's at a point now where he's more than willing to make whatever roster adjustments are necessary in order to open up space.
The Rangers have arguably overachieved thus far, but it worries me this team still lacks an identity. The Rangers rely heavily on goalie Henrik Lundqvist and you have to wonder when - if? - Scott Gomez and Chris Drury are ever going to leave their prints on this club.; Both players, big money free agent signings two summers ago - have been stuck in neutral this season with just 14 points each.
Now that Alexander Ovechkin has kicked it up a notch, it isn't hard to imagine the Capitals overtaking the teams ahead of them and winning the Eastern Conference title. Then again, the Penguins have hung in nicely considering two of their best defencemen, Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney, have yet to play. Any team that has Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin must be taken seriously.
The Devils have also played reasonably well under the circumstances. With goalie Martin Brodeur sidelined for an extensive period of time with an injury for the first time in his career, the Devils have not plummeted to the bottom of the heap as some thought they might. Consider also free agents Bobby Holik and Brian Rolston have been limited to just nine games between them due to injury. On the flip side, Zach Parise has emerged as one of the best and most consistent scoring forwards in the league and Patrick Elias appears to have found the step that abandoned him the past few seasons.
With six straight wins, the Flyers are showing signs they are getting back to the form that got them to the conference final last season.
In terms of bona fide playoff contenders, that leaves us with Carolina, Buffalo and Ottawa. In their last 10 games the Hurricanes are 4-6-0-0, the Senators 4-4-0-2 and Sabres 3-6-1-0. Ottawa has won two in a row, the Sabres one and the Hurricanes have dropped their last three.
Of the final remaining teams, the Islanders, Maple Leafs, Lightning, Thrashers and Panthers, none of those stands a chance of rising into the top eight. You would think a team that has Vinny Lecavalier, Martin St-Louis and Steven Stamkos would be automatic for the top eight, but the Lightning are a dysfunctional mess.
The Islanders and their goalie Joey McDonald are a feel-good story, but honestly, do you really believe a team being led by a 37-year-old who had just 25 points last season can be taken seriously? As Bart Simpson once said, "Not bloody likely."
The Leafs looked OK for a while, but have lost their last five games. New president-GM Brian Burke will begin dismantling this club before you can say, "Don't even think about re-signing Sundin."
Where to begin with the Thrashers? They are a one-man team and that one man hasn't played worth a hoot this season. GM Don Waddel's days are numbered.
And finally, the Panthers. Can't score; can't keep the puck out of their net and their best player, Jay Bouwmeester, will blow town about 10 seconds after he becomes unrestricted next July. Lots to look forward to.
So there you have it, 10 teams fighting for eight spots. Nice one Millard.