We’re coming down to it in the West, with the Los Angeles Kings and three Western Canadian teams vying for a total of three playoff spots between the four clubs. (The Sportsnet election desk has awarded the first wildcard spot to Minnesota).
Heading into tonight’s action, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg and Los Angeles are grouped within three points of each other. Calgary has the easiest remaining strength of schedule by a few percentage points, but the Flames also have the heaviest road schedule, playing four of their last six games away from the Saddledome.
Vancouver has a two-point cushion and a game in hand on Calgary, while the Jets are going to feel either very nervous or super confident on Wednesday morning, after their home game against the New York Rangers Tuesday night.
We’ve handicapped the remaining stretch run out West. Here is how we see it unfolding, with three playoff spots left for the four clubs to fight over:
Vancouver Canucks
A wicked four-game trip begins for Vancouver tonight in St. Louis. Then it’s Nashville, Chicago and Winnipeg — four games in six nights. Four points on this trip is an absolute must, before closing the season out against Los Angeles, Arizona and Edmonton at home.
If the Canucks can get home while still in the playoffs, they’re in. Those last two against the Coyotes and Oilers are money in the bank.
Injuries: R.Miller (knee), on I.R.; Z.Kassian (back), day to day; B.Richardson (ankle), day to day.
Our prediction: Canucks finish with 99 points for second place in the Pacific.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets face the toughest schedule of our four contenders, with five of their remaining six games against either playoff teams, or teams within a point of the playoffs.
The Jets host the Rangers on Tuesday, and then they have a nice three-day rest before Vancouver comes to town on Saturday night. Lose to New York, however, and the Jets could be out of the playoffs by puck drop on Hockey Night in Canada.
Back to backs at Minnesota and St. Louis next week are a killer, and the Jets season could well come down to Game 82, with the Flames in town on April 11. How good would that game be?
Injuries: G.Clitsome (back) on I.R.; B.Chiarot (broken hand), on I.R.; B.Little (upper body) day to day; P.Postma (lower body) day to day.
Our prediction: Jets finish with 99 points, claim second wild card spot.
Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles is in Chicago tonight for a classic Western Conference matchup. After that, however, of the Kings remaining six games, four are against teams that will not make the playoffs –including two versus Edmonton.
Los Angeles has hung around. Now, with seven games remaining, they’re in position to sneak in as the most feared third-place team in hockey.
A Western swing through Alberta and B.C. will define the Kings’ season. The game in Calgary on April 9 is a must-watch on Sportsnet West.
Injuries: T.Pearson (broken fibula) on I.R.; J.Stoll (upper body) day to day.
Our prediction: Kings finish with 97 points, good for third place in the Pacific.
Calgary Flames
The Flames began the toughest part of their schedule on Sunday, in a fashion that shouldn’t surprise anybody anymore. Reeling a bit after losing three of their last four, Calgary walked into the home of the Western Conference’s top team on home ice, and beat the Nashville Predators handily 5-2.
Calgary is in Dallas tonight, St. Louis on Thursday, and in Edmonton on Saturday where the Oilers would love nothing better than steal a point or two from their rival.
After a must-win home game against Arizona, the Flames season comes down to this: the Los Angeles Kings at the Saddledome for Game 81, and a trip to Winnipeg on the season’s final day for what could be a loser-goes-home game.
Injuries: L.Smid (neck), out for season; M.Giordano (arm), out for season; P.Byron (lower body), day to day.
Our prediction: Even though I’ve sworn off saying “Calgary” and “can’t” in the same sentence, the Flames will finish with 95 points, which would see them finish ninth place in the West.
