If the Playoffs Started Today – NHL Week 25

By John in Bruins, Featured, NHL ⋅ March 29, 2012 at 7:30pm ⋅ Post a comment

Rangers vs Blues: Week 25's prediction for the Stanley Cup

Just another week to go, and it’s playoffs time! The final standings are really starting to take shape much more than ever before, but the lower seeds are still very much up for grabs. Set teams are starting to prepare for the postseason while contenders are still making their moves just to get a spot, so let’s look at what would happen if the playoffs started as of Thursday, March 29 at 7:30pm:

West

#1 St. Louis Blues vs #8 San Jose Sharks

San Jose is busy trying to get back into the swing of things, and they’re doing a good job, but they’re still not quite there yet. They’re still having issues on the road, which will be the deciding factor against a team like St. Louis.

#2 Vancouver Canucks vs #7 Los Angeles Kings

The Kings are in a similar position as the Sharks, clinging to a spot and having some road issues. The Canucks have won four in a row (including two shutouts, one against the Kings). They’re just as dangerous on the road as at home, and have the talent to sink the Kings.

#3 Dallas Stars vs #6 Chicago Blackhawks

Chicago is another team with road issues, but their West-leading 231 goals can’t be ignored. Neither can their defense, but they do have a recent five-game winning streak. Dallas definitely can take advantage of that, but they’ve been going back and forth with wins and losses for the last several games. In a playoff scenario between close teams like this, Chicago’s advantage as far as recent playoff experience might just carry the day.

#4 Detroit Red Wings vs #5 Nashville Predators

Both teams are good, but not living up to their own standards. Nashville is the better road team, but we all know what Detroit‘s done at home this season. Detroit is also the better team on both sides of the puck, giving them a goal differential 31 units better than Nashville. If Detroit can hold onto home-rink, they’ll retain the definite edge in the series as well.

East

#1 New York Rangers vs #8 Buffalo Sabres

Buffalo has won five straight, but New York is tearing up the East right now. Buffalo still has a negative goal differential, while New York continues to wield one of the league’s elite goaltenders. Not that Ryan Miller isn’t good, but his team is having an off year.

#2 Boston Bruins vs #7 Ottawa Senators

With three wins in a row, the Bruins are back. They’ve already had much success against divisional foes, and Ottawa doesn’t have the defense to hold back a revitalized Bruins team.

#3 Florida Panthers vs #6 New Jersey Devils

Florida may be in a good position to win their division, but the Devils are still a force, considering they come from such a stacked division. Florida will really need to hunker down at home to win this series, but that may be where New Jersey is the biggest threat.

#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs #5 Philadelphia Flyers

Pittsburgh may have cooled off a bit, but they’re still better than almost any other team. They have the league’s best offense and a very good defense. As good as Philadelphia‘s been, even they’ll have a difficult time with Pittsburgh’s raw ability.

Predicted Final Standings:

West
#1	Canucks
#2	Blues
#3	Kings
#4	Red Wings
#5	Predators
#6	Blackhawks
#7	Coyotes
#8	Sharks
East
#1	Rangers
#2	Bruins
#3	Panthers
#4	Penguins
#5	Flyers
#6	Devils
#7	Senators
#8	Sabres

Predicted 1st Round Results:

Canucks def Sharks	Blues def Coyotes	Kings def Blackhawks	Red Wings def Predators
Rangers def Sabres	Bruins def Senators	Devils def Panthers	Penguins def Flyers