First off, I'm a Jets fan. I don't talk about them as much as I once did because I wanted to be neutral and not viewed as having Winnipeg-colored glasses on. But I will be updating you more on the Jets on this blog as the Jets compete for a playoff spot and potential division championship. I've also included some links above and to the side to aid in quickly gathering Jets info and goodies. Their loss to the Oilers Monday didn't help them gain those oh-so-needed points. Going into the third period with a 2-1 lead seemed promising, but four unanswered goals by Edmonton put things out of reach for Winnipeg.
Link to video
Another day, Jets. Thursday to be specific.
So where does everyone stack up right now? Here is a very brief snapshot of how things are taking shape right now according to five different categories for anyone who hasn't been keeping up this season. Of course, things are subject to change and nothing is set. No one has clinched a spot and no one is statistically eliminated yet. But if the Blue Jackets snags a playoff birth, I will buy the mayor of Columbus a box of Tim Horton donuts. Hell, I'll buy him two.
Let me put it this way: Columbus currently has 43 points after 62 games. The Central Division points leader is a shared title at the moment between the Red Wings and the Blues with 85 points. So if Columbus won out and both teams lost the whole of their remaining schedule, Columbus still wouldn't have enough points to catch up to them. Just saying.
Anyway, let's get to grouping.
Here are the five categories I see: Dominators, Probables, Bubbles, Long Shots, and Nopes.
Let's start at the bottom and work our way up.
The Nopes: They sit at the bottom of their conferences and don't have a chance to make the playoffs.
Yeah, I know. If you haven't been paying attention, it is shocking to see Montreal on the list. But they have a mere 58 points after 63 games. Edmonton is also having a really rough season (56 points) that is glossed over a bit only because of the team below them; poor poor Columbus.
Moving on.
The Long Shots: Not eliminated, but they are sitting on the outside looking in. They will need help from other teams to have a chance and aren't in control of their destiny as much.
Minnesota started off so promising. Buffalo is a surprise, as is Anaheim. Again, they could all make a go, but sit in the double-digits of the conference standings right now. The West doesn't have as high of a ladder. Calgary is in 11th with 67 points under the 70 points needed to get into a tie for 8th. Toronto's in 10th with 65, also three points away from the last playoff spot. Still, all of these teams will need amazing March runs coupled with some slumps by those above them.
Let's continue.
The Bubbles: These teams are right there on the edge. Depending on what day you look; they are in the playoffs or out. Assuming they keep playing the way they are playing, it will simply depend on who has the best week to end the year really.
Notice that all of the Southeast Division teams have been listed by now, and no one going above Bubble status. Florida is 3rd in the division (only because of the 1, 2, 3 rankings going to division leaders) with 70 points leading Winnipeg with 68 (good for the 8th and final spot) and Washington just below the line in 9th with 67 points. If they just start destroying each other to clinch that division, Toronto or maybe even Buffalo could sneak into the playoffs with a good run from the Long Shot category meaning the only representative from the Southeast would be the division leader. I see them trading points around and sending two, not just the division winner. Washington is such a disappointment. They were picked pre-season as Stanley Cup contenders. Now, they will be grateful just to play in the second week of April.
Over in the Western Conference, 3 points seperate spots 7-10. There will be a battle in the Pacific Division, much like the Southeast only a lot bloodier. Phoenix does look a little stronger, but their two-point division lead is by no means safe. The main reason it will be more fierce in that division is there isn't any significant weak link. Anaheim has 64 points at the bottom of the division versus current leader Phoenix at 73 points. The Avalanche may have a slightly easier time in the Conference standings because of it, though they are in the middle of this "family feud". As the season ends and many games are against division opponents, Colorado will face teams that don't have as much of a shot to make the playoffs while everyone in the Pacific will be after each other's throats.
Okay, let's move on.
The Probables. These guys are likely to make the playoffs if they keep winning. I know that sounds redundant, but you know what I mean. They are much more in control of their own destiny. They will still be fighting for position, but aren't in great danger of missing the playoffs altogether.
That's a lot of teams from the Eastern Conference. While they will fight and jockey for positions, they are probably not going to slip down into the frey created at the cutoff line. That's all Southeast squabbles. The West has just Chicago. Really, it would probably be more fair to send Chicago into the Bubble league since they are just a few points above the others. The Blackhawks had a horrible run just a bit ago, but seemed to have righted the ship, so I'm thinking they are probably in.
Who's doing the damage to these people?
The Dominates. These are the teams that are laying waste to the opponents. A trail of destruction in their wake. Basically, they are in the playoffs barring an epic meltdown.
Yeah, it is an almost mathematical certainty that the Rangers will take the East. They have 86 points. Their closest competetion comes from Boston and Pittsburgh knoted at 77 points each. The West has a horserace going on for top of the Conference, and frankly the NHL. St. Louis and Detroit have 85 points each with Nashville not too far behind at 81 points. The Predators are in 5th place in the Conference (don't forget the division leaders taking 1-3) and 8 points above the 6th place Blackhawks with 73 points. Who's on top? With 87 points, it's none other than the defending Presidents' Throphy winners, the Vancouver Canucks.
Oh, and that's not a mistake to those that just tuned in to the NHL rankings for this year. The Blues are two points out of being the best team in the NHL according to points, and are first in a hard division - thanks to a tiebreaker over the Red Wings. The Central Division is the best in the NHL with three teams over 80 points at the trade deadline. The fourth place team in that Central Division, the Blackhawks, have the same amount of points as the first place team of the Pacific Division in the West and more than the current Southeast Division leader over in the east. That's right. Four of the five teams are playoff bound in that division. And even the fourth place team would be a division leader if they moved. Who's left out? Columbus. Kinda explains why they are in the NHL basement right now, doesn't it?
Those are just my opinions as to the chances the teams have in making the playoffs. Another prediction: The Stanley Cup will be the Rangers versus the Red Wings in an Original Six matchup. If so, it would be the first Original Six Stanley Cup since 1973 when Scotty Bowman and his Montreal Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games.
We'll see how right I am. Probably not very given my prediction for the Winter Classic.
