Push for the playoffs!

Most NHL teams only have 6 or 7 games left of the regular season. 14 of the 30 teams will go on vacation while the other 16 start the long and exciting fight for the Stanley Cup.

In the East Rangers (87p), Canadiens(86p), Panthers(85p) & Sabres(82p) are fighting for the last 2 playoff spots. Both Ottawa and The Leafs still have a teoretical chance of getting there but I doubt they make it this year. I think Rangers is in the safe zone while the Canadiens will have some trouble keeping the Panthers away. Panthers has been playing good hockey this year and a place in the playoffs would be a price itself for them, for the Canadiens anything except for a place in the playoffs would be a disaster.
On tuesday those two teams will play each a very important game. Montreal Canadiens will be visited by the Blackhawks while Ottawa Senators will visit the Florida Panthers. Ottawa stands right now 11th in the East with 76p and can get a total of 90p if they win their 7 reamining games. I believe that Ottawa, who played Stanley Cup final against the Ducks in 2007, and was defeated, won't make it into the playoffs this year, I'm sorry Ottawa.

In the West its an even harder fight for the playoff spots, Columbus on 6th right now with 86p are followed by Nashville 84p and the Blues on 83p. On the wrong side of the line the Ducks 82p, Oilers 81p and the Wild on 80p struggles to get into the playoffs. Wow is this exciting or what!?
The three teams on the right side of the line has all been doing great during the season. I'm very happy for Columbus who will go into their first playoff ever since they joined the NHL for the season 00/01. They are the only team that's never made the playoffs, but as of now they are one of the sixteen teams that will fight for the Stanley Cup through april and june.
Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers is fighting to get one of the last places to the playoffs. Not making it there would be a dissapointment for both teams that played Stanley Cup final just a few years back. Ducks which won in 2007 against Ottawa and Oilers who was defeated by the Hurricanes in 2006.

The fight goes on.

/Hank