Which 5 teams do you think will make the playoffs?

[MattMartin]

Not going out on a limb by saying Montreal,Pittsburgh, and Boston will be there unless a major disaster occurs. So what's left?

http://espn.go.com/nhl/standings/_/group/2

Team...Points..Games left
Montreal 40 21
Pittsburgh 40 20
Carolina 31 22
Boston 39 23
Ottawa 32 21
New Jersey 31 21
Toronto 31 20
Winnipeg 30 21
........................
NY Rangers 28 22
NY Islanders 27 21
Philadelphia 25 20
Washington 23 22
Tampa Bay 23 21
Buffalo 23 21
Florida 20 20

Carolina is the 3rd seed because of the division.

I think that Florida,Washington,Buffalo, and Tampa won't wind up making it so that leaves 5 spots with 8 teams. My question is which 5 do you think will make it.

I think the Devils might be in trouble but they do always seem to get there
Carolina/Jets would have to be 1 because of the division winner but the other may not make it.
I think the Rags will make it as well as the Flyers.
The Maple Leafs,Hurricanes,Jets,Islanders and Senators (due to injuries) are on my "i have no idea" list.

 

[Islander Prophet]

Nyi ott tor wpg car

 

[TheWhiteWhale30]

nyr nyi car ott njd

 

[Paulinho]

NYR, NJD, OTT, TOR, CAR

Our best bet would be finishing ahead of OTT or NYR. You figure the injuries will catch up to Ottawa eventually. Big game against them coming up.

 

[MDIsles]

NYR, NJD, OTT, TOR, CAR

Our best bet would be finishing ahead of OTT or NYR. You figure the injuries will catch up to Ottawa eventually. Big game against them coming up.

This^ with maybe either Carolina flipping with The Peg... The cbssports.com basically spells out teams chances. Even with the nice win last night, I can't see the Isles getting a spot. just hard to make up ground with every game being a 4ptr. this year. To get to 55 we need 27 more points in 21. 13-7-1 is gonna be really tough...

 

[Isles Junkie]

I went with Devils, Sens, Leafs, Canes, & Rags.

I want to believe we'll make it, but I have a hard time believing we will. We are yet to go on a 3 game winning streak this year, and I highly doubt this club is going to bring in players to help our cause at the deadline. The club will probably remain in the hunt, but I just don't see them being able to overcome themselves.

 

[kasper11]

I went:

Carolina & Winnepeg (get the advantage of playing the Caps, Panthers and Lightning multiple times)
Rangers (unfortunately, I think Lundqvist will step up and get them in)
Devils (will play better with Marty back)
Senators

unfortunately, I think the Isles fall short. Not good enough in their own zone, not enough secondary scoring. This team is pretty much JT, and as good as he is I don't think he can win enough games without help.

 

[MDIsles]

This link is what I use...

http://playoffstatus.com/nhl/islanderswhatif.html

 

[bvon44]

NYI, NJ, WIN, OTT, CAR

Yes, I'm overly optimistic but, I think the standings end up like this...Rangers come close but they're looking more like those all-talent no-chemistry teams of the late 90's early 00's.

1 - Pittsburgh
2 - Boston
3 - Carolina
4 - Montreal
5 - New Jersey
6 - Ottawa
7 - Winnipeg
8 - Islanders
*******
9 - Rangers
10 - Toronto
11 - Washington
12 - Philadelphia
13 - Tampa
14 - Buffalo
15 - Florida

 

[Islander Prophet]

This link is what I use...

http://playoffstatus.com/nhl/islanderswhatif.html

interesting to see that we have had the hardest schedule in the NHL so far in the league. Our opponents winning percentage is rated number 1 for games played. What's encouraging is that our opponent's win percentage in games to be played is the lowest in the Eastern conference, which means we have managed to hang in there pretty good and the easier games are coming! We might have a shot at this...

 

[Veteran journeyman]

The Flyers clearly have the skill...I think they'll get it together. Ditto for the Rangers. Devils will probably level out and make it in and one of Carolina or Winnipeg has to make it (I'd guess Carolina). That leaves one spot for the rest. Not sold on any of them, honestly, but I gave it to Winnipeg just because their schedule is probably loaded with games against Southeast teams.

 

[duster19]

interesting to see that we have had the hardest schedule in the NHL so far in the league. Our opponents winning percentage is rated number 1 for games played. What's encouraging is that our opponent's win percentage in games to be played is the lowest in the Eastern conference, which means we have managed to hang in there pretty good and the easier games are coming! We might have a shot at this...

The Isles have a really good schedule in April.

 

[doublechili]

I went:

Carolina & Winnepeg (get the advantage of playing the Caps, Panthers and Lightning multiple times)
Rangers (unfortunately, I think Lundqvist will step up and get them in)
Devils (will play better with Marty back)
Senators

unfortunately, I think the Isles fall short. Not good enough in their own zone, not enough secondary scoring. This team is pretty much JT, and as good as he is I don't think he can win enough games without help.

As much as I'd like to see the Isles make it, my head agrees with your analysis.

 

[BelovedIsles]

Don't count Philly out, they've shown resiliency in the past under the leadership of Lavvy.

 

[19 in a row]

Interesting that the OP included Philly but left off Washington who is 2pt behind Philly with 2 games in hand. I understand that we all know Philly has the tools to turn it on but unless they do so quickly they are in big trouble. They are 5 pts out of a playoff spot and behind a bunch of teams all who have games in hand on them excluding Toronto.(we have 3 games left against Philly which could will help seal both of our fates, I hope we don't have another game like the 7-0 drubbing we took last time).

I originally went with Carolina (division winner), Rangers, Devils Islanders and Winnipeg. Was thinking that Ottawa and Toronto will both hit the wall but now that I rethink would have put in Ottawa over Winnipeg.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Flyers, IMO, are in a real tough position. The problem for them is the fact they've got less points than the teams they're trying to catch (duh!), but also have played more games.

So for instance, Winnipeg currently sits in the final playoff spot. They're already 5 points up on the Flyers, but they also have a game in hand on Philly. The Rangers are only 3 points ahead of the Flyers, but they also have 2 games in hand. The Isles are 2 points ahead, with 1 game in hand. Potentially, if those teams win their games in hand (or even get a single OT/SO loss point), the Flyers would be around 6 or 7 points behind the 8th seed, 6 or 7 behind the 9th seed, and 3 or 4 behind the 10th seed.

It's looking like to make the playoffs, you'll need to finish somewhere around 53 to 55 points. For the Flyers to do that, they'd need between 28 to 30 points in their remaining 20 games. That means records of 14-6 (at worst) or 15-5. That's a pretty tall order.

Frankly, I'm surprised they're doing this bad. While I didn't think they'd be top in the conference, I thought they'd be safely in the 4 to 7 range.

 

[MattMartin]

Interesting that the OP included Philly but left off Washington who is 2pt behind Philly with 2 games in hand. I understand that we all know Philly has the tools to turn it on but unless they do so quickly they are in big trouble. They are 5 pts out of a playoff spot and behind a bunch of teams all who have games in hand on them excluding Toronto.(we have 3 games left against Philly which could will help seal both of our fates, I hope we don't have another game like the 7-0 drubbing we took last time).

I originally went with Carolina (division winner), Rangers, Devils Islanders and Winnipeg. Was thinking that Ottawa and Toronto will both hit the wall but now that I rethink would have put in Ottawa over Winnipeg.

I guess i have more faith in Philly then i do in Washington. Philly could on a winning streak to get them back in but Washington has already done that and it still leaves them on the outside. The Flyers had some injuries hurt them and they just got back Read but Washington has had problems with their goalies as well as Ovechkin not playing like Ovechkin on most nights,Backstrom has fallen off (maybe because of the injury he suffered overseas) and Mike green is having health issues plus like i said they already went on a tear and are still looking up at Philly. They are 11-14 but had a 8-3 run already and now they are falling apart again.