2011/2012 NHL Season

Well, we've well into the second half of the NHL season, with the focus now turning to who will make the playoffs.

Current standings can be found here http://www.nhl.com/ice/standings.htm?type=DIV#&navid=nav-stn-div

With playoff spots decided by Division winners + the next best 5 in the conference regardless of division, we see that it will be highly likely that the only side in the Atlantic Division that won't make the Eastern Conference playoffs will be the New York Islanders, while the Southeast division will most likely only have the division leader - most likely one of Florida or Washington, though Winnipeg may be a dark horse (albeit a very dark horse)

The Western Conference looks like having a similar set up, with 4/5 teams in the Central division looking set for playoffs (the dead last Columbus the only Central side set to miss playoffs). The remaining spots look set to be filled by Los Angeles of the Pacific division and one of Minnesota, Colorado or even Calgary in the Northwest division.

So for all of your NHL chat and action, drop in here and chat away.

Pittsburgh continue their charge to the playoffs with a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay

Surely this is a typo - Columbus up 4-0 over San Jose late in the first period

Pittsburgh smack Tampa Bay 8-1. Evgeni Malkin scores another hat trick in the demolition.

Next up a game against the dead last Columbus.

Pittsburgh back up their massacre over Tampa Bay with a 4-2 win over Columbus., Brad Thiessen making his NHL debut as Pittsburgh's goaltender.

Been a rough period for Colorado. After a humiliating loss to Columbus, they were cannon fodder for the Penguins and Pittsburgh smacked then 5-1

Thiessen makes it 2/2 as Pens goalie as Pittsburgh defeat Toronto 3-2

Pittsburgh extend their winning streak to 9 with a 5-2 win over Boston

Brucetiki wrote:Pittsburgh extend their winning streak to 9 with a 5-2 win over Boston

The game was horrible for a bruins fan. 3-0 at the end of the first it went all down hill from there. Boston has been hot and cold all season.

Massive game for Pittsburgh tomorrow - the return (take 2) of Sidney Crosby. While NBCSN will be picking up this game, Fox Sports are choosing to show a replay of the Rugby Club, equestrian, darts and poker instead of the game.

They're also showing the Sheffield Shield final, and of course I don't expect that to be bumped for the NHL but surely Fox Sports could bump some space on one of the other two channels to show this game...

Pittsburgh make it 10 in a row, and Crosby makes a triumphant return, with a 5-2 win over the New York Rangers

Well, Pittsburgh v Winnipeg matches will not be renown for defence. Last time they played Pittsburgh won 8-5. Today, Pittsburgh did slightly better, winning 8-4.

In other news, Pittsburgh's fellow Atlantic division sides the New York Rangers and New Jersey are renown for fights at the start of matches. Last time they played, one fight started after 2 seconds. In yesterday's match, 3 fights broke out after 3 seconds - resulting in 40 penalty minutes!

Looks like playoff places are going to go right down to the wire.

The Eastern Conference will be dominated by Atlantic division teams, with New York Rangers already confirmed in the playoffs, and Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey also likely to make playoffs. The Conference leader will come down to the New York Rangers, who have a string of home games, and Pittsburgh, who are on fire at the moment with their record in the past 12 matches being 12-0-1 (and that overtime loss was a goal with 0.9 seconds left). With a game in hand, and at full strength with the return of Crosby on the eve of the playoffs, I reckon Pittsburgh will take the conference and the Presidents Trophy.

With the playoff structure similar to the old AFL/NRL final 8 system (1v8, 2v7 and so on), we will almost certainly see one of the quarter finals being an all Atlantic division affair - most likely a replay of the Winter Classic in the New York Rangers and Philadelphia in what will be an epic quarter final. This will be the only reason the semi's won't be an all Atlantic division campaign.

As for the remaining spots, Boston and Florida have all but secured the top-seed in the Northeast and Southeast divisions respectively. The battle for second will be the key as second will have the far easier assignment of Ottawa, Washington or Buffalo and not the almost certain 6th seeded New Jersey (who will most likely have the superior win-loss record over the third seeded side).

Now we turn our attention to the Western Conference. St Louis have clinched their spot in the playoffs. While they have the most points in the comp, the Rangers and Penguins have games in hand and one of the sides will most likely jump them for that overall top spot.

St Louis will almost certainly take the top seed, which will mean fellow Central division sides Detroit, Nashville and Chicago will take the 4th, 5th and 6th seed sides, and I expect the Central division sides to once again dominate the latter stages of the conference finals.

With just 3 points separating 1st and 4th in the Pacific division, this looks like the most entertaining division in terms of playoff spots. There will be very little between top spot (and 2nd/3rd in the division), and 4th (and finish as low as 11th).

It will be a very fascinating end to the regular season...

The NHL website billed this morning's Pittsburgh v Nashville's match as a Stanley Cup final preview. Not 100% sure on that one, but Pittsburgh had an easy 5-1, making the record in their past 13 matches 13-0-1

Awesome! The Blues as potential #1 seed. Hope we can go deep into the playoffs!

The NHL regular season has concluded, and it's Vancouver who have come storming home to no only claim the Presidents Trophy, but are the sole representative in the Northwest division in the Western Conference playoffs.

As expected, 4/8 Eastern Conference playoff sides come from the Atlantic division, with the New York Rangers taking top seed, with Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey taking seeds 4, 5 and 6 respectively.

Of the remaining sides in the Eastern conference, we have 2 from each of the Northeast (Boston and Ottawa) and Southeast (Florida and Washington).

So the playoffs will be as follows:

(1) New York Rangers v (8 ) Ottawa. Despite the seedings, Ottawa actually have a 3-1-0 record over the Rangers, so the Senators will be confident that they can cause a massive upset by knocking off the top seed side in the first round. The Rangers, however, are not only top seed, but they've done it in the tough Atlantic division, and will be ready for anything the Senators throw at them. For a 1 v 8 playoff, this could be quite an entertaining series.

(2) Boston v (7) Washington. Like the Rangers and Senators, it's the Capitals that have the wood on last seasons Stanley Cup champs with a 3-1-0 record over the Bruins, and the interesting stat that the lower seeded Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey have either and equal or better W-L-T record than Boston. However, Washington are the Glenelg of the NHL - perennial playoff chokers. It makes for an interesting play-off match up which will also be fairly close.

(3) Florida v (6) New Jersey. The Devils, despite the lower seeding, actually have the better overall W-L-T record than the Panthers, and split their minor round results 2-2 (or 1-2-1 in Florida's case). Throw the seeds out in this match, I expect New Jersey will take this series out comfortably.

(4) Pittsburgh v (5) Philadelphia - This means that the 4 v 5 playoff is an all Atlantic affair with Pittsburgh taking oh Philadelphia. This is probably the worst case scenario for Pittsburgh, as their record against Philadelphia is 2-3-1, so the Flyers will be confident that they knock off the Penguins in the first round of the playoffs. Pittsburgh have the interesting stat of both their last win and last loss being against Philadelphia, and that last win (on top of good wins over Boston and the New York Rangers) will mean they go into this series full of confidence, but aware that they will have to play at their best to get past the Flyers.

Western Conference playoff preview to come...

So now we come to the Western Conference. Like the Eastern Conference, half the sides come from one division - this time it's the Central division, with St Louis, Nashville, Detroit and Chicago taking seeds 2, 4, 5 and 6 respectively. With Pacific Division sides Phoenix, San Jose and Los Angeles taking seeds 3, 7 and 8, that leaves the top seed Vancouver as the sole representative from the Northwest Division.

Lets have a look at the match-ups:

(1) Vancouver v (8 ) Los Angeles. The Cannucks enter their opening playoff match against the Kings with an indifferent 1-2-1 record. While they have the Presidents Trophy as the best NHL side in the minor round, that counts for nothing in these sudden death series, and this is anyones series.

(2) St Louis v (7) San Jose. The Blues have the wood over the Sharks, sweeping their matches 4-0-0, and nothing indicates that the playoff result will be any different.

(3) Phoenix v (6) Chicago. Like the 3 v 6 match up in the Eastern Conference, it's the 6th seeded Blackhawks that have the superior W-L-T record, yet it's the Coyotes that have the superior 3-1-0 head to head record. This looks like it will be quite an entertaining series with either side capable of advancing.

(4) Nashville v (5) Detroit. Nothing separates these two Central division sides. There is 2 points separating the sides overall, and their head to head this season is split at 3-3. This is set to be a fantastic series, where it is truly anyone's series to win.

Great write up there Bruce. I been watching this all unfold and The rangers are like a house of Cards they will fold to the sens in 6 games.
I see the bruins winning in 5 games
Florida in 6 games
and Flyers in 7 games.
In the West
I see the kings to win in 6 games
Blues in 4 games
Blackhawks in 4 games
Nashville in 7 games

Well, none of the series have had a sweep.

Pittsburgh saved their series against Philadelphia with a 10-3 victory in game 4 of their series (the Flyers lead that series 3-1)

The other series to note is the LA Kings look set to cause a boil over in the Western Conference with a 3-1 series lead over the Presidents Trophy holders Vancouver.

And the first side to go in the playoffs is Detroit, as Nashville win their series 4-1

We farewell San Jose from the playoff race as St Louis take their series 4-1

Both number 1 seeds are in danger of being eliminated with the Rangers trailing 2-3 in their series against Ottawa

Pittsburgh's season comes to an end with Philadelphia taking their series 4-2

And LA send the Presidents Trophy holders Vancouver out in the first round 4-1.

Riots are pending

Phoenix wrap up their series against Chicago 4-2, and Washington/Boston and New York Rangers/Ottawa are going to game 7

Washington win game 7 in their series in OT, eliminating last years Stanley Cup champions Boston 4-3.

The remaining series (New York Rangers v Ottawa and Florida v New Jersey) will be completed tomorrow.