We are coming into the final ten games of the season for each team. Some teams will play strong and carry that in to the playoffs. Some will take it easy and wake up in that first round. Some will battle for a better playoff spot only to get dusted in the opening series and go on to the golf course.
The West is full of teams putting it together late. The Kings, the Ducks, the Blues, the Predators, and the Sharks are all playing strong hockey. They all have that ability to generate a late goal when needed or if they get a lead, they can exploit the open attack from the other team. That is a good playoff combination and these teams are showing they have it. Ducks, Kings and Sharks are a notch above, I think. The Blues are deep and will have to win on four lines just making it too difficult for other teams' lesser lines. The Preds, I need to watch this team more.
Chicago and Dallas are on the other side of this - they seem to not get up in games and when they do they struggle against an opponent's constant pressure. Dallas troubles me more so than the Blackhawks, but the Blackhawks still will need to play better once the playoffs start.
Minnesota and Colorado are playing inspired hockey. I'm not positive which of these two is going to claim that final spot in the West. Both teams have holes - the Wild just aren't deep offensively; the Avalanche don't always play in their own end well.
The East is just ugly. Washington has been playing cooler than great since the All-star break. In February, they would give goals early and then claw back into the game for a win or at least a point. Lately, they are just not able to get back in a game without giving up another goal, or more. This doesn't bode well for the playoffs. Still, the team is talented and their defense is better than it has ever been. I think the Pens in the first round could kill them. Otherwise, if they get comfortable and win that first round, they should win the East.
Teams that bother me - Tampa Bay, Florida and the Islanders. They each have high-end talent. They have good defensemen and really no personnel issues. But they are missing something and lose to teams they shouldn't.
The Rangers and the Red Wings will have a tough time getting out of the first round.
Boston and Philly are interesting. Philly is playing hard and mostly solid. Boston is still hanging on to that core from years past, with a group of hard-working players around them. I can't see either of these getting past the second round...but they could upset someone in the first.
The Pens are the only team in the east playing like they are ready for the playoffs to start. They have six in a row after an impressive beating of the Capitals tonight (6-2 final). This is without Evgeny Malkin. The defense is still not great, but they are mobile and Trevor Daley is a question mark for me, he might be good enough for this Pens team. They only need a little better than they have had.
Now all of this said - the playoffs are a lot about match-ups. For instance, I think Pittsburgh vs Washington in the first round is bad for Washington. The Rangers against Tampa Bay or the Islanders is not good for the Rangers. But the Rangers might pull it off against Boston or Philly or Detroit and maybe even the Pens.
Anyway we'll see what the match-ups are soon enough, I guess.
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