A look at teams in the mix for the 2009 NHL playoffs

by FrankD on Mar 11, 2009 11:15 AM EDT in News

James Mirtle has been tracking the progress of each team's point total on his site From The Rink. According to his standings, last night's win over the Panthers officially puts the Pens in the zone of .500 hockey for the remainder of the season.

For visual purposes that's 7-7 over the next 14 games for a season total of 92 points. Just enough to, statistically at least, land a spot in the playoffs.

What a time to heat up, huh? Teams like the Bruins, losers in four of their last five, are undoubtedly making the playoffs. But this is the time of year when you don't want to lose your way, or as they say in the sporting world, "back into" the playoffs.

Perhaps this is setting the Penguins up for a nice first round spoiler. This depends of course on where they seed and who they draw as a first round opponent. At least for the first time in three seasons it won't be the Ottawa Senators.

If the playoffs were to start tomorrow that first round opponent would be the Washington Capitals. Talk about an intense first round match-up. That's the sort of series that would play out like the Eastern Conference Finals, likely leaving the survivor battered and bruised for round two.

Yet the race in the East is still extremely close. Had the Capitals not entered into such rough times recently there's a good chance they would be sitting atop the conference as we speak. Or is it as I type and as you read? Or something...

You can't rule out the Devils either, who have put together a nice 5-1 run since Marty Brodeur returned in late February. If the Bruins stay on the decline and NJ keeps playing with this pizazz, then there's a good chance we'll see the Devils take down the conference.

The difference between fifth place (Canadiens) and ninth place (Rangers) is three points. However it's not so much the points you have to look at as it is the number of games remaining. Overall points are (obviously) the key component here, but the Flyers (currently fourth) have played two to three less games than all the teams below them and practically every team above them, with the Devils as the only exception.

Things are getting interesting, no question. Every game counts a little more. Keep an eye out for other teams in the conference too, because the outcome of a single game can move you up or down a few spots in the standings on any given night.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Great Work Frank!

As always your insights are keen and sharp.

Can someone explain to me how the hell the Devils are this good!?! (get the pun?)

The Bruins are slipping and may be a pleasant matchup for the first round, who would have thought that 2 weeks ago?

You think Versus and NBC want a Washington v. Pittsburgh matchup? Duh, but not round 1 that has a round 2 or Eastern Finals vibe to it but I would love to watch it no matter when its on!!!

Rangers have no offense but King Henry makes my adult league hockey team a Stanley Cup contender so watch out for them.

I can’t figure Philly out, they will make the playoffs but I don’t see them going to the Eastern Finals again, am I alone on that?

Montreal’s plane has hit the mountain and with a severe lack of grit in their forwards I am not worried.

Florida Panthers, please refer to comment regarding New Jersey Devils. Beter make the playoffs though or not moving Boumeaster (can’t spell) will look even dumber!

Buffalo is down their number one goalie and best offensive player, take “the Flower” and Malkin off our team do you see the Pens making the playoffs? I don’t, so I don’t see Buffalo making it either

Life is about one simple choice, get busy living or get busy dying

by Dr Tre on Mar 11, 2009 11:49 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks Doc.

The Devils pulled a page out of the Penguins’ book from last season. With all of their starters hurt they still managed to contend and make something out of their season. More than something actually, as they’re now atop the Atlantic and really making a push for the Conference.

I don’t think we’ll see the Pens finish eighth but I’ll take anything at this point. With the way they’re playing and the general lack of threats remaining on the schedule (Thrashers, Kings, Rangers, Lightning, Islanders) I can’t see them finishing less than sixth. Just my speculation though, and a gutsy one at that.

The networks would love a Pens/Caps, Pens/Flyers round. Doesn’t matter when. If anything the later the better for them.

Philly is banking a lot on the heels of Marty Biron. He’s never impressed me but he could easily be one of those highly underrated goaltenders with a good team around him. Jeff Carter is having a great year and the blue line is relatively healthy for the first time all year.

I always have to double-check the spelling of Bouwmeester’s name, so you’re not alone there. ;-)

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Mar 11, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

to be honest, a lot of teams besides the devils, pens and the canes have been on the slide in the east. the higest the pens can finish is 4th but like frank said i’d settle for anything at this point. but i think 6th is a realistic finish for the pens with a first round match-up against the caps. althouhg the caps are a good team. their playoff experience will be a factor and i really don’t see them making it out for the first round regardless of who they face.

as for the flyers their either hot or cold depending on what sid of the bed they wake up on. they had a good win last night but they were up against a team with key injurys. the flyers also waved a frw good players to make room for daniel and we’ve seen how that helped they so far.

the bruins are looking like they can’t find the net now adays and i don’t think anything will change soon.

the habs fought for their first win with gainey behind the bench but their lack of heart and grit will be a factor if they make the post season at all.

right now i see the bottom half of the east being a hell of a lot stronger than the top and there will be mjor upsets in the east come playoff time.

i can actually see a canes pens final for the east. i may be alone on this one but we’ll see.either way it will bea very entertaining ride

by lambofgad on Mar 11, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Canes and Pens?

Nice lol how’d you figure that?
Yah the 6th spot for the Pens is realistic one :)

by AppleSweetRose on Mar 11, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions

good analysis

I’d agree that the Pens look good, barring anything really unexpected, for the 5th or 6th slot in the East. The East team that looks like the solid bet to make the Finals right now is Jersey: just a rock-solid, experienced team. I have a hard time imagining that any Pens post-season run will have to go through the Devils at some point.

Given how well the boys are playing these days, I like their chances against other first-round opponents. The Bruins are just baffling right now: I see their games fairly often, and it hard to grasp how a team can lose so many games without playing bad hockey. The thing they keep saying about them is that they aren’t panicking, but maybe that’s the problem: lack of urgency. I also like the Pens’ chances in a 7-game series with either Philly or Washington: not convinced either team has the goaltending or defensive depth to beat a hot team.

P is for Latrobe.

by holiday park on Mar 11, 2009 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

that is,

“I have a hard time imagining that any Pens post-season run WON’T have to go through the Devils at some point.”

P is for Latrobe.

by holiday park on Mar 11, 2009 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Well done, FD

Good read.

The Litter Box - Your SBNation Florida Panthers Blogging Colossus

by Donny Rivette on Mar 11, 2009 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

I know it is wayyyy to early to speculate first round match ups, but it looks like the pens will finish either 4th or 5th and the flyers will finish vice a versa, which would make an all PA first round match up. The flyers are a team that i would most like to see the pens play first. If we beat them ( which i believe will happen) hopefully the bruins hold on to the first seed so we play them instead of the devils ( that espn devils penguins commercial is hilarious btw). The devils is the one team that I am scared to play. As FrankD said before they are the total package. Solid playoff expierenced veterns, balanced scoring attack, an elite player in parise, and a rock solid goaltender in marty. Im confident the pens can take down any other team besides the devils in the east. not saying they couldnt beat them, but it would be a very tough match up.

by PensRock1 on Mar 11, 2009 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

Sadly the Devils were intimidating without Brodeur. Now they are just outright scary. I too would love a nice Battle of PA match in the first round. I’m really excited to see how this all pans out over the next few weeks. A Devils series would go six or seven games, so I’d rather see the Pens hold off on that until absolutely necessary (or unavoidable).

And yes, that ESPN commercial is awesome. So awesome in fact I just uploaded it to the fanshots (I’d been looking for a while and someone finally uploaded it)

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Mar 11, 2009 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions