2015 SIMnet Stanley Cup Playoffs

With less than 10 games to go in the regular season, five teams are still fighting for the last two playoff spots in the Eastern conference.  Here is how the current standing looks like and what each team have on their hands for the last stretch.

Tam : GP75 - Pts 88 - ROW 37
Clb  : GP74 - Pts 87 - ROW 38
Pit   : GP74 - Pts 84 - ROW 34
Buf  : GP74 - Pts 84 - ROW 31
Nyi  : GP75 - Pts 82 - ROW 33

When you look at each team schedule, every team will play three times against teams having at least 90 points in the standing except Pittsburgh.  The Penguins will play two times against Philly.

Tampa Bay Lightning
Tampa is currently the team with the best chance to make the playoffs right now.  They are at the top of the 5-team standing and probably have the easiest schedule to complete the regular season compared to the other four teams.  They will play three top teams but the other remaining opponents are the Habs, the Sens, the Panthers and the Devils who might be looking to get a better drafting position right now.   Another interesting factor is that Tampa will not face any of the four other teams fighting for a playoff spots for its final seven games.  As it stands now, Tampa would go against Washington or Philly in the first round of the playoffs which is not an easy task.

Columbus Blue Jackets
Columbus is currently 2nd in the 5-team standing and should battle with Pittsburgh for the last playoff spot.  Columbus will play three top teams in its last 8 games and will also play one game against the Devils.  For its four other games, Columbus will play against the Penguins, the Sabres and the NY Islanders who are also fighting for a playoff spot.  It looks like Columbus have a good chance to earn the last playoffs spot in the East.  As it stands right now, Columbus would play against the defending champs, the Detroit Red Wings, in the first round of the playoffs.

Pittsburgh Penguins
PIttsburgh is currently tied with Buffalo with 84 points but might have an easier schedule than the Sabres in my opinion.  Pittsburgh also have 3 more ROW wins than Buffalo.  I give the edge to the Blue Jackets over the Penguins to make the playoffs.  Pittsburgh have an easier schedule to finish the season since they will play against three teams with less points in the standing but Columbus currently have 3 more points in the standings and 4 more ROW wins.  Pittsburgh can still cause a surprise and finish up higher than Columbus.  They have one remaining game against Columbus and that game might be the difference at the end.  We hope for a good show in that game boys!

Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo only has two more points than the Islanders in the 5-team standings.  As crazy as it sounds, it might take at least 95 points the make the playoffs in the Eastern conference this year.  Buffalo currently have 84 points with 8 games to play so they would need to get at least 11 points to finish the season.  Even if the Sabres win all their three remaining games against the Islanders, the Blue Jackets and the Penguings, and the two games against the Coyotes and the Hurricaines, which is a huge task, they would still need to win at least one game against either the Maple Leafs, the Avanlanche or the Black Hawks.  It's Mission Impossible for Buffalo.

New York Islanders
Even if it has been a roller coaster year for the Islanders with the multiple rebuild-going for it-rebuild-going for it-rebuild periods, they still are in the playoffs hunt.  As for the Sabres, it would also be really difficult for the Islanders to make the playoffs considering that they currently only have 82 points in the standings and they will play against teams like the Ducks, the Red Wings and Philly in the last 7 games.

Steeve Cyr

A lost for teams 7 and 8 last night.... and a win for teams # 9-10-11, good luck all!

2015 SIMnet Stanley Cup Playoffs
Which teams are going to make it in the East?

• 0 teams Like this  11 years

Jeannot St-Pierre Injury player on my lost!!!!

11 years  0 teams Like this

Jeannot St-Pierre

Washington or Philly?!? Can't be worst than last year first round playoff exit vs Detroit in 4 games sweep!!! Mike or Marc-Andre, hope to meet in the first round!!!! Cheers!!!!!

2015 SIMnet Stanley Cup Playoffs
Which teams are going to make it in the East?

• 0 teams Like this  11 years