This week,the playoff picture starts taking shape. Teams have clinched, others have been eliminated, and others are close. Biggest winners are Phoenix and the Islanders, even though the Islanders are insignificant.
Eastern Conference
| This Week | Last Week |
Rationale | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 1 | The Bruins have a three point lead with two games in hand in the NE Division, but they've only gotten 11 of a possible 20 points. |
1.699 |
 |
2 | 2 | Philadelphia has already clinched a playoff spot, with a 5 point lead and a game in hand in the Atlantic Division. |
1.567 |
 |
3 | 4 | The Capitals moved up a spot here while clinching a playoff spot. Getting 18 of 20 points is damn impressive. |
1.343 |
 |
4 |
3 |
Pittsburgh only needs 4 points to clinch a playoff spot, which will surely come this week. |
1.331 |
 |
5 |
5 |
The Canadiens are in 6th place in the East, and they are 42% likely to wind up there. |
1.249 |
 |
6 |
6 |
Buffalo is only in 8th place, but they have a 76% chance of making the playoffs. |
1.166 |
 |
7 |
8 |
The Rangers are in 7th, 6 points up with one additional game played, but are 97% likely to make the playoffs. |
1.150 |
 |
8 |
7 |
Tampa Bay is still struggling in the power rankings, thanks to a minus-6 goal differential, but they only need 8 points to clinch. |
1.069 |
 |
9 |
9 |
The Hurricanes only have a 22% chance to sneak in, as they are 3 points behind 8th place. |
0.963 |
 |
10 |
11 |
Toronto only has a 4% chance of making the playoffs, as they are 5 points out with one too many games played. |
0.885 |
 |
11 |
10 |
The Thrashers are clinging to a spot above the Devils in the East, but they're done. |
0.831 |
 |
12 |
14 |
New York is the big mover this week, getting 5 of 6 points and 15 of their last 20. |
0.785 |
 |
13 |
12 |
The Panthers are only 5 points away from being eliminated. Just make it stop. |
0.770 |
|
14 | 13 | New Jersey finally came back to Earth, only collecting 2 of 8 points. They are now 9 points out of the playoffs. |
0.737 |
|
15 | 15 | The Senators are officially eliminated. |
0.595 |
Western Conference
| This Week | Last Week |
Rationale | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
1 | 1 | The Canucks have already clinched the Northwest. This happens when you are the only team in the division in the playoffs. |
1.733 |
 |
2 | 4 | Phoenix jumps up here thanks to getting 6 of 8 points and only giving up 5 goals in 4 games. |
1.369 |
 |
3 |
3 |
The Blackhawks have an 86% chance to make the playoffs, despite only being 2 points up on 9th place. |
1.342 |
 |
4 |
2 |
Detroit only got 3 of a possible 8 points and dropped here, but they're still in 2nd in the West. |
1.328 |
 |
5 |
6 |
The Sharks are a near lock to make the playoffs, as they are 8 points up on 9th place. |
1.275 |
 |
6 |
7 |
Nashville is clinging to 7th place as a result of playing one additional game. |
1.274 |
 |
7 |
5 |
The Kings dropped here as a result of only getting 3 out of 6 points, and two of them coming from a shootout. |
1.184 |
 |
8 |
8 |
Dallas only needs one point to jump over Anaheim, and they're only 2 points out of 5th. |
1.176 |
 |
9 |
9 |
The Flames sit in 10th place, only two points out. But they have played 3 additional games, so they are a longshot. |
1.084 |
 |
10 |
12 |
Anaheim may currently occupy 8th place, but they but they are only one point up on Dallas. |
1.023 |
 |
11 |
11 |
The Blue Jackets are ten points out with 9 games to play. They're essentially done. |
0.930 |
 |
12 |
10 |
Minnesota plummets, as they are only 9 points away from being eliminated. |
0.883 |
|
13 |
13 |
The Blues are 6 points away from being eliminated, which should happen this week. |
0.860 |
 |
14 |
14 |
Colorado is officially eliminated. |
0.729 |
 |
15 | 15 | The Oilers are officially eliminated. |
0.570 |