Playoff race - Apr 8 - Final shuffle

Okay, it's over. The regular season 2011-2012 and this series of daily updates. The last night of play was action packed. Some teams played at ease, just for fun, when they either were locked for a certain spot in the playoffs or heading for summer vacations.

A lot of moves within the playoff setup still happened last night. Ottawa Senators had another loss to end the regular season in a rough fashion. That took them down all the way to the eighth spot and booked a date in the first round with conference best New York Rangers. While Washington Capitals ended their regular season with a high note, beating the same Rangers, they earned a seventh spot and first round match up with defending cup champions Boston Bruins. I wouldn't be so sure that they actually gained here. Rangers seem to have lost some momentum and Bruins have gotten bigger and tougher in the light of playoffs. Either or, the pressure is on the top seeds anyway. Caps must be just thrilled to end up in the playoffs after a horrible season and loads of critique.

Rangers' loss combined with Vancouver Canucks' win over Edmonton returned the Presidents' Trophy to Vancouver for second year in a row. The last stretch by last seasons runner ups paints the picture for another lengthy run in the playoffs.

In the Western conference race there was Pacific division that provided the most excitement. In the end it was workmanlike Phoenix Coyotes that took the ultimate prize of division crown and third seed with home ice. Seeds seven and eight were divided between San Jose Sharks and Los Angeles Kings in the last game between the two. It had to be done all the way in the overtime, the Sharks taking the win and a higher seed.

Playoff race - Apr 7 - Sneaky Coyotes and unknown presidents

Okay, one round to go in regular season and then the playoff more truly switches on. Friday's round had only one game, where Phoenix Coyotes took advantage of St. Louis Blues' lack of urgency and slipped over LA and San Jose to take over the Pacific division lead and third seed in the West. They have one more game, against Minnesota Wild team playing only for their pride, to wrap the season with a fantastic result and home ice advantage. Kings and Sharks can only hope for an upset by Wild and then duel for the main prize between them. Sure looks like Coyotes are going to take it in the end though.

There's more on the line for the last round. The league's best team is not yet clear, and the Presidents' Trophy is up for grabs for Rangers and Canucks. With victories for both, the trophy ends up in New York. Important message and a piece of history to be made.

There's also still room for some shuffling of the playoff first round matchups, so teams are not yet clear who they'll meet. Not much room for tactics, when almost any game's result may change the order slightly. One thing is for sure, the sighs of relief have been exhaled already, since the playoff bound teams got settled on Thursday evening. No matter who's the foe in the first round, it's always a thrill to be playing there.

Playoff race - Apr 6 - Suddenly, it's all over

Second to last round of regulation for most teams. Lots of hopefuls entering the games. And in the end, no more playoff spots to reach. It's all over in regards of making the playoffs or not. The games played the way that separated the sighs of relief from sighs of disappointment. What is left for the last round of play, are some positions within the playoff bound.

Thursday night's games ended with Buffalo Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars all out of playoffs this season. At the same time it helped even more teams clinch the playoff spot. Kings, Sharks, Coyotes, Panthers and Capitals, to be exact.

The biggest remaining battles are for home ice. Washington could overtake Florida with a win and regulation loss respectively for Southeast crown and third seed in the East. San Jose and Los Angeles duel out the last game and winner takes a hold of the Pacific crown and third seed in the West. Phoenix Coyotes could take over both of them with four points in the remaining two games. There's St. Louis Blues in their way tonight, which makes it a tough task. Third race for home ice is between Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings. If both win their last games, it's Nashville, if they end up even in points, it's Red Wings. Despite the outcome, these two will face each others in the first round for an epic battle.

Playoff race - Apr 5 - Calm before the storm

Wednesday night in NHL was quiet in NHL. Only two games and out of them, only one had teams that will continue to the postseason. Detroit Red Wings took the two points in a shootout win over division leading St. Louis Blues. This takes the Wings back to home ice. The battle for Western fourth place continues until the end with the Nashville Predators.

While Wednesday was calm, the storm will break loose on Thursday. This is a straightforward day for many teams. Winning is the only option for survival. Playoff chances are on the line for Dallas and Colorado, who are already beyond having the control to themselves. A win today may postpone the inevitable, and keep the slight hopes for miracles alive.

There's big clashes on both conferences. Washington will meet Florida in the Southeast division battle. One point for the Panthers will give them the crown and a long sought after playoff berth. A loss here keeps them wondering. Both teams need to peek at the scoreboards for happenings in Philadelphia, where Buffalo Sabres continue their desperate push to overtake either of the teams.

At the same time in the West, San Jose and Los Angeles will duel the first part of home and home to finish off the season. Winner there will take over the Pacific lead and third seed in the West.

The rest of the teams who are already destined for playoffs have interesting matchups, setting the tone and sending the final messages for the potential playoff foes. A good round of hockey!

Playoff race - Apr 4 - Taking control of your destiny

At this time of the regular season, it's nice to be already locked for the playoffs. However, there's still a bunch of teams fighting for their lives in the postseason. Some teams control their own destiny, and will reach the playoffs if they win the remaining games. Others look for the momentary lapse of those and try to sneak in in the final stretch.

The Florida Panthers managed to salvage yet another point in an overtime loss to already fallen Winnipeg Jets. This brings them to the edge of clinching the division crown and a sure playoff spot. There's still a chance that they'll fall out of the playoffs but that would require them losing the remaining two in regulation and both Capitals and Sabres taking four points in their final two. All the signs point to Florida making it's first playoff appearance in a long time. The more interesting question is that can the Capitals fight off the final push of Buffalo Sabres or will they bend under pressure and fall out? The prize for the winner is a series against league best NY Rangers. An obvious underdog chance for a major upset.

In the West it was San Jose Sharks who took matters to their own hands (fins?) by beating Pacific rivals Dallas Stars. They can now hold on to the playoff spot by winning last two games. To make matters interesting, these games will be against Pacific leaders, Los Angeles Kings, who sit one point ahead of the Sharks. This battle may well decide the home ice of the division champion. Of course there's Phoenix Coyotes, who have two detached games of their own and can overtake both of the Californian teams with a proper spread of points.

Dallas may just have lost their season on this game against the Sharks. They now need to take all four remaining points and hope Sharks or Coyotes don't pick up any. One point for Sharks would also hand the last playoff spot to Stars on a tiebreaker if they win the last two.

Playoff race - Apr 2 - Mental upper hand

Sunday night NHL hockey had very little to do with the race of making the playoffs. It was hockey between teams that are already in and the ones that won't make it this season. It doesn't mean the round didn't have all the intensity, at least in some games.

There were some meaningless, spiritless teams out there, but there was also a chance to take the mental upper hand over the rivals that will stand between you and the cup.

One epic matchup was between Flyers and Penguins, leaving Philly with two points and loads of bad blood for the next game. These two are bound to meet in the first round of playoffs and will still fight for the home ice for the rest of the regular season. One of the toughest bouts in the first round for sure.

Also Boston Bruins landed a statement, beating league leading New York Rangers on a game that may represent the East finals this year. Tight game, but a win is a win.

Near the bubble line, Florida Panthers padded their division lead with another one point performance. They've racked up 17 overtime losses, which is by far the most by any team heading for the postseason. Is it Panthers' resiliency that salvages points in almost lost games or their lack of spirit to go for the victories in overtime, who knows. One thing is for sure and that is the fact that in the postseason, you don't get anything for overtime losses. Now good for a team with Florida's record.

Playoff race - Apr 1 - From home ice to no playoffs in one night

The West is a mess. Another round of play and everything is shuffled. And not much is settled, yet. The teams fighting for the final playoff spots seem to struggle evenly, switching places almost every night. No one seems to have the upper hand to be able to take all the games and even the teams outside of the playoff race seem sometimes too difficult to handle under this extreme pressure.

Last night it was Dallas Stars who started the night as Pacific division leaders and third seed in the West. One loss to division rivals San Jose Sharks and their home ice was swapped for the ninth spot and looming early summer vacation. This was the sum of Phoenix and LA gathering the necessary points to climb over the Stars. The next round of this epic battle will be on Tuesday when most of the teams in the mix have another go at it.

Meanwhile in the East, Washington Capitals were able to pull the needed two points from disappointing Montreal Canadiens. At the same time Buffalo Sabres were surprised by Toronto Maple Leafs and fell two points behind the last playoff spot. The Caps now have a significant edge over Sabres, having a two point lead and also owning the tiebreaker. In the remaining three games, the Sabres need to get three more points than Caps to make it. Washington goes to the playoffs unless they completely collapse in the end.

Playoff race - Mar 31 - Kings of the Pacific

The shuffle continues in the Western conference's final playoff positions. The odd curiosity here is that one of the final spots ends up being Pacific division winner and thus is rewarded the number three seed and home ice advantage for playoffs. There's likely teams ten points ahead in the final standings that have to start with a lower seed. Tough luck, but that's how the rulebook says.

Last night's big winners were Los Angeles Kings, who now hold the Pacific crown and are the team, who has all the keys in their hands for keeping it too. They've played well, but at this point any loss may drop them again to the lower seeds and the brink of elimination. Dallas Stars had to give up the lead in Pacific when they couldn't stay in the pace with ever more dangerous Vancoucer Canucks. At this state, these two would be meeting in the first round, so not the most flattering rehearsal for the Stars.

Colorado Avalanche did what they had to and beat Calgary Flames for what basically ended Flames' pursuit for the playoff spot. The Avs are not much better despite the win, since they've played two more games than the competition and sit outside of the playoff bracket, watching the others rack up possibly even more points to increase the distance. At this point it seems that only the San Jose Sharks have realistic chances for breaking into the playoff position in the West and pushing some other team out. A game tonight against Dallas Stars will set the tone for Sharks' final four games.

Playoff race - Mar 28 - Two in, one out in the East

The race for the final Eastern conference playoff spots is between three teams, Panthers, Capitals and Sabres. Florida Panthers went for another overtime, and this time came out as the shootout winners. Valuable two points to pad their division lead and steady hold of the high seeded playoff spot and home ice advantage.

The real deal happened in Washington, where visiting Buffalo Sabres stomped over the hosting Capitals with a 5-1 victory. A big part of the result was difference in goaltending, but one can not overlook the troubles in the Caps team. Somehow they haven't been able to really turn the machine on the whole year and this is the last moment to turn things around. They're running out of games to catch the Panthers, unless there's a complete collapse in Florida in the end. Capitals' only possibility is to regain the eighth spot from the Sabres. And comparing these two teams' last weeks of play we can all see it isn't going to be easy. Both teams will have games against some teams that are out already and others against the conference leaders. The grind of remaining five games will decide who's taking the last East spot.

A special mention needs to be given to St. Louis Blues' netminders. Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott have combined for a record tying 15 shutouts this season. And as a Cherry on top, Elliott now has three in a row for the franchise record. This team is definitely a tough nut to crack in the playoff series to come. Surprise cup to St. Louis, who knows?

Playoff race - Mar 17 - Kings rising and new lead in Northeast

At this time of the year, there is lots at stake on a game or two. Friday night the tension was at its highest everywhere. Five games and all had playoff impacts. In the West, Calgary Flames dozed off for a defeat in the hands of league's bottom dwellers, Edmonton Oilers. Losing this "sure win" game may well cost them the playoffs this year. At the same time, Los Angeles Kings took their two points from deflated Anaheim Ducks to hit 80 points for a three way tie on the ninth spot and one behind Coyotes and Avalanche, who are holding the final playoff spots. LA has a game in hand to all but San Jose Sharks and thus control their own destiny now.

In the East the biggest impact was Ottawa Senators overtaking Boston Bruins for the Northeast crown and second seed in the conference. The fight for that home ice advantage may have a huge impact in the end. Despite the recent struggles, I believe there's no team in the Eastern top seeds that looks forward to meeting the reigning Stanley Cup champions in the first round. It feels more like a punishment than a reward for a high seed. Of course the Bruins still have two games in hand and may well turn things around in the final stretch, but still there is this possibility in the air.

Another high profile game in East was played on the bubble between Southeast division rivals Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets. The Jets managed to take a regulation victory with one goal difference and cut the difference of these teams to two points. Washington's recent surge really hasn't secured anything for them yet. This opens up another window of opportunity for Florida Panthers to stretch their lead in the division and grab a tighter hold of the home ice advantage of second or third seed in the East.