The NHL trade deadline came and went on Monday and with 20 games or less remaining in the regular season, this week we will check the numbers of the Western conference playoff contenders along with detailing their deadline moves. As Coors Light pitch man and sometimes coach Dennis Green says "We are who we thought they were" and now NHL teams are who they are as no new pieces are coming into the locker room. After today we won't check back in on the standings and numbers until 10 games to go, as of the games played Monday February 28th the Western conference looks as follows.
Vancouver and Detroit continue to lead 3rd place by 9 and 6 points respectively and the Canucks are 3 points clear of Detroit with 19 games remaining for both. Detroit has a slight advantage with 2 more home games than Vancouver, but Vancouver has a slightly easier schedule remaining, so it is not hard to see both teams staying where they currently are in the standings. Detroit is right up against the cap and was unable to make any deadline moves. Vancouver added rugged forwards Chris Higgins and Maxim Lapierre, who should be nice additions to the Canucks 3rd and 4th lines. Both have playoff experience in Montreal which should benefit them come playoff time this year in another Canadian market.
3) San Jose (78 points, 19 games remaining, 13 Home/6 Away): No team has played better than the Sharks (5-0) since we started tracking the contenders two weeks ago. The Sharks finish the season with more than double home to road games and have a chance to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the Pacific with their next 6 at home. Unlike past teams, this edition of the Sharks has faced some adversary and should be more battle tested for the playoffs. Their opponent's winning % which was one of the highest 10 days ago stabilizes for the remaining 19 games at a middle of the pack .526%.
4) Phoenix (76 points, 18 games remaining, 11 Home/7 Away): A rough end to their recent road trip (0-2-1) dropped the Coyotes from atop the Pacific, but they do have 4 of their next 5 at home against teams currently in the top 8. Phoenix does have the highest remaining opponent's winning % at .528 and the fewest games remaining of a contender, so they will need to win virtually every home game to keep home ice in a playoff series. In the most underrated deal of the deadline they were able to replace injured defenseman Ed Jovanowski with Rostislav Kleska from Columbus. Kleska should immediately step in to 25 minutes/game and ease some pressure from overworked D-man Keith Yandle.
5) Los Angeles (74 points, 19 games remaining, 11 Home/8 Away): The Kings made the biggest move of the deadline acquiring Dustin Penner from Edmonton for a prospect, 1st round pick, and a 3rd round pick. The Kings had cap space and in Penner they get a big body winger who is capable of scoring 40 and playing on the power play. The price for Penner was steep, but he is signed for next year and this is a move that shows both fans and players that the Kings are ready to contend this year. More home than road games and a remaining opponents winning % of .521 (Pacific division low) along with Penner should keep the Kings in a battle for home ice.
6) Chicago (74 points, 19 games remaining, 9 Home/10 Away): Good teams win on the road and Chicago has displayed this trait lately with big wins over Nashville, Phoenix, and Minnesota. Before they go on a four game Eastern trip the Hawks have a chance to compile points in their next two at home vs. teams under .500. A Western conference high 9 games vs. the East should allow the Hawks to make the playoffs comfortably. D-man Chris Campoli is an under the radar addition from Ottawa, for only a 7th round pick, who will fit into a defensive core led by Keith and recently extended Seabrook.
7) Calgary (73 points, 18 games remaining, 8 Home/10 Away): The Flames have weathered their games played disadvantage by taking care of business at home. Their next two games @ St. Louis and @ Chicago will be tellingly and starting with Chicago they play 5 straight vs. teams currently 4-10 in the standings. The Flames added veteran grinder Freddie Modin from Atlanta on Monday, but the biggest thing going for Calgary's playoff hopes is a remaining opponents winning % of .494, second lowest in the West.
8) Dallas (72 points, 20 games remaining, 9 Home/11 Away): The big question of the deadline was answered Monday when the Stars kept Brad Richards for the stretch run. The Stars have been on a roller coaster the last couple of weeks, but have stabilized where they belong, in a fight for the final playoff spot. No team has more games remaining than Dallas' 20, but they also have the highest remaining opponent's winning % (.528). They play their next four all on the road vs. their Pacific division rivals, anything better than a 1-3 record in those games would be as encouraging as keeping Richards.
9) Minnesota (72 points, 19 games remaining, 9 Home/10 Away): No team needed to make a move for offense more than the Wild, it was no surprise that after an inactive deadline they were outgunned Monday night at home vs. the Blackhawks. The Wild have the lowest remaining opponent's winning percentage at .493 and 4 home games vs. under .500 teams from the East are great chances to compile points. Their ability to generate scoring chances will be tested with 6 of their next 8 on the road.
10) Nashville (72 points, 19 games remaining, 12 Home/7 Away): The Pred's have been struggling lately, 2-4 in their last six and have a crucial four game road trip up next (Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, and San Jose). If they can keep their heads above water on that trip they finish the season with 12 of their last 15 at home. The home games remaining and an opponent's winning % of .504 are both indicators that this is a team that could climb the standings quickly. Any production from trade addition Mr. Carrie Underwood would be a good sign as well.
11) Anaheim (71 points, 19 games remaining, 11 Home/8 Away): With Jonas Hiller in and out of the lineup with exhaustion Anaheim seemed like the perfect destination for Florida goaltender Tomas Vokoun, but the Ducks only deadline move was to acquire tough guy Brad Winchester from St. Louis. Hiller's injury and Anaheim's inability to take care of home ice dropped the Ducks from Pacific contenders to a team fighting for the 8th seed. Their lack of depth in net could push the Ducks down further.
12) Columbus (68 points, 21 games remaining, 10 Home/11 Away): Games in hand keep the Jackets in the playoff picture even as they currently sit 12th. Their next four are on the road (Van, Edm, Cal, St. Louis) and I think they came up on the short end by acquiring Upshall and Lepisto for Kleska. Most likely to not be on the list when we reconvene in a couple of weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment