Ovechkin nets 60 / Race for the playoffs

[Shoalzie]

Props to Ovechkin...it's still a pretty big deal to get 60 goals since it hasn't happened since '95-96. What's notable is that the Caps did win on Friday to pull within a point of a playoff spot.

Really a great couple of weeks remaining in deciding the playoff teams and their seeding. The Wings and Sharks are the only two so far to clinch an actual spot...just 5 points seperating them for the #1 overall seed and home ice throughout.

The East is way more unsettled than the West. 9 points seperate #1 and #8 and only 4 points between #1 and #6. Toronto, Buffalo, Florida and Washington are still very much alive in the hunt for a playoff spot. Big win for the Leafs on Friday over Buffalo to stay alive. Sundin has been banged up but yet they hang onto their slim playoff hopes.

Out West, the Wings and Sharks appear to be safely sitting at #1 and #2 respectively. The Sharks beat the Ducks Friday to pretty much lock up the Pacific. It appears it'll be an all-Pacific 4/5 matchup with the Ducks and Stars...the Flames are just 3 points out of the 5th spot though. Colorado has a 4 point cushion in 8th place with Nashville, Edmonton and Phoenix trailing them.

Key Game of the Day (Saturday): Colorado @ Edmonton

The Avs can really do themselves a favor by winning this one and if the Preds lose as well, it could give them a big 6 point lead on 9th place and put them in a great spot with 2 weeks to go. Meanwhile, the Oilers, who appeared to be dead and buried a while back after Horcoff got hurt have climbed their way back in the race. MacTavish once again shows he's one of the best coaches in the NHL with taking a team with so many young players and a platoon situation in net and are damn near making the playoffs.

[Shoalzie]

Well, the Oilers come up huge with a 7-5 win over the Avs in Edmonton yesterday to tighten the race for 8th place in the West. Add to that, Nashville beat Chicago in OT to move within 2 points of the Avalanche. Meanwhile, the stumbling Stars drop a gimme game against the Kings and the Flames get a big win over the Wild to move them with a point of the division lead as well as the #5 seed being held by Dallas. The Wings moved another step closer to locking up #1 win with a 4-1 in Columbus. The Sharks are 7 points back with 7 games remaining and the Ducks are still somewhat in their rear view mirror after beating the Coyotes last night.

Out East, the Leafs continue to hang around like a bad smell without Sundin in the lineup. The Bruins and Flyers don't appear to want to pull away from the pack and seem to want the Panthers, Capitals and Leafs to compete with them for the 7th and 8th playoff spot. The Bruins did get a point in their shootout loss to the Canadiens but with the Capitals winning on Friday and the Panthers and Leafs winning last night...they all make up ground on Boston. The Canadiens jump back on top of the Eastern standings but that will be spot that probably won't be decided until the final week of the season.

Key Game of the Day (Sunday): NY Islanders @ Philadelphia

There's only two games to choose from today and frankly, I don't get to excited about that Blues-Blackhawks tilt at the U.C. The Flyers need to do what the Bruins couldn't do yesterday...get two important points to keep the outsiders off their tail and also pull closer to the 6th place Rangers. With Ottawa losing yesterday, they stay at 89...just 5 clear of the Flyers and Bruins so by no means are they secure as of yet. The Islanders have been out of the hunt for a couple weeks but probably would love to play spoiler down the stretch...especially to a division foe.

[Shoalzie]

RACK Ovechkin for passing Luc Robitaille for the single season goal scoring record for left wingers with this 65th on Thursday night.

Huge game today for the Caps at home against the Panthers to win the division and get the final playoff spot. The Hurricanes win the Southeast only if the Panthers win in regulation.

Here are the matchup scenarios:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Pittsburgh/Montreal
#8 Boston/Ottawa/Philadelphia

#2 Pittsburgh/Montreal
#7 Boston/Philadelphia

#3 Carolina/Washington
#6 Boston/Ottawa/Philadelphia

#4 New Jersey
#5 NY Rangers/Boston

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Detroit
#8 Nashville

#2 San Jose
#7 Colorado/Calgary

#3 Minnesota
#6 Dallas/Colorado/Calgary

#4 Anaheim
#5 Dallas/Colorado

[The Rat Pack]

Big game, baby!

[Shoalzie]

There you are...where've you been? I'm pulling for your Caps today...I'd love to see Ovechkin in the playoffs for the first time. I'd rather see an exciting young team like Washington that is playing well at the right time rather than a team like the Hurricanes who are leaking oil and are prime for a first round exit if they get in.

[The Rat Pack]

Southeast CHAMPS.

Bring on Ottawa

[Shoalzie]

Southeast CHAMPS.

Bring on Ottawa

With all the momentum you have right now (similar to that of the Rockies in baseball) and with Alfredsson and Fisher banged up...you oughta beat Ottawa.

Congrats, by the way...

[Shoalzie]

So, the 16 teams have been decided...here's what's left to be determined in the final day of the season:

San Jose @ Dallas -- The Stars presently hold 5th place and a single point will clinch the spot but if they lose and Colorado win, they look like they'll hold onto that spot because of goal differential.

Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia -- Both teams have something to play for and it's quite possible that this could be a first round matchup. Pittsburgh gets the #1 seed if they win and the Flyers would remain #8 but if Philadelphia win, they move up to #6.

Minnesota @ Colorado -- Win by the Avalanche would move them out of #7 up to #6 and it is highly unlikely they could make up the goal differential needed to surpass Dallas in the event that they lose today.

Here are the updated matchup scenarios:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Montreal/Pittsburgh
#8 Philadelphia/Boston

#2 Pittsburgh/Montreal
#7 Boston/Philadelphia

#3 Washington
#6 Ottawa/Philadephia

#4 New Jersey
#5 NY Rangers

WESTERN CONFERENCE
#1 Detroit
#8 Nashville

#2 San Jose
#7 Colorado/Calgary

#3 Minnesota
#6 Calgary/Dallas/Colorado

#4 Anaheim
#5 Dallas/Colorado