[29-MAR-2016] Math and the Playoff Picture

The Western Conference is all but sewn up, with only the wildcard slots left to be decided... positioning may shift, but six of the eight playoff teams are known.

IN:

• Dallas Stars (99 points, max 111)
• St. Louis Blues (99 points, max 111)
• Chicago Blackhawks (95 points, max 107)
• Los Angeles Kings (95 points, max 107)
• Anaheim Ducks (94 points, max 108)
• San Jose Sharks (90 points, max 102)

Potentially in:

• Nashville Predaors (91 points, max 103)
• Minnesota Wild (85 points, max 97)
• Colorado Avalanche (82 points, max 94)
• Arizona Coyotes (75 points, max 87)

OUT:

• Calgary Flames (70 points, max 82, low wild card has 85)
• Winnipeg Jets (69 points, max 81)
• Vancouver Canucks (67 points, max 81)
• Edmonton Oilers (67 points, max 73)

However, apart from the teams that decidedly won't be playing past April, the Eastern Conference is still in a dogfight, both for position and for the wild card slots).

IN:

• Washington Capitals (113 points, max 127)

 Potentially in:

• New York Rangers (95 points, max 107)
• Pittsburgh Penguins (92 points, max 106)
• Florida Panthers (93 points, max 107)
• Tampa Bay Lightning (93 points, max 105)
• Boston Bruins (88 points, max 100)
• New York Islanders (89 points, max 105)
• Philadelphia Flyers (87 points, max 101)
• Detroit Red Wings (87 points, max 99)
• Carolina Hurricanes (81 points, max 93)
• New Jersey Devils (80 points, max 92)
• Ottawa Senators (77 points, max 89)

OUT:

• Montreal Canadiens (74  points, max 86, low wild card has 87)
• Buffalo Sabres (72 points, max 84)
• Columbus Blue Jackets (68 points, max 80)
• Toronto Maple Leafs 65 points, max 79)