Here are the final standings based on all the teams playing their remaining games and the team currently with more points winning each game...In determining a winner between teams who had played different amounts of games I awarded one point per game at hand to the team who had played less games. Because of the dreaded three-point games, I decided to make each game that was between two teams that were within three points of one another a three point game by giving one point to the loser. I also gave the home team the extra point in games where the point total between the two teams was a tie.


***THE TRUE-TO-FORM FINAL STANDINGS***


WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. DETROIT.......120
2. SAN JOSE.....112
3. CALGARY......103
4. DALLAS........102
5. ANAHEIM......99 (45 WINS)
6. VANCOUVER..99 (42 WINS)
7. MINNESOTA...97
8. NASHVILLE......94 (42 WINS)

9. COLORADO.....94 (41 WINS)
10. COLUMBUS...82
11. PHOENIX......80
12. CHICAGO......79
13. EDMONTON...78
14. ST. LOUIS.....72
15. LA KINGS......60

EASTERN CONFERENCE

1. NEW JERSEY....108
2. MONTREAL.......107
3. CAROLINA........101
4. PITTSBURGH....105
5. OTTAWA...........101 (46 WINS)
6. NY RANGERS....101 (43 WINS)
7. BOSTON............94
8. PHILADELPHIA...88

9. FLORIDA............85
10. WASHINGTON...84
11. BUFFALO...........83
12. TORONTO..........74
13. NY ISLANDERS..73
14. ATLANTA...........72
15. TAMPA BAY.........62

First Round Matchups

Devils vs. Flyers
Canadiens vs. Bruins
Hurricanes vs. Rangers
Penguins vs. Ottawa

Red Wings vs. Predators
Sharks vs. Wild
Flames vs. Canucks
Stars vs. Ducks

The purpose of this experiment is to give everyone an idea of teams' strength of schedule down the stretch and how important that could be in such close, close playoff races. By looking at this you really get a good look at the teams that you need to start scoreboard watching, and when you see an team beaten by a lesser team, you will have a better understanding of just what that means down the stretch.

Based on this, today's contest is...Predict the final standings.

I will lock this thread at 7pm ET tonight, and the person who gets the most teams in the right slots at the end of the season will win a Hockeybuzz hat.

Join the Discussion: » Comments » Post New Comment

» UFA Season Starts Now. Top Five Centers.

» Four Games on Monday: Who Are Your Picks? Mon's Buzzcast

» Home Teams Ruling the Day. Will It Continue? [email protected]. UFA's Tomorrow.

» Get Ready for The Utah Outlaws.

» The Buzzcast Predicts The First Round