Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
With the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames and Los Angeles Kings all within a couple wins of each other, the hotstove predicts which team will finish highest - thus earning home ice in the 1st round - when all is said and done.
Todd Cordell: Vancouver
The Canucks certainly don't have the easiest schedule down the stretch, but I think they'll finish 2nd in the Pacific.
They are a couple points ahead of Calgary and still have a game in hand, so they have a little bit of breathing room over the Flames. As for Los Angeles, I still think they may get in, but they're really pushing it at this point. Five points is a lot to make up on a team in the final six games, and that's what the Kings would have to do to grab the No. 2 seed.
I like Vancouver to finish 2nd, and Calgary and LA can battle it out for the 3rd spot. I think the Kings are the better team, but the Flames are three points ahead. The Kings will need to a) win their game in hand and; b) win their upcoming game against the Flames to have a good shot at the playoffs.
Ryan Wilson: Los Angeles I want to write Calgary off here because of their terrible possession numbers and the fact they have played one more game than the other two
Vancouver has a bear of a schedule coming up.
Los Angeles has three of their next four games against Colorado and Edmonton. The third game is against Vancouver where they can take advantage of a four point swing.
Calgary: @ St. Louis, @ Edmonton, Arizona, Los Angeles
Vancouver: @ Nashville, @ Chicago, @ Winnipeg, Los Angeles
Los Angeles: Edmonton, Colorado, @ Vancouver, @ Edmonton, @ Calgary
Tim Chiasson: Vancouver The Kings are the best team of the three but they're just too far back with only a few games left. I'm surprised Calgary is even still a playoff team. I was sure they would have rolled over and died by now and LA take their spot. The 13-14 Avalanche model is working well for them.
Vancouver has been the most consistent of the group and I'd be shocked if they drop out of the 2nd seed in the Pacific. As long as the Flames stay in third the Canucks will also enjoy winning a playoff round this year, too.
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