Welcome to another edition of the Hockeybuzz hotstove.
With this year's Presidents' Trophy race being one of the best ever, and there being almost 10 teams with a legitimate chance of winning it, the hotstove predicts who will be on top at the end of the regular season.
Todd Cordell: Anaheim Ducks I'm going to go with the Ducks. They've played a couple more games than some of the teams around them, but they currently sit 1st in the league, and I think they'll stay there.
Having won seven of 10 they're playing some very good hockey, and John Gibson is giving them excellent goaltending. In Gibson and Frederik Andersen they are given a chance to win every night, and the Ducks can score with the best of them.
I like their chances to win home ice through the playoffs.
Adam French: Rangers The easy bet would probably be the Blues. Despite some inconsistency, they're a top level team and very healthy at the moment. Despite that I will say the Rangers. Even though they lost a nail biter against Chicago, the Rangers are playing some ridiculously strong hockey down the stretch. Lundqvist is returning soon which should only help improve them. I love the Rangers defense, especially when Klein gets back into the rotation. They have enough offense to hurt as well and Stepan while in a slump has had an under-appreciated season.
Their schedule to finish the year isn't exactly easy as they play some expected desperate teams like LA, Washington, Boston, Winnipeg and Ottawa (x2). Yet few of the top teams vying for the President's Trophy have a schedule they can coast on.
Tim Chiasson: Anaheim Ducks The Rangers are the easy pick because of games in hand but I think Cam Talbot cools off and they have a tougher schedule than Anaheim.
I think the Ducks end up grabbing the President's Trophy because they have an easier schedule than the three teams behind them at 95 points. Of the Ducks last 10 games they play 7 of them against non-playoff teams (as of this morning). The top seed in the NHL is theirs for the taking.
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