The other day, when I created the reader survey on which then-current wildcard team was the likeliest to make a deep run in the playoffs -- by the way, thank you to the nearly 3,900 respondents and I agree with the 45 percent who chose the Minnesota Wild -- I put in a caveat about not counting out the potential for the Ottawa Senators to edge out the Boston Bruins in the Eastern Conference.
Well, here we are a few days later and the Senators have, indeed, overtaken the Bruins. Ottawa holds a one-point edge, plus a game in hand. Boston currently holds the tiebreaker edge with one more regulation/OT win than the Bruins.
I'm a believer. The more I watch of these two teams down the stretch, the more I think the Sens are going to beat out on the Bruins after game 82. Let the Hamburglar story continue!
Over in the West, we have an even more fascinating situation going on. The Los Angeles Kings may have to finish third in the Pacific Division to get into the playoffs, because they currently trail Winnipeg by more than they trail Calgary.
I am torn here in making a prediction. The Flames are young and hungry -- and missing Mark Giordano -- which can work for or against a club. They've felt no real pressure until now, yet they keep on finding ways to collect points. Meanwhile, the veteran-driven Kings are used to making late season runs to narrowly edge into the playoffs and then going on to peak at the right time and win the Cup. Heck, this is a team that stared down a 3-0 series deficit early in the playoff last year and then calmly rattled off four straight wins.
So with that in mind, I will turn it over to you readers again. Which teams will make it to the playoffs and which will miss out?