Team Temperatures

[Mel]

Thought this was worth discussing.

Although it's not a be-all, end-all indicator... most seem to agree that it's better to be on a roll coming into the playoffs. Below is a chart based on the last 10 games played, ranking teams in order of who is hottest right this minute - with only a week left in the regular season.


RED = Hot Over 3/4 posssible points earned
ORANGE = Warm 2/3 - 3/4 of possible points earned
GREY = Neutral 1/2 - 2/3 of possible points earned
BLUE = Cold less than 1/2 of possible points earned

Team (current playoff seed) - points earned last 10 games

e - eliminated
* - not in playoffs but still alive

As of April 1, 2007

EAST
Ottawa (4) - 17
Montreal (8) - 16
Pittsburgh (2)- 15
NY Rangers (7) - 15
Toronto (*) - 14
Buffalo (1) - 14
Florida (*) - 13
Atlanta (3) - 11
Carolina (*) - 11
New Jersey (5) - 10
Tampa Bay (6) - 10
Boston (*) - 7
NY Islanders (*) - 6
Washington (e) - 6
Philadelphia (e) - 4

WEST
Dallas (5) - 17
San Jose (6) - 17
Colorado (*) - 16
Minnesota (7) - 15
Vancouver (3) - 14
Calgary (8) - 14
Anaheim (2) - 13
Detroit (1) - 11
St. Louis (e) - 10
Columbus (e) - 10
Los Angeles (e) - 10
Nashville (4) - 9
Chicago (e) - 6
Phoenix (e) - 6
Edmonton (e) - 4

[KB in Kelowna]

Makes you wonder who has it in criuse control, who is really peaking at just the right time, and who is playing so far over their heads that if they get in they will have nothing left?

I"ll add this point here, but in the west there is a very good chance that all 8 teams who get in will have at least 100 points this season. I don't think that this has ever happened before. I suspect that given the parity between the teams and the travel in the conference, against what is going on in the East, the eventual Stanley Cup Champion will be from the east.

Discuss....

[Madferret]

We usually sputter into the playoffs. Not this year..

[MadDevil]

Ending the season on fire can be deceptive. The Devils finished last season with 11 straight wins, and after sweeping the Rangers fell in 5 games to the Canes in the second round. Meanwhile, the Oilers backed into the playoffs and managed to get to Game 7 of the Finals. So it can go either way. I do buy the theory though that it's better to still be playing for something at the end of the year than to have your division wrapped up well in advance.

Which makes this season even more interesting. The largest current lead in a division by any team is the Sabres with a 5 point lead over the Sens. The Ducks have a 4 point lead on the Stars (probably the least talked about 102 point team in the league). Both the Southeast and Northwest division leaders have a 3 point lead. The Central and Atlantic both only have a 1 point difference between the leader and second place. So 2/3 of the divisions in the NHL are basically up for grabs down the stretch. It doesn't look like any playoff team will be finishing the season with nothing to play for. Hopefully it makes the playoffs all that much better.