09 September 2010
Western Conference playoff picture prior to the 2010 Olympic stoppage:
(statistics current 11 February 2010, prior to action)
Within the Western Conference, the elite leaders (San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks) are offset by the battle for the North West Division lead between the Vancouver Canucks and Colorado Avalanche. The Phoenix Coyotes and Los Angeles Kings have made immense strides to this point of the season and both teams show no signs of slowing down the stretch.
|
Western Conference |
GP |
W |
L |
OT |
PTS |
GF |
GA |
HOME |
AWAY |
L10 |
|
|
|
San Jose |
60 |
39 |
12 |
9 |
87 |
200 |
148 |
19-5-7 |
20-7-2 |
7-2-1 |
|
|
Chicago |
59 |
39 |
15 |
5 |
83 |
189 |
138 |
22-6-2 |
17-9-3 |
5-4-1 |
|
|
Colorado |
59 |
34 |
19 |
6 |
74 |
176 |
154 |
19-8-2 |
15-11-4 |
6-4-0 |
|
|
Phoenix |
61 |
37 |
19 |
5 |
79 |
166 |
153 |
22-8-2 |
15-11-3 |
8-2-0 |
|
|
Los Angeles |
59 |
36 |
20 |
3 |
75 |
180 |
163 |
17-9-2 |
19-11-1 |
9-1-0 |
|
|
Vancouver |
58 |
35 |
21 |
2 |
72 |
185 |
143 |
23-7-1 |
12-14-1 |
7-3-0 |
|
|
Nashville |
59 |
32 |
22 |
5 |
69 |
164 |
165 |
16-11-2 |
16-11-3 |
3-5-2 |
|
|
Calgary |
60 |
29 |
22 |
9 |
67 |
152 |
152 |
14-13-3 |
15-9-6 |
3-4-3 |
Currently out of playoffs:
|
|
Detroit |
59 |
27 |
21 |
11 |
65 |
153 |
160 |
15-8-4 |
12-13-7 |
3-4-3 |
|
|
Anaheim |
60 |
29 |
24 |
7 |
65 |
169 |
183 |
19-8-2 |
10-16-5 |
6-4-0 |
|
|
Dallas |
59 |
26 |
21 |
12 |
64 |
169 |
185 |
18-6-5 |
8-15-7 |
5-4-1 |
|
|
Minnesota |
59 |
29 |
26 |
4 |
62 |
163 |
173 |
20-7-2 |
9-19-2 |
5-4-1 |
|
|
St Louis |
60 |
26 |
25 |
9 |
61 |
155 |
169 |
10-16-5 |
16-9-4 |
4-4-2 |
|
|
Columbus |
61 |
25 |
27 |
9 |
59 |
159 |
194 |
15-9-5 |
10-18-4 |
6-4-0 |
|
|
Edmonton |
59 |
18 |
35 |
6 |
42 |
147 |
202 |
11-16-4 |
7-19-2 |
2-8-0 |
Nashville and Calgary, with vastly different approaches, continue to slump into the break. At this point, St. Louis and Columbus’ home records point to missing the playoffs, whereas the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, and Dallas Stars are going to add much in the way of pressure to the Predators and Flames’ situation.
Minnesota is an interesting case. While scoring and winning even when the powerplay is not clicking, the Wild has put together a 5-3 record in the past eight games. Josh Harding and rookie netminder Anton Khudobin have top notch goaltender Niklas Bäckström missed six of those last eight games. Josh Harding was brilliant and then injured, Wade Dubliewiscz did nothing to ensure a paycheque and was sent to the minors, and rookie Anton Khudobin has manned the pipes well before Bäckström returned last game. Games at home against the Atlanta Thrashers and Vancouver will go a long way to pointing the direction of the team heading into the break.
11 February 2010 / Robin Keith Thompson
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