NHL Playoffs: Wild Card in Eastern Conference a Log Jam
Two teams out of the Eastern Conference Wild Card field will make the playoffs. Right now there are four teams tied at the top with 80 points. The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings have the inside track since both have played only 72 games. The Washington Capitals have played 73 games and the Toronto Maple Leafs have 74 games played. Unless these teams can climb into the top three of their division, two of them will not be going to the playoffs. The other two will have the task of facing either the Atlantic Division champions, most likely the Boston Bruins who lead by an insurmountable 15 points over the Montreal Canadiens or the Metropolitan Division champions, most likely the Pittsburgh Penguins who lead by 13 points.
The Capitals and Blue Jackets have the best chance to get in to the top three in the division as they trail Philadelphia Flyers by three points and the New York Rangers by four. With most of these teams having less than 10 games to play, the remaining regular season games will take on that much more importance.
Things are a bit more spread apart in the West. The Dallas Stars trail the Phoenix Coyotes by three points for the second Wild Card spot. Certainly it is withing reach, especially since they have one more game to play then Phoenix, but the race in the West is not nearly as crowded as the East. The Minnesota Wild is six points up on the Stars and both Wild Card teams are well behind the third place teams in their divisions. So Dallas and Phoenix will be the two teams to watch in the West.
Top Bet has odds on tonight’s games:
Vancouver at Minnesota– Moneyline is Minnesota -160 and Vancouver +140. The spread has the Wild -1.5 +190 and the Canucks +1.5 -230. We like the Wild -160 and we like them -1.5 +190. The Wild has a lot to play for right now while Vancouver is playing out the string even though they still have not been eliminated mathematically. .
Philadelphia at New York Rangers– Moneyline is the Flyers +135 and the Rangers -155. The spread has Philly +1.5 -230 and the Rangers -1.5 +190. We are going with the Flyers +1.5 -230 and the Rangers -155. We like New York in an overtime win.
Anaheim at Calgary– Moneyline is Anaheim -160 and Calgary +140. The spread has the Ducks -1.5 +190 and the Flames +1.5. We will take the Ducks -160 and also –1.5 +190. We think they will win by at least two goals tonight.
