Well I think it's time to start a thread about the playoff races for the last few spots in the Western and Eastern conference.

First we will start with the Western Conference and the final playoff spot with Detroit and Calgary as it seems the first 7 spots are all but guaranteed right now
8. Detroit Red Wings 83 Points 11 Games remaining
9. Calgary Flames 81 Points 11 Games remaining

Both teams have 11 games remaining on the season.

Calgary is a great team which hasn't played too it's standards and with 11 games left need to turn it up even more as they were in a playoff spot in the middle of the year and have fallen down.

Detroit has been struggling all year to win consistently, but with their slew of injuries over and most of their players returning, they have picked up their game and are putting together some really important wins right now.

Everyone would love to see Detroit out of the playoffs and ruin their 18 consecutive playoff appearances. Calgary has made the playoffs since 2004.

My take is Detroit keeps it up just enough to stay in the 8th spot and Calgary just missing out by a point or two.

Eastern Conference:
5. Philadelphia Flyers 79 Points 11 Games remaining
6. Ottawa Senators 79 Points 10 Games remaining
7. Montreal Candiens 79 Points 10 Games remaining
8. Boston Bruins 74 Points 12 Games remaining
9. Atlanta Thrashers 73 Points 11 Games remaining
10. New York Rangers 71 Points 11 Games remaining
11. Carolina Hurricanes 68 Points 11 Games Remaining

The Flyers have goaltending issues as both Emery and Leighton are gone. Can they overcome this issue and stay in the playoff race? Or will they fall out of contention by losing most of their final 11 games? How much of an impact will this have on their team during this final stretch run?

Ottawa has lost 5 in a row after leading the NE division during the Olympic break. Can they get back to winning and stay alive in the final few spots of the Eastern Conference? Did the goaltenders get too hot too quick, or will it be just enough?

Montreal has been on a winning streak and have earned plenty of points in their last few games, they have climbed out of the bottom 8 into the 7th spot and are aiming at second in the NE and 1st if they can keep up their winning ways. Their confidence is high and hit a winning way at the right time, go hot into the stretch run and hope for the best.

Boston has been struggling all year to maintain a high level of play and have lost key players from their dominant run last year. Savard being out also hurts some of their scoring and toughness factor. Can the Bruins keep up their play to keep their final playoff spot alive? Will the injuries of Savard affect the team badly and is Thomas not the goaltender people thought he was when he won his Vezina last year?

Atlanta is 1 point from 8th place and that team would love to make a playoff appearance. They have been on their winning ways for a few games and looking at sneaking into the final playoff spot. Is Atlanta going to just miss out on the extra season once again or will they make it two playoff appearances in their franchise history? Did the trade of Kovalchuk make this team stronger or just weaker?

The Rangers have Marion Gaborik, and he has done exactly what he was expected to do, but the rest of the team has done nothing to really help that team stay in a playoff spot this year. They have lost their last two games and are still struggling to stay alive. Can Gaborik and the team full of "Superstars and Big money guys" get it done and sneak into a playoff spot?

The Hurricanes at the beginning of the season would never have been thought to even be in a playoff race with their terrible start to the season. Now with 11 games remaining and the Hurricanes only 6 points behind Boston for the 8th spot they can be talked about again. The Hurricanes have been on a tear since before the Olympic break to sneak out of the basement and beat plenty of the top teams in the league to be in the 11th spot and only 6 points back. If the Hurricanes keep up their winning ways, they could very well be that 8th place team or 7th if Ottawa keeps deciding to shit the bed. Since January the Hurricanes have won 20 of their last 31 games.

The other two teams ties with 68 points are the Islanders and the Tampa Bay Lightning, both of those teams have been on the losing end of things, 1 game for the Islanders and 4 for the Lightning. Can they turn it around or will they see another top 5 draft pick on their team on draft day?

I think the biggest focus in the East will be Ottawa, Boston, Atlanta, and Carolina. Ottawa can very well fall out of the race and finish barely out of a spot still. Boston can fall out also and leave room for Atlanta. If the Rangers keep up losing and the Hurricanes winning, they will be in the 8th spot come the end of the season. So Ottawa and Boston finish outside the top 8, while Montreal moves to 5th, Philly in 6th, Atlanta in 7th, and Carolina pushing til the end for 8th. the Rangers just miss out also.

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