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4 Weeks To The Semi Finals: Canadiens, Rangers, Predators, & Ducks Take The Lead

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4 Weeks To The Semi Finals: Canadiens, Rangers, Predators, & Ducks Take The Lead

With only a handful of games left on the schedule, the 2014/2015 NHL season is about to end, which means the playoffs are right around the corner. Heading into the playoffs, the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, Nashville Predators, and Anaheim Ducks, lead their respective divisions, and they are also four of the five teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Montreal is facing some competition from the Tampa Bay Lightning, for the Atlantic Division title, so hockey fans should expect a tight race to the end in the division. In anticipation of the playoffs, here is a quick preview of what the NHL playoff picture looks like.

Eastern Conference

In the East, the New York Rangers will be the favorite to repeat as conference champions, because they have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference this season. They had a slow start at the beginning of the season, but they turned things around at the end of November, and regained their form. The Rangers are only one point behind Montreal in the standings, and have a great chance of becoming the top seed in the East, because they have seven more games on their schedule, compared to Montreal's five.

The Canadiens made it to the Eastern Conference finals last season, as the fourth seed in the conference, and they want to make things easier on themselves by being the top team in the conference. They will need a strong finish, and hope that Tampa Bay and New York struggles down the stretch.

On the other hand, the Boston Bruins, who have been one of the best NHL teams in recent years, are in danger of not making the playoffs, and can't afford to lose games at this point. Here are the top games in the Eastern Conference.

Boston Bruins vs Florida Panthers

The Bruins are currently in the final Wildcard spot, and are only four points ahead of the Panthers in the Eastern Conference standings. They will have their hands full with a Panthers team that has won four of their last six games, which includes a win over the Bruins 10 days ago

Florida will be playing the final game of their five game road trip, and they will also be trying to end their seven game losing streak in Boston. The team will also have to find a way to get past Bruins goalie Tuukka Rask, who is 11-1-1 against Florida, with a 1.05 goal against average against them.

Game Odds and Predictions

The Bruins are the favorites in this game, the money line is -165, and +145 for the Panthers to win.

My Pick: Boston will win this game and keep their playoff hopes alive.

New York Rangers vs Winnipeg Jets

The Rangers will be trying to snap their two game losing streak, when they face the Jets, who are also in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference. The Rangers are only one point behind Montreal, but they are tied with Tampa Bay right now, and a loss will drop them to third place in the East.

Winnipeg is trying to make it back into the playoffs for the first time since 2007, and they are currently in the final Wildcard spot. Unfortunately for them, they are being chased in the standings by defending Stanley Cup champions Los Angeles, and Dallas, who are two and six points behind them respectively.

Game Odds and Predictions

The odds for each team winning this game is even.

My Pick: The Rangers lost the first meeting at Madison Square Garden, but they were still trying to figure things out then, so I'm going with them to even the series and get the win.

Thursday

Boston Bruins vs Detroit Red Wings

Things don't get any easier for Boston later in the week, they will take on the Red Wings, who are also fighting for a playoff spot, and would like to put some distance between themselves and the Bruins. Boston has a 3-1 lead in the season series, and would love to make it four straight wins over Detroit.

The Red Wings are currently in 6th place in the Eastern Conference, and are trying to secure their spot in the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, they have struggled against Boston in recent years, losing to them in the playoffs last season, and three straight times this year.

Game Odds and Predictions

My Pick: The Red Wings will snap their three game losing streak to Boston, and increase their playoff lead.

Western Conference

The Los Angeles Kings were expected to be at the top of the conference again this season, but they have struggled this season, and won't be in the playoffs if the season ended today. Anaheim on the other hand, has dominated the West for most of this season, and the Ducks have a three point lead over the Predators. Since the Ducks have won all three meetings against the Predators this season, they are considered the favorites to make it out of the Western conference. 

The Predators find themselves in unfamiliar territory, and they have a chance of finishing at the top of the Western Conference for the first time in Franchise history. They will be a dangerous team in the playoffs, but they will have to figure out how to get past the Ducks if they want to go to the Stanley Cup Finals. 

Here are some of the games to watch this week.

Vancouver Canucks vs Nashville Predators

The Canucks are fighting for their playoff lives, and have a three point lead over the Los Angeles Kings, who are making their own playoff push. The Predators won the first two games, but the Canucks are hoping for a different result this time around.

The Nashville Predators are still aiming for the top spot in the Western Conference, but they will need to win their remaining games, or hope the Ducks lose a couple of games for that to happen. They are facing a team that they have dominated in the first two meetings of the year, so they should be confident heading into this game.

Game Odds and Predictions

Nashville is the favorite in this game, the money line is -145, and +125 for Vancouver.

My Pick: The Predators will sweep the season series against the Canucks, and inch closer to the top seed in the West.

Wednesday

Colorado Avalanche vs San Jose Sharks

Both teams still have a slight chance to make the playoffs, because they are seven and eight points behind the Winnipeg Jets, who are in the final Wildcard spot. San Jose won the first meeting of the year in Colorado, and the Avalanche will be trying to return the favor. 

Game Odds and Predictions

My Pick: The Avalanche will defeat the Sharks, who aren't very good at home.

Thursday

Vancouver Canucks vs Chicago Blackhawks

These teams are in the thick of the playoff race, Chicago is currently in 4th place in the West, seven points behind the Ducks, and they have a chance of getting the second or third spot, if they win out and have a few breaks go their way. The Canucks won the first two games in the series, and will be going for the season sweep on Thursday night.

Game Odds and Predictions

My Pick: The Canucks have owned the Blackhawks this season, and I expect them to continue their dominance with another win.

Odds of making the Stanley Cup Finals

As previously mentioned, the New York Rangers are the favorites in the Eastern conference, their odds of winning the East is 3-1, they are followed by the Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning, who are at 5-1. 

In the West, the Ducks are favored to win the conference, and the odds are 5-1, they are followed by the Predators, who are at 6-1.

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