Eastern CrossCheck
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| Crosschecking the Eastern Conference March 1, 2010 Olympics are over, and now we're down to the stretch run. Here's a look at what's on tap for everyone in the Eastern Conference... |
1. Washington Capitals (90 pts)
Games remaining: 20 (12 home, 8 road)
Key Stretch: March 14-25th
Why?: Caps play 5 of 6 away from home. Caps dominant at
home, not so much on the road.
2. New jersey Devils (77pts)
Games remaining: 21 (10 home, 11 road)
Key Stretch: March 10-17th
Why?: 5 games in 9 days, where they will battle division foes
Pittsburgh (twice at home), Islanders and Rangers as well as
playoff hopeful Boston. Points will be very valuable as playoff
seedings still very much up in the air.
3. Ottawa Senators (76 pts)
Games remaining: 19 (7 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 4 - 22nd
Why? Ottawa has gone 7-2 in past 9 road games, but have
struggled overall away from home this season (13-15-1). They
will play 7 of 9 on the road during this stretch, 3 of which are in
western Canada. Can they hold off Buffalo, who has 3 games in
hand?
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (76 pts)
Games remaining: 20 (10 home, 10 road)
Key Stretch: March 11-24th
Why?: 7 of 8 games on the road. During this stretch, they play
playoff contenders New Jersey (twice on the road), Boston,
Tampa Bay and Washington. This stretch could determine if the
Pens get home ice in the first round.
5. Buffalo Sabres (75 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (9 home, 13 road)
Key Stretch: March 2 - 12th
Why?: Buffalo is barely a .500 road team, so they'll have to
come out of the break hot while playing 4 of 6 at home against
fellow playoff hopefuls Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington and
the Rangers. After that, they embark on a 5 game road trip
March 13-21, and they close out with 5 of their last 6 on the
road.
6. Philadelphia Flyers (67 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (10 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 14-21st
Why?: Flyers play 4 of 5 on the road, including 2 against Atlanta
and one against the Rangers at MSG. Flyers need to win these
head to head matchups against the teams they are battling for a
playoff spot.
7. Boston Bruins (65 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (10 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 6-16th
Why?: Bruins play 7 straight on the road against Eastern
conference teams. They'll need to steal some points on this
stretch.
8. Montreal Canadiens (64 pts)
Games Remaining: 19 (9 home, 10 road)
Key Stretch: March 2 - 7th
Why?: Canadiens are clinging to the 8th spot and start the stretch
drive with a game at rival Boston and then 3 games on the West
Coast. They will be travelling to San Jose when the trade
deadline passes. How new additions fit in on the road will either
sink or save this team.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning (63 pts)
Games remaining: 21 (11 home, 10 road)
Key Stretch: March 25 - 31st
Why?: 4 game road trip, 3 of which come against Eastern playoff
teams. Tampa has been horrible on the road. They'll need to
pick up points on this trip, especially against Boston (3/25).
10. New York Rangers (63 pts)
Games remaining: 20 (8 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 21 - April 6
Why?: Rangers play 7 of 8 on the road, all against Eastern
teams.
11. Atlanta Thrashers (62 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (14 home, 8 road)
Key Stretch: March 18 - 23rd
Why?: Thrashers take on the teams they are battling for a
playoff spot - Ottawa, Philly, @ Philly, Boston. They are only 2
points out right now.
The rest of the teams in the east look to be readying for
respective fire sales. It will be interesting to see what happens the
next 2 days.
Games remaining: 20 (12 home, 8 road)
Key Stretch: March 14-25th
Why?: Caps play 5 of 6 away from home. Caps dominant at
home, not so much on the road.
2. New jersey Devils (77pts)
Games remaining: 21 (10 home, 11 road)
Key Stretch: March 10-17th
Why?: 5 games in 9 days, where they will battle division foes
Pittsburgh (twice at home), Islanders and Rangers as well as
playoff hopeful Boston. Points will be very valuable as playoff
seedings still very much up in the air.
3. Ottawa Senators (76 pts)
Games remaining: 19 (7 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 4 - 22nd
Why? Ottawa has gone 7-2 in past 9 road games, but have
struggled overall away from home this season (13-15-1). They
will play 7 of 9 on the road during this stretch, 3 of which are in
western Canada. Can they hold off Buffalo, who has 3 games in
hand?
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (76 pts)
Games remaining: 20 (10 home, 10 road)
Key Stretch: March 11-24th
Why?: 7 of 8 games on the road. During this stretch, they play
playoff contenders New Jersey (twice on the road), Boston,
Tampa Bay and Washington. This stretch could determine if the
Pens get home ice in the first round.
5. Buffalo Sabres (75 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (9 home, 13 road)
Key Stretch: March 2 - 12th
Why?: Buffalo is barely a .500 road team, so they'll have to
come out of the break hot while playing 4 of 6 at home against
fellow playoff hopefuls Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington and
the Rangers. After that, they embark on a 5 game road trip
March 13-21, and they close out with 5 of their last 6 on the
road.
6. Philadelphia Flyers (67 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (10 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 14-21st
Why?: Flyers play 4 of 5 on the road, including 2 against Atlanta
and one against the Rangers at MSG. Flyers need to win these
head to head matchups against the teams they are battling for a
playoff spot.
7. Boston Bruins (65 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (10 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 6-16th
Why?: Bruins play 7 straight on the road against Eastern
conference teams. They'll need to steal some points on this
stretch.
8. Montreal Canadiens (64 pts)
Games Remaining: 19 (9 home, 10 road)
Key Stretch: March 2 - 7th
Why?: Canadiens are clinging to the 8th spot and start the stretch
drive with a game at rival Boston and then 3 games on the West
Coast. They will be travelling to San Jose when the trade
deadline passes. How new additions fit in on the road will either
sink or save this team.
9. Tampa Bay Lightning (63 pts)
Games remaining: 21 (11 home, 10 road)
Key Stretch: March 25 - 31st
Why?: 4 game road trip, 3 of which come against Eastern playoff
teams. Tampa has been horrible on the road. They'll need to
pick up points on this trip, especially against Boston (3/25).
10. New York Rangers (63 pts)
Games remaining: 20 (8 home, 12 road)
Key Stretch: March 21 - April 6
Why?: Rangers play 7 of 8 on the road, all against Eastern
teams.
11. Atlanta Thrashers (62 pts)
Games remaining: 22 (14 home, 8 road)
Key Stretch: March 18 - 23rd
Why?: Thrashers take on the teams they are battling for a
playoff spot - Ottawa, Philly, @ Philly, Boston. They are only 2
points out right now.
The rest of the teams in the east look to be readying for
respective fire sales. It will be interesting to see what happens the
next 2 days.