Everyone roots for their favourite team to get into the playoffs, but at this time of year if your favourite team has clinched a spot, or is way out of it, we also root for other teams to make it in.  My team, the Devils, have clinched. Here’s how I hope things end up in both conferences:

The East:

I really do not want the Rangers to make it in, but looks like they will sneak in, in either the 7th or 8th spot. If they stay away from a first round matchup with the Devils, I’ll be a bit happier, but I feel safest if they don’t make it in at all. There’s something about playing the Devils that changes the Rangers’ game. Suddenly the team with the second-least amount of goals in the east (196, better than only the Islanders) goes on a scoring tear and makes Marty look like a career AHLer and not the all time wins leader (Woo hoo!) In the Rangers place I would like to see the Panthers. They are far less menacing, in my opinion, and I want to see fans get excited in Florida once again. We haven’t seen real excitement there since the 1996 playoffs when they reached the finals. The team is full of hard-working, and deserving guys. Stillman, Bouwmeester, Vokoun. If the Panthers make the playoffs it sure makes Bouwmeester’s contract situation interesting. Does he decide that maybe Florida is getting better, and chooses to stay? That’s all I would change, Florida in, NYR out. I want Montreal in because it would calm some of the fans down, plus who doesn’t want to see more Canadian teams in the playoffs. Nobody rocks harder in the playoffs than Canadiens fans.

The West:

I’m really happy seeing Columbus sitting in 6th place as we enter these final few weeks. It seems like they’ve tried everything to get in, but it has never worked. I’m not sure how Steve Mason will fare in the playoffs, but it makes for some interesting stories for sure. I like that Anaheim is out. Part of me wants them to get in, to prove to everyone that teams can succeed without Brian Burke, but I really want another team to get in. I was shocked to see St. Louis so far up the standings at this time of the year. Not much has been said about that little team from Missouri, but they are making a real case. I’m not sure how far they can ride Chris Mason in the playoffs (Come on, the guy was scored on by Wade Belak of all people), but they have some really good, young talent that should be fun to watch. Guys like Brad Boyes and Dave Perron. Oh, they also did all of this without the services of Eric Brewer, one of their top d-men. And they made a pretty nice pickup when they acquired Carlo Colaiacovo and Alexander Steen for spare-parts forward Lee Stempniak. By the way Leafs fans, Colaiacovo has more points than Stempniak does since the trade (Stempniak is 10 + 16 and Colaiacovo is 3 + 25). I’m sure ol’ Burkie is thanking trader Cliff for that one!

Things are gearing up in the NHL. I love this time of year, with baseball starting and hockey games that mean so much every night. Get ready for an intense few weeks, hockey fans!

Tags: blue jackets, blues, brodeur, devils, ducks, Leafs, panthers, playoffs, rangers