Seven NHL Teams have Clinched Playoff Berth
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin on April 11 and so far, six teams have clinched a playoff berth with many others trying to catch up so they can win one of the remaining spots. Here’s a look at the six teams that are currently in, and what their playoff journey looks like as it stands today.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks have been making the playoffs for the past several years, so it’s no surprise that they’re there now. They are the first team to clinch a divisional title, but that’s no guarantee of how far they’ll go. Goaltender Luongo has been playing his traditional hot-then-cold style, and Daniel Sedin, one of their star players, is out with concussion; no one knows if he’ll be back in time for April 11.
New York Rangers
The Rangers have been on fire all season, and are still fighting hard for that President’s Cup. If they can win it, they’ll have home ice advantage throughout every series they play in the playoffs. And that combined with Henrik Lundqvist and Martin Biron should be enough to get them pretty far.
Pittsburgh Penguins
With Sidney Crosby being out most of the year with a concussion and other related symptoms, the Pens are undoubtedly more confident than ever that they’ve made it this far without their superstar. He’s back now though, and with Marc Andre Fleury goaltending and Craig Adams helping put points on the scoreboard, this is going to be a tough team to beat for anyone.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers are always one of the biggest, baddest, toughest teams in the NHL. This year, the only story is that there’s no new story. Teams have to find a way to stop this offensive force, and it’s going to have to be something the Flyers have never seen before.
St. Louis Blues
Who ever thought that the Blues would be fighting the Rangers for the President’s Cup — or that they would have already clinched a playoff spot this early? It’s all true though. With Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak in net, this is a team fans haven’t seen before, but they’re all too happy to cheer on.
Detroit Red Wings
Detroit is no stranger to the playoffs, and this year’s going to be no different with most expecting them to get to at least the second round. With three goaltenders — Jimmy Howard, Joey MacDonald, and Ty Conklin — the only pressing question on the minds of the Red Wings is who they should put in there.
Nashville Predators
When Mike Fisher was traded to Nashville from Ottawa, they hoped he would be the difference — and he is! Fisher is the Predator who scores all the goals, and that’s propelled this unlikely team all the way to the playoffs.
Categorized in: NHL