With just a few weeks left in the NHL regular season, almost everything is still up in the air.
In the West, the eight teams advancing to the playoffs have separated themselves from the pack but continue to jockey for final position. As for the East, the fates of many teams are still undecided.
The Detroit Red Wings downed the Nashville Predators to take over the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference in the most recent episode of the back-and-forth Central Division power struggle. A week ago Nashville seemed to gain a big advantage with Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek injuring his groin, but backup Chris Osgood has played well, especially in two wins against the Predators this week.
Nashville has been hurt by the absence of recently acquired star center Peter Forsberg, who has drawn sharp criticism from both Nashville fans and the media. The Preds acquired the pivot with the thought that his injury problems were behind him - an obviously misguided assumption.
There is no doubt that management may be kicking itself for taking a risk on Forsberg for the stretch run. But if Forsberg gets healthy, Nashville will be a favorite come playoff time, even if the team doesn't secure a No. 1 seed.
Another battle is raging in the Western Conference's Northwest Division, as Minnesota trails Vancouver for the division lead by one point, with Calgary trailing just three points behind. The winner of the division will likely take the third seed and home ice advantage heading into the first round of the playoffs, while the others will settle for the last two seeds in the bracket and square off against some tough teams in the postseason. In this race, Vancouver's goalie Roberto Luongo is the difference-maker, almost single-handedly turning a mediocre team into a contender.
In the East, the battle for the final playoff spots continues to brew. With five teams battling for the final two places in the eight team field separated by just two points, the final eight may not be decided until the last day of the season. The New York Islanders and defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes currently hold the seventh and eighth spots, respectively, but Toronto, Montreal and the New York Rangers all have legitimate chances of cracking into the top eight.
Unfortunately for the Islanders, goalie Rick DiPietro left Tuesday night's game with a head injury. DiPietro has been key to the Islanders' resurgence this year, and if he fails to return soon it could spell trouble for the Isles. For Carolina, the experience and leadership gained in its Cup run last year may be to its advantage in the last 12 games. The Canes need star center Eric Staal to produce down the stretch to avoid being caught and sent home early.
For the first time this season, there is a tight race at the top of the Eastern Conference, as well. With Buffalo dropping its last four contests, the New Jersey Devils have reduced the once-huge gap between the two teams to just two points. The injury-plagued Sabres should get some players back as the season draws to a close but can't afford to keep losing, while Martin Brodeur and the Devils have posted a terrific second half.
No matter who claims the conference title, the top three seeds in the East should have a much easier time dismissing their first round opponents than their counterparts in the West, a testament to the strength of the Western Conference. Any of the top five teams in the West could be considered favorites in a Cup series even against the best the East has to offer.
