Written by Chris Wassel | 31 January 2009

Is there any part of the season better then the 35 odd games left after the All Star Break? I think not and this season is no different as the playoff races in both the East and West are just plain crazy and could well keep us all on our edge of seats until game 82. The million dollar question is who sneaks in and who pops with the bubble.

The East:

IN: Florida Panthers

This young group of talented players is finally starting to gel and it's been fun to watch. Mix in some wiley old vets like Stillman, McCabe, and Vokoun in net to provide some stability and the you have the prefect storm for the Panthers to keep a spot in the post season. The tuffest decision coming is do you unload Bouwmeester if you could be a playoff team? Not a pretty choice to have to make.


In: Buffalo Sabres

The only player that came out of the gate well was Thomas Vanek and it looked for a good while that it was going to be another long season for the Sabres. Que mid season form for Derek Roy and Jason Pominville, a goalie playing with confidence, and a finally healthy and producing Tim Connolly and the Sabres are flying. If they find away to add a PP defensemen at the deadline the team could be set to scare in the post season.


Out: Pittsburgh Penguins

Could a team with two of the best player in the league today really miss the playoffs? As it stands right now, yes. This is by far the pick that a guy like me could be dead wrong on very quickly however, lets face it. I'm still staying with my gut however and it tells me this. If the Pens don't find a high end winger to score goals for Sidney Crosby the Pens miss the playoffs. Finding that winger may cost the team Ryan Whitney.


Out: Carolina Hurricanes

How can a teams goalie have the best numbers of his career and the team he plays for still miss the playoffs? It's a hard one to answer but the Canes are giving it a go. Some of the obvious answers is the average play of Eric Staal and the total tank of a season by Rod Brind'Amour, but the issue seems deeper with this team then just poor seasons by some of it's key players. I think an injection of youth and changing of the guard is due.


The West

In: Columbus Blue Jackets

The only team to never make the NHL playoffs is going to make the NHL playoffs. I wish I could tell you that it's because the management team finally got it right with the club, but that's not completely the case. The Jackets make the playoffs because of a young goalie named Steve Mason. How this kid doesn't win the Calder would be beyond me


In: Vancouver Canucks

I hope I'm wrong, I really do, but I can't pick a team with Roberto Luongo on it not to make the dance. He will come around and once again single handily drag that team in the right direction. I'm still of the thought that it's only a matter of time that Mats Sundin will become the impact that we know he can be as well, if that happens it's almost a guarantee that the Canucks will be fine.


Out: Minnesota Wild

Just by a hair, but 1 point short is still out. A team that didn't score much to begin with couldn't survive with less offense, which happened this season when Demitra and Rolston left for greener pasture. After a hell of start the Wild have come back to reality and aren't going to leave that path for the rest of the season. Sadly, a healthy Gaborik changes all of this, which just must piss some Wild fans.


Out: Anaheim Ducks

Typical Brian Burke mess. Great years, followed by Burke leaving town and a franchise asking itself what the hell do we do now. When your thinking about trading Chris Pronger just to get some youth stockpiled in the organization again, you know things could be looking bleak for the near future. If the club does in fact miss the playoffs Pronger may not be the only veteran player that the Ducks decide to send on their way come the offseason.

Then again, this is just a damned opinion.

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