2010 NHL Playoff Projections - 41 Games Played

With half of the NHL regular season in the books, playoff projections predicated on midpoint performance are presented below.

Projected 2010 NHL Playoff Picture At 41 Games
EAST				WEST
Team	W	Pts	Pace	Team	W	Pts	Pace
1. NJD	30	61	1.49	1. CHI	28	59	1.44
2. BUF	26	56	1.36	2. SJS	27	59	1.44
3. WAS	24	54	1.32	3. PHO	25	53	1.29
4. PIT	26	53	1.29	4. CGY	24	53	1.29
5. BOS	21	49	1.19	5. COL	23	52	1.27
6. OTT	21	46	1.12	6. VAN	25	51	1.24
7. NYR	19	43	1.05	7. NAS	24	51	1.24
8. ATL	18	42	1.02	8. LAK	24	51	1.24
9. TBL	16	42	1.02	9. DET	21	48	1.17
10. MTL	19	41	1.00	10. DAL	18	47	1.15
11. PHI	19	41	1.00	11. MIN	20	43	1.05
12. NYI	17	39	0.95	12. STL	17	40	0.97
13. FLA	16	39	0.95	13. ANA	16	39	0.95
14. TOR	13	37	0.90	14. CLB	15	38	0.93
15. CAR	11	29	0.71	15. EDM	16	36	0.89

Since 2005, the playoff threshold has hovered around 41 wins and 94 points for each conference. Extrapolating mid-season standings for '09-'10, however, teams will need to best this in the West (48W, 102Pts) though may settle for historically less out East (36W, 84Pts).

The chart below reflects the points and pace needed for the postseason by the bottom seven should present patterns hold for the second half.

Points Needed In Final 41 Games
EAST			WEST
Team	Pts	Pace	Team	Pts	Pace
9. TBL	42	1.02	9. DET	54	1.32
10. MTL	43	1.05	10. DAL	55	1.34
11. PHI	43	1.05	11. MIN	59	1.44
12. NYI	45	1.10	12. STL	62	1.51
13. FLA	45	1.10	13. ANA	63	1.54
14. TOR	47	1.15	14. CLB	64	1.56
15. CAR	55	1.34	15. EDM	66	1.61

Amazingly five out West (MIN, STL, ANA, CLB, EDM) must meet or beat the first half pace of the conference leaders (SJS, CHI). The weaker East, on the other hand, offers teams more opportunity to overcome their slow start, though Carolina must best Washington's front 41 to qualify.

Will the West maintain it's aggressive point pace? Is the East as soft as they seem? Stay tuned. For now, this is where it's at.