The 2008 Playoff Race chart is here.
The first 2008 playoff race chart was handed out to the media at the Ducks' practice today (details from practice in tomorrow's notebook). The Chart shows where each Western Conference team stands in relation to the top eight spots, how many games each has remaining, points breakdowns and such. Here's the skinny today; I'll try to update these numbers as often as time permits.
1. DETROIT: 42-17-6; 90 points; 124 possible points; 17 games left (11 at home)
2. DALLAS: 40-22-5; 85 points; 115 possible points; 15 games left (9 at home)
3. CALGARY: 33-22-9; 75 points; 111 possible points; 18 games left (7 at home)
4. DUCKS: 36-23-7; 79 points; 111 possible points; 16 games left (9 at home)
5. SAN JOSE: 33-21-8; 74 points; 114 possible points; 20 games left (9 at home)
A couple things stand out:
• The Ducks no longer have played the most games of any team in the league, for the first time all season. Four straight days off will do that for you.
• The Sharks have four games in hand and just got Brian Campbell from the Sabres. They're dangerous.
• Despite the fact that Detroit is handily in first place, no one on the TSN experts panel thinks they're the team to beat. It's a great affirmation for the Ducks, but did the Wings really need bulletin-board material?
About J.P.
J.P. Hoornstra has been covering the Anaheim Ducks since 2007. Eight months after the University of Wisconsin won its third NCAA hockey championship, he was born in a frigid Madison winter. He betrayed his blue-blooded beginnings by graduating from UCLA in 2003, and welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
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