Carolina just lost 6-3 to BUFFALO and the Booins just lost 8-4 to the Islanders. Bruins are in a total freefall and it's becoming more and more obvious their start was a fluke and I wouldn't be surprised at all if they don't even make the playoffs if they don't improve their D or their G. It is pretty bad.
Carolina, like they seem to do every year, are in a dreadful slump and are out of the playoffs right now. Will they rebound? I think they will but the east is so tight they could miss the playoffs as well.
That's 2 teams that made them last year that could miss them this year. Add the Isles to that group and you have 3 teams. Who goes in? Washington? Rangers(doubtful)? the slumping Bolts? the young Panthers? The Pens?
The Habs are still in pretty decent shape. We are still in a playoff spot despite a horrendous slump since the Isles game and we are not getting blown out in our games, we just can't seem to do everything and anything possible to pull out 2 points. Close but no cigar as they say.
Right now...IMO, these teams are assured of a playoff spot
1. Ottawa
2. Flyers
3. Devils
4. A southeastern team
After that it's wide open IMO. Toronto are likely to get in if Belfour keeps on playing well. Washington SHOULD be in, but that team is an enigma and they could start playing bad again.
That leaves........
Us
Boston
Pens
Rangers
Isles
2 of Canes/Bolts/Panthers
Battling for the last 2 spots.
It's not how and where you get in, it's getting in that matters.