As we enter March, every team has roughly 20 games left in the regular season. The Boston Bruins have smoked the competition thus far, totaling 100 plus points in the fewest amount of games in NHL history. The Western Conference has a handful of very subpar teams, producing only 10 teams fighting for the coveted 8 playoff spots. The Eastern Conference is a different story, with almost every team still mathematically alive. The remaining 6 weeks or so will see the intensity tick up a few notches as teams drive toward the playoffs.

NHL POWER POLL:

1.). BOSTON BRUINS

2.). CAROLINA HURRICANES

3.). TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

4.). NEW JERSEY DEVILS

5.). VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

6.). NEW YORK RANGERS

7.). TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

8.). DALLAS STARS

9.). LA KINGS

10.). SEATTLE KRAKEN

THE EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE:

The Eastern Conference is loaded with talented teams. I fully expect an exciting battle to secure a playoff spot and seeding over the next few weeks. This will serve as a precursor to the chaos that will ensue when the regular season concludes and the playoffs begin. The Bruins are locked in as the top seed and ready to take on anyone willing to challenge. The Hurricanes, Maple Leafs, Lightning, Devil, Rangers and Penguins are all poised to make a run. The Lightning are looking to make it to their 4th straight Stanley Cup Final and capture their 3rd Cup in 4 years.

ATLANTIC DIVISION:

1.). BOSTON BRUINS. (TOP SEED). 103 POINTS. 20 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

2.). TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS. 84 POINTS. 19 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

3.). TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING. 79 POINTS. 20 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

METRO DIVISION:

1.). CAROLINA HURRICANES. 88 POINTS. 22 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

2.). NEW JERSEY DEVILS. 86 POINTS. 21 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

3.). NEW YORK RANGERS. 79 POINTS. 19 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

7TH SEED: NEW YORK ISLANDERS. 72 POINTS. 17 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

8TH SEED: PITTSBURGH PENGUINS. 71 POINTS. 20 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

IN THE HUNT:

• BUFFALO SABRES. 68 POINTS. 21 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH
• OTTAWA SENATORS. 68 POINTS. 20 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH
• FLORIDA PANTHERS. 68 POINTS. 18 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH
• WASHINGTON CAPITALS 68 POINTS. 18 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH
• DETROIT RED WINGS. 65 PO8NTS. 20 GAMES REMAINING AS OF MARCH 4TH

EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (AS OF 3/4/23):

1.). BOSTON BRUINS VS 8.). BUFFALO SABRES

ATL 2.). TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS ATL 3.). TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING

2.). CAROLINA HURRICANES VS 7.). PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

MET 2.). NEW JERSEY DEVILS VS MET 3.). NEW YORK RANGERS

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: BOSTON BRUINS VS NEW YORK RANGERS

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PICTURE:

The Western Conference is lacking a powerhouse and parody is evident. The defending Stanley Cup Champion Colorado Avalanche are struggling to hold a playoff spot and battling a lot of injuries. The Vegas Golden Knights are surging behind Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson and are focused on the top seed. The LA Kings and Seattle Kraken are producing impressive campaigns. Connor McDavid is the best player in the league, but the Edmonton Oilers have been very inconsistent. If the Oilers make the playoffs, they could get hot and make a serious run behind McDavid, Draisaitl, and Nugent-Hopkins. The Dallas Stars have quietly amassed the most points in the conference and claim the top spot as of the writing of this article.

CENTRAL DIVISION:

1.). DALLAS STARS. 81 POINTS. 21 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

2.). MINNESOTA WILD. 78 POINTS 21 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

3.). WINNIPEG JETS. 74 POINTS. 19 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

PACIFIC DIVISION:

1.). VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS. 80 POINTS. 20 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

2.). LA KINGS. 80 POINTS. 18 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

3.). SEATTLE KRAKEN. 76 POINTS. 20 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

7TH SEED: EDMONTON OILERS. 76 POINTS. 18 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

8TH SEED: COLORADO AVALANCHE. 73 POINTS. 22 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

IN THE HUNT:

• NASHVILLE PREDATORS. 68 POINTS. 22 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH
• CALGARY FLAMES. 67 POINTS. 19 REMAINING GAMES AS OF MARCH 4TH

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (AS OF 3/4/23):

1.). VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. 8.). COLORADO AVALANCHE

CEN 2.). MINNESOTA WILD VS. CEN 3.). WINNIPEG JETS

2.). DALLAS STARS VS. 7.). SEATTLE KRAKEN

PAC 2.). LA KINGS. VS. PAC 3.). EDMONTON OILERS

WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS: VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS EDMONTON OILERS

STANLEY CUP FINALS PREDICTION: BOSTON BRUINS VS VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

We have a lot of hockey to play in the next 6 weeks. I am sure these seedlings will change daily, but my focus will be on the West to see who wants control. Get ready for the level of play to accelerate down the stretch as teams get desperate to be in the Stanley Cup Playoff Party.