We are at the moment of truth on the NHL regular season. With one full week to go, seven teams have secured their spot in the postseason. Two teams have locked up division titles and the President's trophy is still up for grabs.
The Anaheim Ducks became the first team with 50 wins and the first team to clinch a division title. The Ducks clinched their third straight Pacific Division crown with a 5-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night.
Anaheim has been a model of consistency all season long. They have led the Pacific almost the entire season and currently sit two points ahead of the New York Rangers and four points ahead of both Montreal and Nashville in the race for the President's Trophy.
The New York Rangers continue to play extremely well. The Rangers have clinched a playoff spot and the Metropolitan Division title. Back in November, they were on the outside looking in and have stormed to the top of the Eastern Conference since the All Star break.
Cam Talbot has proven he is capable of being a team's starting goalie since Henrik Lundqvist went down with a neck injury over a month ago. Talbot is 20-9-4 overall on the season with a .926 save percentage and a 2.21 goals against average.
The Rangers and Ducks are the only two teams in their respective divisions to lock up playoff spots.
In the Atlantic Division, the Montreal Candiens and Tampa Bay Lightning have clinched playoff berths. Both teams are locked in a tight battle for the division crown. Montreal currently sits one point ahead with one game in hand.
Carey Price is the front runner for the Vezina, Lindsay and Hart Trophies. The Montreal netminder has had one of the most outstanding seasons we have seen in a long time. He leads the league in goals against average, save percentage and is tied with Pekka Rinne for wins.
In the Central Division all three of Nashville, Chicago and St. Louis have clinched playoff spots. The Predators lead the division over St. Louis by two points and Chicago by three. Both teams have a game in hand.
The Central has the potential to send five teams to the postseason as Minnesota holds the first wild card spot with Winnipeg tied with Los Angeles for the second. L.A. currently holds the spot based on regulation/overtime wins.
League Leaders through 4/2/2015
Goals – Ovechkin (52)
Assists – Voracek/Backstrom (56)
Points – Crosby (80)
Wins – Price/Rinne (41)
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
