Western Playoff Teams Set

Well, with 2 or 3 games remaining for most NHL teams, the playoff teams in the West are known, even the division winners are known. The only thing left to figure is who is going to get first in the conference, whether it be San Jose or Chicago, and which unfortunate high seed will get a dance with the Detroit Red Wings in the first round.

As it is right now the standings look like this:
San Jose Sharks 109 Pts, 2 Games Remaining(GR)
Chicago Blackhawks 107 Pts, 3 GR
Vancouver Canucks 101 Pts, 2GR
Phoenix Coyotes 102 Pts, 3 GR
Nashville Predators 98 Pts, 2 GR
Los Angeles Kings 97 Pts, 3 GR
Detroit Red Wings 96 Pts, 3 GR
Colorado Avalanche 93 Pts, 3 GR

This is how I am sure that Vancouver, San Jose, and Phoenix fans are wanting to see it finished. They avoid having Detroit in the first round and get what I feel are to be easier match ups. Also if the points are tied and it comes down to the first tie-breaker, wins, all the other teams have an advantage on Detroit here. Basically it boils down like this, Los Angeles and Detroit finish the season with the same amount of points, Los Angeles wins the tie breaker due to having more wins.

However, out of these teams in the West, I only see one upset team in the bottom 4. If you haven't figured it out, follow hockey more closely. This may be the first time in a while that the Top 4 seeds in the West into the second round (Barring the usual choke job by San Jose).

I'll be back in a couple days giving my thoughts on all first round match-ups after they are set, they should be fun.

Interesting Note: The NHL's rules for tie-breaking's first way is ridiculous, all teams play 82 games in a season how can any team have a greater point percentage.

It reads as followed:

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:

1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
(Pointless all teams play 82 games)

2. The greater number of games won.
(What is the first way to do tie breaking)

3. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied, and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any "odd" games, shall be used to determine the standing.
(There would be no taking away of games because all teams play an even number of games with division and conference opponents 4 and 6 respectively, would only matter in Stanley Cup Finals if two teams were tied in wins and points. In other words, this is complete nonsense and shouldn't even be in the rule book.)

4. The greater differential between goals for and against for the entire regular season. (More likely to be used than tie-breaker # 3.)

I'll be back in a few days to give my playoff match up predictions. These should be easy, ecspecially in the East, it is almost a given we know who is going to win those series.