A great NHL season is coming to a close next week and the playoffs start on the 11th. Unfortunately, law school has pretty much kept me from seeing any games this year but I’ve caught a few on TV and followed the standings pretty closely. As a Rangers fan, it pains me to watch such a talented team play so poorly. They may end up in the playoffs after all, but I don’t expect them to go all that far. Jagr, Straka, & Shanahan lead an above-average offense and Lundqvist is the best Rangers goalie since Mike Richter retired. But a weak defense plagued the Rangers all season and it will be an even bigger problem in the playoffs.

The best team in the Eastern Conference is clearly Buffalo. Although they don’t have any Art Ross candidates, they managed to score more than any team in the league. In fact, no other team was even close. That kind of offensive depth will serve them very well in the playoffs, especially with Afinogenov due to return. Buffalo’s goaltending isn’t great, though, and a lot will depend on Miller’s ability to turn up the heat when it counts.

I would love to see Pittsburgh win the East, largely because I’m excited to watch Crosby join Gretzky and Lemieux in the top echelons of hockey greatness. Crosby, along with incredibly talented rookies, Malkin and Staal, has led the Penguins to a great season. In goal, Fleury is playing much better than he did last year. They’re a better team than New Jersey and deserve to win the division but, when all is said and done, they won’t be able to beat Buffalo in a 7-game series. The primary talent in Pittsburgh is still too young and inexperienced. Plus, if Crosby has a couple of sub-par games, they don’t have enough guys to fill the gap. Buffalo’s scoring talent runs much deeper and they have a healthier mix of youth and experience.

Ottawa and New Jersey are both impressive. Ottawa’s talent, though, is pretty much limited to Heatley, Alfredsson, and Spezza. While that’s arguably the best offensive line in hockey, it’s not enough for a Stanley Cup. The Devils don’t dominate like they did in the 90s. Brodeur is as good as he’s ever been and deserves the Vezina, but the team isn’t well-rounded enough and Elias can’t lead an offense by himself.

In the West, it’s really a tough call among Nashville, Detriot, & Anaheim. All three teams have talent where it counts. Good, reliable goal-scoring, strong defense, great goaltending. I’m going with Nashville for two reasons: (1) While all three teams have top goalies, Nashville has Mason at backup. Mason would be a starting goaltender on all but a few teams. Having a strong backup goalie can make the difference in a short series, especially against great offensive teams. (2) Peter Forsberg. When he’s healthy, Forsberg is still probably the best playmaker in the game and the Predators have a few good wingers who can capitalize on the presence of a great center.

Buffalo over Nashville in 6. The Sabres have been more consistent all season and their talent is more spread out among the second and third lines.