If the playoffs were to begin right now the only Canadian representation in the postseason would be the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators, the same number of Canadian teams in the playoffs last season with the Canucks and the Montreal Canadiens. How many Canadian teams will be playing this spring?
After five nights off for the NHL all-star festivities, the regular season will resume with 13 games on Tuesday evening. All seven Canadian teams will be in action.
If the playoffs were to begin right now the only Canadian representation in the postseason would be the Vancouver Canucks and Ottawa Senators, the same number of Canadian teams in the playoffs last season with the Canucks and the Montreal Canadiens.
With 68 nights remaining in the 2011-12 regular season, the Canucks are the only lock among the Canadian contingent to be participating in the playoffs in April. Here is a glance what faces each Canadian team in its respective playoff push.
Eighth-place point totals since lockout
Western Season Eastern
Chicago 97 2010-11 NY Rangers 93
Colorado 95 2009-10 Montreal 88
Anaheim 91 2008-09 Montreal 93
Nashville 91 2007-08 Boston 94
Calgary 96 2006-07 NY Islanders 92
Edmonton 95 2005-06 Tampa Bay 92
Number crunching for Canadian teams
Based on the first six seasons after the 2004-05 NHL lockout, the eighth-place team in the West has averaged 94 points. The average point total for the eighth-place team in the East has checked in with 92. So with those totals in mind, here are the point totals each Canadian team should strive for in the final 9 ½ weeks of the regular season as well as the number of games each Canadian club has remaining.
Edmonton - 53 points with 33 games.
Calgary - 42 points in 32 games.
Vancouver - 30 points in 33 games.
Montreal - 45 points in 33 games.
Ottawa - 32 points in 30 games.
Toronto - 37 points in 33 games.
Winnipeg - 42 points in 32 games.
Back to accessibility links
Dion Phaneuf and the Toronto Maple Leafs after in better position coming off the all-star break than last year, which cannot be said for P.K. Subban and the Montreal Canadiens. Chris Young/Canadian Press
Tim Wharnsby
Tim's worked the sports beat at The Globe and Mail and the Toronto Sun, specializing in Canada's one true sporting obsession - hockey. He knows the players, the coaches, the backroom boys and most importantly, the fans. That's what he brings to his stories. Knowledge, fairness and understanding are trademarks of a Wharnsby story. That's what you will get here as he writes for CBCSports.ca.
