Heading into the Home Stretch, part 1

With the NCAA tournament bracket all set, soon Opening Day in Baseball will be here, along with the playoffs in the NHL and NBA. While my beloved Portland Trailblazers limp into the playoffs, literally, I might add, the NHL playoffs offer some solace, if only for the fact that there may be games where I stay up late to watch. With that in mind, I think it would be a good idea to take a look back at each of the 30 teams and see how they progressed (or regressed) throughout the season and possibly into the playoffs. Right now, I will look at the Eastern Conference teams and see how they have fared, and will have the Western Conference up later.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

New Jersey Devils: They're in good shape as far as getting into the playoffs are concerned, but I would not be surprised if they bow out in the first round like they have in recent years. Martin Brodeur isn't getting any younger, and the Devils aren't doing themselves any favors by playing him for 70 games or so.

New York Islanders: Don't bother penciling them in for the playoffs, despite being seven points out of the eight spot at the time of this writing. Not enough to make it this year, but a nice learning experience for the young guys on the team to at least have a chance at making the playoffs.

New York Rangers: Despite having one of the leading point getters in Marian Gaborik and one of the very best goaltenders in Henrik Lundqvist, this team has underachieved. Just a point out of the playoff picture, don't count them out, though.

Philadelphia Flyers: Should be able to make the playoffs, but early season expectations have proved to be way too much. Not trading for a proven goaltender at the trade deadline will come back to haunt them worse than not trading for Nashville defenseman Dan Hamhuis.

Pittsburgh Penguins: They know the playoff song and dance by now, so it should be no surprise that they look like a team ready to make another run at the Stanley Cup.

NORTHEAST DIVISION

Boston Bruins: Early season favorites have stumbled through the season. Lack of offense has been the main culprit, and they did nothing to address that need at the deadline. Don't be surprised if they are swept out of the playoffs, that is if they even make it to that point.

Buffalo Sabres: Simply put, everything falls on Ryan Miller. He has the big game experience, which will serve him well, and will even cover up some of the team's other deficiencies. Sound familiar? Those who have lived through the Dominik Hasek era in Buffalo would be happy if this was the case.

Montreal Canadiens: Fans will never be happy until the team wins another Stanley Cup. Well, sorry to disappoint the Canadiens fans, but it's not happening this year. This year looks a lot like last year, which is to say the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Ottawa Senators: Surprise entry into the playoff picture, especially after the Dany Heatley mess during the offseason. They could sneak up on some teams in the playoffs. The real question is whether you can name the starting goaltender on the Senators. (For the record, it is Brian Elliot.)

Toronto Maple Leafs: They stink. Bet you didn't see that coming. Good news is that they have nowhere to go but up, especially since they now have a proven goaltender in Jean-Sebastien Giguere and a defenseman that is out to prove himself in Dion Phaneuf. They're still going nowhere next year, though, so don't get your hopes up, Maple Leafs fans.

SOUTHEAST DIVISION

Atlanta Thrashers: They traded away the face of the franchise in Ilya Kovalchuk and somehow remain five points out of the playoffs. Go figure. They're not making it, but there's always a chance that the people they got in return will pan out (or not).

Carolina Hurricanes: The decade's ultimate tease, they make one really good run in the playoffs and follow it up with absolute stinkers. The trend continues, with a conference finals run last year, only to follow it up with a near dead last standing as of now. Nothing on the blue line is to blame for that.

Florida Panthers: No, they aren't going to break the drought of consecutive years without a playoff berth this year. Blame the loss of David Booth for a few months for that, as he was pretty much the team's offense.

Tampa Bay Lightning: Four points out of the playoffs, they likely won't make it, but with offensive firepower, it would not be wise to count them out. If they make the playoffs, they would not be a team I would want to face.

Washington Capitals: Along with the Penguins, the favorite to represent the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup finals. Goaltending and defense could potentially trip them up, but having Alexander Ovechkin on the ice can cover up a lot of deficiencies.