PLAYOFF PICTURE AT THE ALL-STAR BREAK

**Admin** Sun Jan 25, 2015 2:31 am

When the 2nd half of the season begins, talks of playoffs will increase as weeks go by. Like last season, the playoffs will feature the top three teams in each division (Atlantic & Metropolitan of the East; Central & Pacific of the West) with their own bracket, along with two wild card teams from each conference.

While the entire Red Wing roster is resting during the All-Star break, including goaltender Jimmy Howard who would've participated, but is unable to due to his groin injury, here's what the playoffs would look like if it were to begin today. Detroit is on pace to lead the division and even be the top team in the east.

EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC BRACKET
- {A1} Tampa Bay (64 points) vs. {WC} Washington (57 points / 24 wins)
- {A2} Detroit (63 points) vs. {A3} Montreal (61 points)

METROPOLITAN BRACKET
- {M1} N.Y. Islanders (63 points) vs. {WC} Boston (57 points / 25 wins)
- {M2} Pittsburgh (60 points) vs. {M3} N.Y. Rangers (58 points)

WESTERN CONFERENCE
CENTRAL BRACKET
- {C1} Nashville (65 points) vs. {WC} Winnipeg (60 points)
- {C2} Chicago (62 points / 30 wins) vs. {C3} St. Louis (62 points / 29 wins)

PACIFIC BRACKET
- {P1} Anaheim (68 points) vs. {WC} Calgary (53 points)
- {P2} San Jose (56 points) vs. {P3} Vancouver (55 points)