2012 NHL Playoff Projections - 41 Games Played

With all teams having completed precisely one-half of the 2012 NHL 82 game regular season, playoff projections predicated on midpoint performance are posited below.

Projected 2012 NHL Playoff Picture At 41 Games
EAST				WEST
Team	W	Pts	Pace	Team	W	Pts	Pace
1. NYR	27	58	1.41	1. SJS	25	55	1.34
2. BOS	28	57	1.39	2. DET	26	53	1.29
3. PHI	25	54	1.32	3. VAN	25	53	1.29
4. NJD	23	48	1.17	4. STL	24	53	1.29
5. FLA	20	48	1.17	5. CHI	24	52	1.27
6. TOR	21	47	1.15	6. NAS	22	48	1.17
7. OTT	21	47	1.15	7. MIN	21	48	1.17
8. WAS	22	46	1.12	8. DAL	23	47	1.15
9. PIT	20	46	1.12	9. LAK	20	47	1.15
10. WPG	20	45	1.10	10. COL	22	45	1.10
11. BUF	18	41	1.00	11. PHO	19	43	1.05
12. MTL	16	39	0.95	12. CGY	18	41	1.00
13. TBL	17	38	0.93	13. EDM	16	35	0.85
14. NYI	15	36	0.88	14. ANA	13	32	0.78
15. CAR	13	33	0.80	15. CLB	11	27	0.66

Though anything may seem possible with 41 games to play, history tells us otherwise. Of those poised for the playoffs at last year's midpoint only one from the East (ATL) and three from the West (COL, DAL, MIN) missed at season's end. Put another way, 12 of 16 teams maintained their standing with only 4 of 14 outliers reversing their fortune (ANA, BUF, CHI, PHO). None advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs.

The chart below shows the points and pace required for current outliers to qualify based on projected cutoffs (East 92Pts, West 94Pts).

Points Needed In Final 41 Games
EAST			WEST
Team	Pts	Pace	Team	Pts	Pace
9. PIT	46	1.12	9. LAK	47	1.15
10. WPG	47	1.15	10. COL	49	1.19
11. BUF	51	1.24	11. PHO	51	1.24
12. MTL	53	1.29	12. CGY	53	1.29
13. TBL	54	1.32	13. EDM	59	1.44
14. NYI	56	1.36	14. ANA	62	1.51
15. CAR	59	1.44	15. CLB	67	1.63

Last year no team with a first half points pace of less than 1.00 made the cut suggesting that several (MTL, TBL, NYI, EDM, CAR, ANA, CLB) clubs have already squandered their shot at the second season. But hey, don't write yourself off yet. Just try your best, try everything you can.
Stranger things have happened in the middle of the ride.