With the Islanders' win today over New Jersey, the final playoff spot was finally decided and the matches are decided.

EASTERN

No. 1 Buffalo vs. No. 8 N.Y. Islanders
No. 2 New Jersey vs. No. 7 Tampa Bay
No. 3 Atlanta vs. No. 6 N.Y. Rangers
No. 4 Ottawa vs. No. 5 Pittsburgh

WESTERN

No. 1 Detroit vs. No. 8 Calgary
No. 2 Anaheim vs. No. 7 Minnesota
No. 3 Vancouver vs. No. 6 Dallas
No. 4 Nashville vs. No. 5 San Jose

Who will win? Who do you want to win? Will there be any upsets? etc.

Both Montreal and Toronto miss the playoffs, so Ottawa is the only Canadian team representing the Eastern conference. Both Vancouver and Calgary will have their stake in the Western conference playoffs.

Buffalo nabbed the Presidents' Trophy for the leagues best record of the season. They finished with a 53-21-7 record and 113 points. This is the first time in franchise history Buffalo has clinched that trophy. Most importantly, this title guarantees the Sabres home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Atlantic Division had the most success this year, with 4 of it's 5 teams making the playoffs (no other division had more than 3). Both NY teams and New Jersey made it along with Pittsburgh.

While Buffalo clinched the Presidents' Trophy (and in effect, the Eastern conference), Detroit clinched the Western Conference in a close race that was going throughout the regular season between Detroit, Nashville, Anaheim and San Jose.

Sid the Kid ended the regular season with the most points in the league: 120 points (36 goals, 84 assists). This includes 3 missed games during the season (he played 79 games total). Congrats to Crosby.

Joe Thornton came in 2nd for 114 points, but did collect the most assists with 92. Vincent Lecavalier ended the season with the most goals in the league (52 goals).

Now it's time to bring on the playoffs. As any NHL fan knows, the playoffs are a whole new ball game. Anything can happen. This thread is for playoffs discussion, cheering, casual predictions, etc.

Peace,
Mike.

Should I start a new thread for the game, or just put it in here?

Start a new thread for your awesome game!

Although, I suppose, playoff discussion would just inherently happen in the game thread, wouldn't it?

If you want, you can just start a new thread for the game/discussion, and I'll get a mod to lock this one.

Peace,
Mike.

Kind of happy Toronto got cut at the last minute. For some odd reason, there are as many Maple Leaf fans in Ottawa as there are Senators fans. And they, of course, are a bunch of obnoxious pricks.