A playoff preview

We are three weeks away from the end of the season and the beginning of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at some match -ups as if they started tonight (17-03-2007). I chose six stat categories, that will mostly come-up during the playoffs and compare the matched up pairings that could happen if they started right now. The categories are : 5 vs 5, Power play, Penalty kill, Goals for, Face-off % and ice time (19 mins + a game). Let's start with the Eastern Conference.(Teams in Red, winners of series)

8.Carolina vs 1. Buffalo:
5 vs 5 : Carolina ---- 124 (14th) Buffalo ------- 175 (1st)
Power play : Carolina --- 14.7 % (26) Buffalo ---- 17.4 % (18)
Penalty kill : Carolina --- 84.5 %(9) Buffalo --- 81.5 % (18)
Goals for : Carolina ---208 (14) Buffalo ---- 258 (1)
Face offs : Carolina---52.1 % (5) Buffalo---51.4 % (9)
Ice Time : Carolina --- 5 players at 19+ mins
Buffalo -----9 at 19 + mins

7. Islanders vs 2. New Jersey
5 vs 5 : Islanders ---- 136(6th) New Jersey ------- 114 (22nd)
Power play : Islanders --- 16.7 % (21) New Jersey ---- 17.4 % (17)
Penalty kill :Islanders--- 81.3 % (9) New Jersey --- 85.3 % (4)
Goals for : Islanders ---203 (17) New Jersey ---- 181 (26)
Face offs : Islanders---51.4 % (8) New Jersey---48.9 % (21)
Ice Time : Islanders---6 players at 19+ mins
New Jersey -----3at 19 + mins

6.Tampa Bay vs 3.Atlanta
5 vs 5 : TBay ---- 128 (13th) Atlanta ------- 134 (10th)
Power play : TBay--- 19.4 % (6) Atlanta---- 16.4 % (23)
Penalty kill : TBay --- 78.6 % (27) Atlanta --- 78.9 % (26)
Goals for : TBay ---215 (12) Atlanta ---- 217 (10)
Face offs : TBay---48.7 % (22) Atlanta---52.8 % (3)
Ice Time : TBay --- 6 players at 19+ mins
Atlanta -----7 at 19 + mins

5.Ottawa vs 4.Pittsburgh
5 vs 5 : Ottawa ---- 150 (3rd) Pittsburgh ------- 130 (12)
Power play : Ottawa --- 18.6 % (8) Pittsburgh ---- 20.2% (5)
Penalty kill : Ottawa --- 84.7 % (6) Pittsburgh --- 81 % (21)
Goals for : Ottawa ---244(2) Pittsburgh ---- 237 (4)
Face offs : Ottawa---52.2 % (13) Pittsburgh---47.1 % (30)
Ice Time : Ottawa --- 7 players at 19+ mins
Pittsburgh -----7 at 19 + mins

Western Conference

8.Calgary vs 1. Detroit
5 vs 5 : Calgary ---- 134 (11th) Detroit ------- 136 (7)
Power play : Calgary --- 18.8 % (7) Detroit ---- 17.7% (14)
Penalty kill : Calgary --- 80.3 % (24) Detroit --- 83.2 % (14)
Goals for : Calgary ---227(6) Detroit ---- 225 (7)
Face offs : Calgary---48 % (27) Detroit---53.6% (1)
Ice Time : Calgary --- 6 players at 19+ mins
Detroit -----5 at 19 + mins

7.Minnesota vs 2.Anaheim
5 vs 5 : Minnesota ---- 111 (25) Anaheim ------- 136 (8)
Power play : Minnesota --- 17.8 % (12) Anaheim ---- 21.9% (3)
Penalty kill : Minnesota --- 86.4 % (2) Anaheim --- 84.6 % (7)
Goals for : Minnesota ---195(19) Anaheim---- 229 (5)
Face offs : Minnesota---47.5 % (29) Anaheim---52.3% (4)
Ice Time : Minnesota --- 7 players at 19+ mins
Anaheim -----4 at 19 + mins

6.Dallas vs 3.Vancouver
5 vs 5 : Dallas ---- 101(28th) Vancouver ------- 107 (27th)
Power play : Dallas --- 18.4 % (9) Vancouver ---- 17% (20)
Penalty kill : Dallas --- 84.4 % (10) Vancouver --- 87.3 % (1)
Goals for : Dallas ---181(25) Vancouver ---- 191 (22)
Face offs : Dallas--49.6 % (16) Vancouver---49.1 % (20)
Ice Time : Dallas--- 6 players at 19+ mins
Vancouver -----5 at 19 + mins

5.San Jose vs 4.Nashville
5 vs 5 : San Jose ---- 121 (16) Nashville ------- 154 (2)
Power play : San Jose --- 22 % (2) Nashville ----17.6% (15)
Penalty kill : San Jose --- 83.9 % (11) Nashville --- 85.2 % (5)
Goals for : San Jose ---218(9) Nashville ---- 240 (3)
Face offs : San Jose---51.1 % (10) Nashville---50.3 % (12)
Ice Time : San Jose--- 5 players at 19+ mins
Nashville -----7 at 19 + mins