Playoff calculus: the ‘round of 16’ might be determined tonight?

NHL.com’s Dan Rosen will happily explain to you how it’s possible that the final playoff spots on both conferences could be determined this evening…

The playoff picture could be a lot clearer after 28 teams play Thursday.

With just three days left in the 2011-12 regular season, the race for playoff seeds remains wide open. Five playoff berths are still up for grabs, and two division titles, one conference title and the Presidents’ Trophy also are still to be decided.

The final five playoff spots could all be claimed Thursday. It’s also possible for the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal-round matchups to be set.

But a lot will have to happen.

But what ensues is nothing less than a calclulus lesson. Long story short, NHL teams’ pro scouts will continue to have to prepare for multiple first-round match-ups—and it’s perhaps they who will be the most grateful that the season wraps up on Saturday as pro scouting departments have been burning the midnight oil and then some over the past six weeks.

Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/playoff_calculus_the_round_of_16_might_be_determined_tonight/

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