As we're nearing the stretch run for the playoffs, the playoff teams in the West are more or less set.

The same can't be said in the East as there are no fewer than five teams vying for the last two playoff spots currently held by Rich and his Carolina Hurricanes and Nolan and his Detroit Red Wings.

Which of these five teams have the toughest or the easiest schedule remaining? When the dust finally settles, who will be the two teams that will get the chance to challenge for Lord Stanley’s cup in the 2017 playoffs? Let’s take a look:

Detroit Red Wings

Points Out                                                    +5
Games left to play                                         18
Home games left                                           10
Against Playoff Teams                                   8

Carolina Hurricanes

Points Out                                                     +5
Games left to play                                          19
Home games left                                            10
Against Playoff Teams                                   11

Pittsburgh Penguins

Points Out                                                      -5
Games left to play                                          18
Home games left                                             7
Against Playoff Teams                                    11

Tampa Bay Lightning

Points Out                                                     -5
Games left to play                                         17
Home games left                                           10
Against Playoff Teams                                   9

Buffalo Sabers

Points Out                                                    +5
Games left to play                                         16
Home games left                                            8
Against Playoff Teams                                   6

As we can see, the good news for Nolan is that he has the second easiest schedule remaining of the five teams looked at here.  Of his remaining 18 games, he plays 10 at home and only has 8 games remaining against teams that are currently in the playoffs.

The bad news for the Wings is that the team with the easiest schedule remaining is Jared’s Buffalo Sabers. While he also has the fewest games left to play at 16, half of those are at home and only 5 of those games are against current playoff teams; 6 if you include Billy.

As for Rich and his Hurricanes, he unfortunately has one of the toughest schedules remaining of the five teams looked at. While he still has 10 home games, he also plays teams in a current playoff position 10 times – 11 if you again count Billy.

And the hits keep coming for Billy. Of the five teams, his Penguins have the toughest remaining schedule. Out of his 18 remaining games, only 7 are at home and he plays current playoff teams 11 times.

Eric and his Lightning have a ‘middle of the road’ schedule left with 17 games left to play, 10 home games and 9 games against playoff teams.

The Verdict:

Hate to say it but there’s a very good chance that neither Billy nor Rich make the playoffs. There’s even an outside chance that Nolan’s Wings might be on the outside looking in; but given his relatively easy remaining schedule, he should still keep his spot.

My prediction is that Jared and the Buffalo Sabres sneaks in and takes that eighth and final spot in the East.