Leaf Fans' Playoff Guide Part 4 - Boys on the Bubble

Ed.'s Note: LFIV is back with his fourth installment of the Leaf Fans' Playoff Guides. This one looks at the teams that are struggling for the last playoff spots and looks at some plausible outcomes for their final games this week.

This installment goes over the various teams who still have a chance of making it into (or out of) the playoffs, and why you should care.

To read more or to comment click on 'Full Story'

THE EAST
Washington Capitals (90 Points, 2GR)
The Caps have had a bit of an inconsistent season, but with the goaltending stabilizing because of Hab escapee Huet they have definitely improved. They're a fun team to watch, with Ovechkin's flash and Backstrom's smart playmaking (and occasional brain fart). Really, you have to root for them just because how batshit crazy Ovechkin goes after he scores. The guy is a character and a half.
Remaining Games: Tampa (win!), Florida (win!)
Predicted points: 94

Buffalo Sabres (88 Points, 2GR)
Poor Sabres. They go from being an eastern powerhouse to wearing the gimp suit in a single season. After shedding UFAs in a particularly painful process, they really haven't played all that great. However, if they make it into the playoffs it increases the likelyhood that a more hated team will be pushed out. Plus leaf fans can score some playoff tickets and drive down.
Remaining Games: @Montreal (lose), @Boston (win)
Predicted points: 90

Philadelphia Flyers (91 points, 3GR)
If the flyers do make it in to the playoffs this year, one should hope they don't face up against the Penguins in the first round. The rather young + inexperienced penguin crew needs at least one series before facing up to these knuckle dragging thugs. Hopefully the philly goons can match up against the habs in the first round.
Remaining Games: @pitt (lose), NJ (lose), pitt (win)
Predicted points: 93

Ottawa Senators (92 points, 2GR)
In the best outcome the leaf fans can now hope for, the senators have a possibility of not making it into the playoffs. Perhaps Sens fans will soften their stance and be able to engage in intelligent, meaningful discourse on the forums should this happen. And maybe monkeys might fly out of my butt.
Remaining Games: @Toronto (lose! in overtime), Boston (lose)
Predicted Points: 93

Carolina Hurricanes (90 points, 2GR)
In a weird and not altogether unexpected twist, the possibility exists of all but the top team in the SE conference to be eliminated from playoff contention. Doubly weird is how two of the teams in this weaksauce conference have won the cup in the last few years. Anyway, the Capitals would be a much more fun team to see in the playoffs, so hopefully they can push the Canes out of top spot.
Remaining Games: Tampa, Florida - predicting they take 3 points out of these two games
Predicted points: 93

Boston Bruins (91 points, 3GR)
The Bs romping over the Leafs was pretty much the beginning of the end for the buds' playoff aspirations. As such we should vent our collective anger on the Bruins early and often. Don't bother actually watching any of their games, however, unless you have trouble falling asleep.
Remaining Games: @NJ (0-1 shootout loss, snore), @Ottawa (win), buffalo (win)
Predicted points: 96

NY Rangers (93 points, 3 GR)
The slacker kings of broadway should be mightily thankful that they have a home-and-home series with the woeful islanders - unless Dubie works his spoiler magic AGAIN and tanks them. I'm calling 3 points for the rag$ out of that series.
Remaining Games: @NYI,NYI - 3 pts, @NJ (lose)
Predicted points:96

So for the bubble teams we have:
NYR - 96
Bruins - 96
Caps - 94
Senators - 93
Carolina - 93
Philly - 93
Sabres - 90 (out)

Caps would be in, and reordering for Ws: (I'm assuming this is the ordering, too lazy to look it up)

NYR
Bruins
Philly 43-30-11
Carolina 43-32-7
Ottawa 42-31-9 <-- ZOMG OUT!

Yes Virginia, there can be a Santa Claus..