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NHL: Grading each team’s regular season

By Patrick Schmidt

Mar 31, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) makes a save during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 31, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) makes a save during the first period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 16, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) takes a shot on goal during the first period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2015; Buffalo, NY, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) takes a shot on goal during the first period at First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

The regular season is over and the playoffs are underway in the NHL so let’s recap the season for every team in the league and assign a letter grade.

After six months the NHL regular season came to an end on April 11 with the New York Rangers winning the President’s Trophy for the first time since the 1993-1994 season when they won their last Stanley Cup.

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The Blueshirts were able to overcome an injury to Henrik Lundqvist to fly past the New York Islanders to take the Metropolitan and home-ice advantage throughout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens won the Atlantic division and finished three points off the pace set by the Rangers despite their struggles with the Tampa Bay Lightning who didn’t lose to their division rivals all year.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Red Wings extended their playoff streak to 24 straight years, the Washington Capitals are back in the playoffs behind Alex Ovechkin’s 53 goals, the Ottawa Senators caught lightning in a bottle with Andrew Hammond and the Boston Bruins failed to make the playoffs after winning the President’s Trophy last year.

In the Western Conference, the Anaheim Ducks cruised to a Pacific division title and tied the St. Louis Blues for the best record in the west with 109 points. The Blues got a breakout season from Vladimir Tarasenko and solid play in net from Brian Elliott and Jake Allen to hold off the Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks.

The Minnesota Wild went on a tear after trading for Devan Dubnyk, the Winnipeg Jets silenced their critics to get in the playoffs and the Calgary Flames edged the defending Stanley Cup champion, Los Angeles Kings for a playoff spot, joining Anaheim and Vancouver from the Pacific.

With the postseason underway, the teams who didn’t make the playoffs are hoping to win the draft lottery where the Buffalo Sabres have the best odds after finishing with the worst record in the league and the Arizona Coyotes are crossing their fingers they can get a top-two pick.

Let’s take a look at the teams in the NHL and recap their season and assign a letter grade to their 2014-2015 campaign. Teams are ranked in order of points (from worst to first) and their grade isn’t solely based on their record.

Next: Buffalo Sabres

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