The playoff picture is almost complete. It all hinges on a few more games. Does the role go to the defending Stanley Cup champs, das Chicago Blackhawks, or the team that caught fire with the easiest stretch run schedule, the Dallas Stars?

All Chicago has to do is get a point at home against the Red Wings. They do that, it’s red rover, red rover, call Patrick Kane over for either Vancouver, San Jose or Detroit – a nightmare first round match up for any of the big three. Bottom line, you have to go through some tough teams to win the Stanley Cup, but it would be nice for the Sharks to get a little bit of luck. So, if you want to be obsessive like this Dude, follow my simple game plan to Sharks playoff bliss this weekend.

SATURDAY
Nashville @ St. Louis – Go Preds!

Phoenix @ San Jose – the Sharks take two points here and lock up the #2 seed and put the Coyotes back in their place.

Anaheim @ Los Angeles – you swallow your pride and root for another Ducks win, putting them essentially out of reach for the Sharks in the first round and you avoid the hottest team streaking into April. You then set up the chance to play LA in round one.

SUNDAY
Detroit @ Chicago at 9:30 on NBC – Now the Sharks have the #2 in hand, you root for the Wings and throw up a little in the process. Blank the Hawks, allow them no points and set up the fluke that they might not make the dance at all.

Dallas @ Minnesota at 3pm on NHL Network – Dallas need to win in regulation to have a chance. It must be regulation to tie the Blackhawks in the first tie breaker, which is regulation wins. Both teams would have 38. Then you go to head to head record and the Dallas Stars won the season series 2-1-1. Dallas is in. Good night Chicago.

NHL Playoff Schedule Revealed at 7pm pacific on NHL Network – Thanks to one of my favorite blogs, Puck the Media, for making this bit of news public. It’s always such a pain in the *** to wait for the playoff schedule, so hopefully the NHL is taking a page out of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament here and reveals not just the matchups, but the actual schedule on Sunday night at a reasonable time so maniacs like myself don’t have to stay up all night refreshing Safari and drinking Coke Zeros.

In this scenario, here’s how the playoffs would end ( I think, remember…theatre major doing math)

1) Vancouver vs. 8) Dallas with 97 points.
2) San Jose with 105 points vs. 7) LA with 98 points.
3) Detroit with 102 points vs. 6) Phoenix with 99 points.
4) Nashville with 101 points vs. 5) Anaheim with 99 points

You have home ice vs. Detroit, which is important, and Phoenix took them to the brink last year and the Wings went 2-1-1 vs. Phoenix this year with both the wins going to overtime. Phoenix could torment them again and wear them down. Good scenario for San Jose.

The Ducks get the #5 over Phoenix because they have several more regulation wins.

The Sharks would also draw the weakest playoff opponent and the team that goes into the postseason spinning like you did on your 21st birthday. They don’t have their two best scorers. They will have lost (in this scenario) four of their last six. Not too good. Ripe for a quick killing.

Remember, this is a perfect world scenario. We all know it won’t work out this way the Sharks will likely draw Anaheim or Chicago because, well, that’s the way it seems to work for our hockey karma.

Have a good hockey weekend. Go Sharks!