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Edmonton Oilers captain Ryan Smyth might not last long on Long Island, but his acquisition on the NHL's deadline day was worth it for the Islanders, who should now be a lock to make the playoffs, says NHL Expert Kevin Dupont.

Q: Safe to say we already know the eight teams that will be in the Western Conference playoffs?  If one team was going to flop in the first round, who would it likely be?
— Adrian from Pueblo, Colo.
A: The Canucks picked up some offensive help with the acquisition of veteran center Brian Smolinski, but they are still challenged to put the puck in the net. Thankfully, franchise forward Markus Naslund has picked up the pace since the new year, collecting 23 points in the 20 games leading up to the trade deadline.

Roberto Luongo, a potential Hart (MVP) winner, can take these guys a very long way. However, even he needs to be backed by more than one or two goals a game. I could see Luongo holding the opposition to six goals over four games of a first-round series, and the Canucks possibly be swept. He might feel like he never left Florida.

Q: Which coaches probably have to guide their teams into the playoffs to avoid the pink slip?
— Gus McLish from Minneapolis.
A: There isn't likely to be much movement, in part because there was so much shakeout after last season, and then during 2006-'07.

But, as always, there are candidates to walk the plank.

It's unlikely that the Rangers will make it back to the postseason, and that could be the end for Tom Renney. He is a pretty good coach, but a DNQ on top of last year's first-round KO probably will be too much for him to survive.

The Thrashers, especially after picking up Tkachuk at the deadline, should be shoo-ins for a playoff spot. However, if they were to falter, it could come down to GM Don Waddell getting canned or Bob Hartley getting cashiered. In fact, another DNQ could point them both out the door.

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Rangers must step up

  PHT Extra: Mike Halford and Jason Brough say Brad Richards needs to have a big game for the Rangers with the Devils leading the series 3-2.

Andy Marlin / Getty Images Contributor

LIVE: Devils seek Cup finals berth vs. Rangers

LIVE: Martin Brodeur and the New Jersey Devils look to eliminate the New York Rangers in Game 6 to advance to the Stanley Cup finals against the Los Angeles Kings.

Headlines

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Torts expects best from Rangers in must-win game

PHT: Devils not worried by Rangers' late scoring

NHL.com: Unlikely contributors fueling Devils' ride

PHT Extra: Kings will face toughest foe yet

PHT: Kings making Lombardi look like a genius

PHT: History doesn't bode well for Kings in finals

PHT: Gretzky says these Kings better than '93 team

PHT: Coyotes' postgame actions 'unacceptable'