This article might have been a little more difficult to write in pretty much any other regular season in NHL history. The Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Anaheim Ducks were pretty determined to make it easy on us who make “bold” predictions about who will clinch their division title.

While (almost) everyone enjoys the parity that can be found in sports that play with a salary cap, the best run teams still manage to rise to the top of the standings. Unless there is a rash of injuries or an unforeseen malaria outbreak, you can usually bet safe money on some playoff “regulars”.

This season has been a little different obviously. The lockout and subsequent abbreviated schedule have kept teams in the playoff hunt conspicuously longer than most seasons. The NHL would love to call this parity, but let’s be honest, a jacked up schedule with no preparation time gave almost everyone a coin flip chance of making the playoffs.

No offense New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets, but each of you are still relevant in the NHL playoff discussion. Sure there have been some good management decisions, that have overshadowed all of the other bad ones. However, until you guys start showing up at the playoff door with some regularity, we’ll just call this a lockout season and assume that all bets are off.

So let’s go out on a heavily reinforced steel I-beam that will serve as my limb and tell you who will win each division. More importantly, due to the ridiculous seeding process, let’s see who will be the top three seeds in each conference.

Atlantic Division: Pittsburgh Penguins

They clinched earlier this week simply by letting their division rivals lose. Don’t get me wrong, the Penguins have been great this year, but the rest of the division has just plain sucked.

Northeast Division: Boston Bruins

I’ve been reluctant to hand the title, or for that matter, any credit to the NHL’s most fabled franchise (Montreal). Carey Price, P.K Subban and company have been excellent this year, and they have been solid offensively without relying on one or two players for scoring. Perhaps the balance is what makes Montreal so good. How that will translate in the playoffs will be interesting to watch.

Boston has been on fire since acquiring the (former) mulleted-one Jaromir Jagr.  Patrice Bergeron will be back soon after a mild concussion and Boston finishes the season with six of their last nine at home. The Bruins have been almost unbeatable at TD Gardens this year, and that will be the difference between the two famous rivals for the division title and second place in the conference.

Southeast Division: Washington Capitals

Don’t be fooled by the lousy records of each team in the division. The Winnipeg Jets and Capitals will likely have the division crown decided in their final meeting on April 23rd in Washington. The Capitals by far have the tougher schedule, but six of their final eight will be on home ice. If Winnipeg has designs on the playoffs, chances are they are now entering “win the rest of your games” territory.

Central Division: Chicago Blackhawks

No shocker here. In fact , the Hawks magic number is one right now. The next Chicago win or St. Louis loss gives the Blackhawks the division title. Though it’s great to clinch early, I have always felt that there is some merit to playing meaningful games as you head into the postseason. History is filled with first round losers that rested up key players down the stretch. Can’t flip a switch and turn it on immediately. That said, Chicago has the most talented roster this side of Pittsburgh. Joel Quenneville has been around long enough to keep his players game ready and on point.

Northwest Division: Vancouver Canucks

Don’t underestimate the value of Ryan Kesler returning to the Canucks lineup. I think that Vancouver might be the team to watch in this year’s playoffs. No one is talking about them. Minnesota got all of the preseason love, Chicago and Anaheim got all the mid-season love, but none of that will matter when the puck drops in the playoffs. Cory Schneider is finally playing like he deserves the starting spot in goal, and the rest of the Vancouver roster is battle tested in the playoffs. Here’s hoping for a Chicago-Vancouver conference final.

Pacific Division: Anaheim Ducks

Quack quack. No surprise here as the Ducks have opened up an 11-point lead over second place Los Angeles. San Jose is third, one point behind the Kings, but probably out of range. What is most shocking about the Pacific this year is the Jekyll/Hyde that the Sharks have been at home and on the road. If San Jose played with an ounce of spine on the road, they would be pushing Anaheim for the division and second place in the conference.