Playoff Push - who plays who?

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Orca Pod

Bitter, Jaded & Disillusioned!,
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East teams - Pittsburgh, Boston, Detroit, Ottawa

Boston - @ Wash (Wed), @ Fla (Thu), @TBay (Sat)
Detroit - Car (Tue), @ Mon (Thu), @ Car (Sat)
Ottawa - Pit (Tue), @ NYR, Thu), @ Phi (Sat)
Pittsburgh - @ Ott (Tue), NYI, (Fri), @ Buff (Sat)

The Islanders have not clinched, but are in fairly good shape - all they need is one point and they clinch a spot, given they have more ROW wins than Ottawa (currently in 9th).

Synopsis:

a) The Ottawa/Pittsburgh game is huge. The other teams will be hoping for a regulation win.

b) Detroit has 2 games against Carolina, so are theoretically in good shape.

c) Boston's games are all on the road.

d) Even if Ottawa wins out in regulation, they don't win a tiebreaker with Pittsburgh. In addition, any Detroit or Boston ROW also means Ottawa loses a tiebreaker with those teams also.

It doesn't look good for Ottawa, but stranger things have happened.

West teams - Vancouver, Calgary, Los Angeles, Winnipeg

Calgary - Ariz (Tue), LA (Thu), @ Wpg (Sat)
Los Angeles - @ Van (Mon), @ Edm (Tue), @ Cal (Thu), SJ (Sat)
Vancouver - LA (Mon), Ari (Thu), Edm (Sat)
Winnipeg - @ Minn (Mon), @ StL (Tue), @ Col (Thu), Cal (Sat)

Minnesota is in good shape, but not clear - two wins and they are in straight. If they beat Winnipeg in regulation tonight, they are in, as they would have more ROW than the Jets if they end up tied.

Synopsis

a) Things really get a lot clearer after tonight, with LA @ Van, and Wpg @ Minn. Then again, if they both end up 3-point games, it's still a bit muddy.

b) Vancouver looks to have the easiest schedule (3 home games), with two games against bottom-feeders. However, they have been known to play like a 'peewee' team against teams below them. They are also a better road team this year than a home team.

c) LA has two games against the teams they are chasing in the Pacific - tonight in Vancouver and Thursday in Calgary.

d) Winnipeg can not win a tiebreaker against Minnesota, Vancouver, or Calgary.

e) Winnipeg can win a tiebreaker against LA, but they would have to win out in regulation/overtime, AND not have LA win a single game in reg/OT.

There's far too many West combinations at this time. After tonight, it should get a bit clearer.

I will update this thread as things happen.
 
There is some pretty significant "crunching" out West as well.

The reigning Stanley Cup Champs could miss the playoffs. That's kind of HUGE news.

Gonna be one helluva final week.
 
Would love to see Calgary vs Vancouver in the first round.

Not that those teams need any more reason to not like each other but could build it even more with a nice playoff series.
 
This is a long shot but if Vancouver and Calgary wind up tied in points it's a good chance they'd have the same ROW as well ... the tie-breaker would then go to the season series vs each other which the Flames would take having earned 5 points in the 4 games vs the Canucks this season (Canucks have 4). Both teams won 2 of the 4 games but one of the Canucks wins was in overtime. Crazy close.
 
Even if they are my team, lets just put the Pens down all three and call it a season. I can't take the pain of watching it much more. Besides if they do make it, I'll be stuck with at least 2 home games worth of playoff tics that I don't want to pay for.....
 
cjkuehn said:
Even if they are my team, lets just put the Pens down all three and call it a season. I can't take the pain of watching it much more. Besides if they do make it, I'll be stuck with at least 2 home games worth of playoff tics that I don't want to pay for.....
Click to expand...

yea I love the Pens but I honestly don't want them in ....no reason to play for another week
 
SJ could put the final screws to LA. LA could need a win on the last game of the season to make the playoffs. SJ could have the chance to turn Champs into Chumps.

Interesting note, if the Pens do not make the playoffs, the Perron trade could be potentially expensive. If the Oilers luck out, they could have 2 picks in the top 4.
 
NNeves said:
This is a long shot but if Vancouver and Calgary wind up tied in points it's a good chance they'd have the same ROW as well ... the tie-breaker would then go to the season series vs each other which the Flames would take having earned 5 points in the 4 games vs the Canucks this season (Canucks have 4). Both teams won 2 of the 4 games but one of the Canucks wins was in overtime. Crazy close.
Click to expand...

So, Calgary would end up playing the Hawks instead of St. Louis or Nashville? hmmm....Go Flames go!!! :D
 
Okay - the Canucks clinch today if

Edmonton beats LA - LA would remain at 93 with 2 games left (max 97 - Canucks have tie breaker)

OR

Arizona beats Calgary AND StL beats Winnipeg - Cgy would be at 93 with 2 games left, Wpg would be at 94 with 2 games left and because they play head to head on Saturday - both teams can't max out and the Canucks either stay ahead of Cgy or win the tie breaker over Wpg.

I think that's correct for the Canucks for results tonight. That being said, all 3 teams chasing them will win and I'll have to continue worrying until Thursday or Saturday.

Edit - apparently, there's more convoluted options with OT/SO results

http://www.playoffstatus.com/nhl/canucksclinch.html

Divisional (non Wildcard) Spot
Case 1
Oilers beats the Kings in regulation

Case 2
Coyotes beats the Flames in regulation, and
Oilers beats the Kings in OT or in a shootout
Click to expand...

Any Playoff Spot
Case 1
Blues beats the Jets in regulation, and
Coyotes beats the Flames in regulation

Case 2
Blues beats the Jets in regulation, and
Flames beats the Coyotes in a shootout, and
Oilers beats the Kings in OT or in a shootout

Case 3
Blues beats the Jets in regulation, and
Coyotes beats the Flames in OT or in a shootout, and
Oilers beats the Kings in OT or in a shootout
Click to expand...

So if the Oilers could win tonight - that'd be swell....
 
This is how I see it playing out....

*Note* This was made yesterday, and I already got VAN-LA wrong, but I think it'll be close to that.
11083719_10153700786168356_5661837010091287695_o.jpg


And in the East, sorry Ottawa!
11146328_10153700830663356_7610311529425404632_o.jpg
 
RGM81 said:
This is how I see it playing out....

*Note* This was made yesterday, and I already got VAN-LA wrong, but I think it'll be close to that.
11083719_10153700786168356_5661837010091287695_o.jpg
Click to expand...

Loser points for the Flames in their last 2 vs LA and Winnipeg, I'm sure they'll take that!

On a side note, if Kings and Flames both win tonight (vs Oilers and Coyotes respectively) and the Flames can pull off a mighty victory at home vs the Kings on Thursday night (3rd game in 4 nights on the road for the Kings) then Kings cannot finish ahead of the Flames!
 
LA is in must win mode. I assume they'll beat the Oilers, but the big game is vs Calgary. This could determine who is in and who is out. LA is travelling for all 3 remaining games (travel back home vs SJ on last game).

If LA ties with Calgary, LA ends up with the lower ranking b/c Calgary has more ROW

Calgary's last game vs the Jets could determine the last playoff spot. LA plays SJ earlier so their fate could hinge on the result of this game. I expect Arizona to continue on their current streak, especially given that Buffalo has won a game recently and made the McDavid Sweepstakes much more interesting.

Pens have their last game vs Buff. If the Pens win tonight, they have a very good chance of making the playoffs.

Detroit has the best chance. They play Carolina twice and the Habs in between, who have already clinched and could rest some players.

Boston plays some tougher teams, so they have some work cut out for them, unless Washington and TB rest their starters, and the Panthers have started enjoying golf out in the sun.

Ottawa's big game is tonight vs the Pens. Then the NYR who hopefully rest their starters, then the last game is vs Philly. Philly would have no problem rolling over if it meant the Pens miss the playoffs.
 
" Detroit has 2 games against Carolina, so are theoretically in good shape."


Theoretically they have been one of the league's worst teams since the trade deadline.
I am starting to think the reason Babcock did't re-sign ahead of time is because he KNEW his team was tuning him out. The ridiculous turnovers in their own zone as well as no offense many nigts has me thinking they may just miss the playoffs.
 

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