Philly now has a pretty easy schedule left: Sabres, at Florida, at TB, at Pitt, Canes. So 3 lock wins (assuming they need the Cane game next Sunday). A game that literally means zero to the Pens, a team they own anyway. And at TB, a game that should still matter for TB and home ice against Montreal since it is Thursday night. So really it is almost all about TB for us when it comes to Philly. That is the game they could lose. If not they could go 10 for 10. In a way Philly deserves credit. Yes they have lost 4 straight, but getting a late point last Sunday against the Bruins was big. Getting a point this past week at the Blues was big. Meanwhile we tossed away a point at the Avs, and got zero points at the Flames and against the Sens. Simply put this should be wrapped up for us already. How I see it is we need to win these next two games at home (in reg or OT) against the out of it Canes, and the worst team in the NHL the Sabres (two teams the Flyers also play at home). If we win those two in reg or OT, I think we hang onto home ice. That would mean we'd have the TB, and the Flyers would need 9 of 10 points to pass us. Somehow I think that is enough for us, even though the Flyers could go 10 for 10, I think that would be just enough points for us to get home ice, but it isn't a lock after last night.
Chuck, I'd like home ice against the flyers also as they don't play well here but I am confident Hank can go in there and steal a game if he has to. Would feel a lot better going into the playoffs with big mac up on defense because that flyer series will be nasty and right now we're bringing a knife to a gun fight.
Chuck we cant assume wins by Philly or us. You just never know. Definitely a lost opportunity last night but to assume that if Philly beats TB they win 5 straight is a waste of time. Let's just see what happens. I still think NY will win home ice and the 2
And I agree Dis. I do think we'll get home ice, and do so without having to win that last game at Montreal. I think if we beat the Canes and Sabres in reg or OT that will get us home ice. We are all on the same page. The Flyers will slip up somewhere in their last 5 IMO.
Bottom line for us is we win our final 3 games it doesnt matter what anyone else does, we win the 2 seed. Regardless of record its hard to beat teamst this time of year. I watched the 3rd period of the Stars/Panthers on centre ice. Stars are fighting for the 8 seed and were up 2-0 vs a crappy team playing out the string and the Panthers came back to give a hot Dallas team a terrible loss. You just never know in the NHL, I dont think last nights loss was as bad as people might think. I think we will win the next 2 at home (Canes, Sabres) and clinch before playing a meaningless game on Sat vs the Habs
Flyers were due for a big game and win, and the Sabres are by far the worst team in the NHL. Tomorrow night they play the Panthers in Florida, maybe that will be a tougher game. We better beat the Canes in regulation, and I am sure we will. The Flyers will slip up at least once in their final 4 games IMO.
They'd better just make sure they get a point out of these next two and not take for granted theyre in. Last thing you want is to have to get a definate pt in Mtl. The Devils will probably win their next 3.
And yes if we win our last 3 games in reg or OT we get home ice, that is clear. BUT personally I rather not have to win that Montreal game or not have home ice. Not that we cannot win the game, reasonable chance it means nothing for Montreal anyway, but why would we want to have to play that game all out to win that game for home ice. Win these next two in reg or OT, and I think we'll be in a great spot. We'll see how it goes down.
It is just official now. We were in once we beat CBJ IMO. Still good to see we are now locked in for sure, and have that X next to our name. The East is pretty much locked in now as well. Bruins # 1. Pens # 2. Habs play TB...Habs getting home ice most likely. We play Philly...edge us home ice, but still could go either way in reality. Wings and CBJ will be the WC's, the Wings have the small edge for the 7 spot, which quite frankly is a huge advantage over 8 IMO. If we win our next two at home against bad teams in reg or OT we'd have 95 points, and force the Flyers to get 7 of their 8 possible points remaining. Let's win these next two at least and then see if we need the Montreal game or not Saturday night (the Flyers play at Pitt at 3 on Saturday so we will know by that night if we need points for the 2 or not).
Get an extra day if we start at home, another reason to want home ice: The Knicks play at MSG on 4/16 and Billy Joel plays at MSG on 4/18 so if the Rangers finish in second place in the Metro Division and own home ice in the first round the first game will be on 4/17 and game two will likely be on 4/19. So 10 days from today we'd play if we get home ice.
If we open in Philly we start on 4/16, and game two would be 4/18: In Philadelphia, if they finish with home ice, the Wells Fargo center is open on 4/16, 4/17, 4/18 and booked on 4/19, 4/22 and 4/26, 4/27 and 4/28. It is likely, because of the WFC being booked between 4/26-4/28, that there will be a back to back in this series, likely game 5 and game 6. Doesn't sound like a big difference, but why wouldn't we want an extra day for McDonagh.
Extra day for McDonough is great I suppose but I want home ice for one primary reason: This has long series written all over it and we need that G7 at home
For sure Dis. The way I see the Flyers series is I do believe each team will win a game on the others home ice. SO the team without home ice needs to win two games on the road, and most likely the 2nd road win would need to be game 7. Everyone knows it is difficult to win a game 7 on the road, can be done as we beat the Caps last season, but it is not easy to do. Game 7 is why you really want home ice, and to me this series has 7 written all over it, so it is a big edge to have it at MSG IMO. I will most likely pick the team with home ice to win the series for the reason I mentioned above. I have felt that way for a while.
