New top 6 lines Laf-Miller-Zib Panarin-Trocheck-Cuylle I like it. Get Laf back on his strong hand, hopefully more confident carrying the puck. Away from Panarin. No more backhand coasting looking cross-ice. Keep him there for a few games, not just the first 30 mins of tonight pls. Cuylle carries the dirty work for that line and hopefully gets the other two going.
I really don't understand why Drury is paying this guy 11.5 million. Every game pretty much guaranteed he will give up a softie
Biggest game of the season coming up in Columbus tomorrow night. Looks like the Sens are gone for the top WC, so one spot remaining. CBJ and the Rangers tied, CBJ has a game in hand. If CBJ wins tomorrow night they'll be 2 up with a game in hand. As close to a must win as you can get in mid-March.
That was a nice win that shouldn't have gone to OT, sweet move by Schneider but he needs to start stepping up on opponents cruising through the crease, that second Wild goal was on him. I could feel Rempe's frustration but when you wear the Blueshirt in a league of Canadian refs who grew up hating the Rangers you have to roll with the punches. It's hard to believe that Laf only registered 1 SOG with multiple opportunities, he's 10 feet from the goal and looking to pass the puck. I think the Debs spot is still in play with their injuries at 78 points now, there are 6 teams below them with 68 or more and 16 games left the Rangers are in a good spot.
With regards to catching the Devs, this is where the math gets you: Currently the Devs average 1.16 points per game (58.2% of their possible points), currently the Rangers average 1.06 points per game (53% of their possible points). If the Devs average 1.16 PPG over their final 15 games they'll end with 95 points, meaning the Rangers will need 25 out of a possible 32 remaining points to tie the Devs, which would be 78% of their possible remaining points, well above the 53% the Rangers are at now (and the Devs currently own the tiebreaker). Even if the Devs go down to 1 PPG over their final 15 games, they'll end with 93 points, meaning the Rangers will need 23 out of a possible 32 remaining points to tie the Devs, which would be 72% of their possible remaining points, well above the 53% the Rangers are at now. Even if the Devs go down to .666 PPG over their final 15 games, they'll end with 88 points, meaning the Rangers will need 18 out of a possible 32 remaining points to tie the Devs, which would be 56.25% of their possible remaining points, still above the 53% the Rangers are at now. Bottom line is unless the Devs collapse AND the Rangers play very well, the Rangers have no realistic shot to catch the Devs. Realistically, it's one spot remaining (if Ottawa struggles that spot could maybe be in play still - but it's a longshot), which is currently held by CBJ, meaning tonight's game is absolutely huge if the Rangers want to have a shot to make the playoffs.
I said the Debs spot is in play Chuck with 6 teams, Ottawa is 3 points behind NJ, I think the Sens catch NJ regardless of their pre Hughes injury stats. As the games get more physical NJ gets more average, we shall see if they can hold onto a spot.
The Sens can catch the Devs, but that is totally meaningless as the Sens have nothing to do with the Devs, they are in separate divisions, so the Devs spot is not in play as it relates to the Sens. The top 3 in each division get in, and then 2 WC's regardless of division. The Devs are locked into 3rd in the Met unless CBJ or the Rangers pass them, which 99% won't happen as both are 8 points behind the Devs (CBJ has a slightly better shot as they have 2 games in hand on NJ).
For the record, I don't think the Devs are that good, and they'll lose in 5 or 6 to the Canes IMO. I just don't see them getting caught by CBJ or the Rangers with the 8-point cushion they have into today.
The Rangers are 6 points behind the Debs with a game in hand so I guess we'll agree to disagree about the Rangers passing them.
Yup, I just don't see the math working for the Rangers to pass the Devs unless the Rangers play way above what they have done all season AND the Devs play way below what they have done all season. Even if the Devs only get 50% of the points remaining available for them, 14 of 28, they'll finish with 92 points. That would mean the Rangers would need 20 of 30 points remaining for them to tie the Devs (and they have to pass them in regulation wins - which is the first TB). That would be a 66.66% point % from today forward. For the season the Devs are currently at a 57.35% point %, and the Rangers are currently at a 53.73% point %. So, the Rangers would need to be MUCH better than they have been, even if the Devs are much worse than they have been and only get 50% of their remaining available points. You can never say never, but it is highly unlikely based on pure numbers the Rangers can pass the Devs.
