Last night, 04/03/15........Colorado beats Ducks on the road, 4-2. Toews of Blackhawks stuns Buffalo in final minutes, 4-3. Blues outscore Dallas on the road, 7-5. Devils beat Montreal in SO 3-2. San Jose barely staying alive by beating lowly Arizona, 3-1.
For those of you who really care about the Pres trophy, here is the update: Any combo of 4 points obtained by us OR 4 points lost by TB and we clinch over them. Any combo of 5 points obtained by us OR 5 points lost by Montreal and Chicago and we clinch over them (which means our magic # to clinch the East is 5). Any combo of 6 points obtained by us OR 6 points lost by the Ducks/Blues/Preds and we clinch over them (which means our magic # to clinch the Pres trophy is 6). So we are sitting in a very good spot if you really look at it. Those teams still have some tough games left. And we have 2 against the Devs, home CBJ, home Sens, at Caps left. By the time Thursday comes the Sens might be done, so we play 1 playoff team, and 3 of the next 4 are home against non-playoff teams (yes CBJ is on fire). Fair shot we can get 5 or 6 points out of the next 8, which should wrap up # 1 OR worst case put us 2nd in the NHL.
TB: at Florida, NJ, Boston - could win out, but we only need 4 points to finish ahead of them, and I find it hard to believe we wouldn't get 4 points on our own. Habs: at Florida, Detroit, at Toronto - I think somehow they will miss a point. But even if not I think we'll get the 5 points needed to finish ahead of them. Hawks: Blues, Wild, at Blues, at Avs - No way they go 8 for 8 with that schedule. Even if they did I think we'll get the 5 points needed to finish ahead of them. Ducks: Dallas and at Zona - Should win out. Meaning we need 6 points to clinch over them. Will be close as I think we'll be right around 5 or 6 out of our last 10. Blues: at Hawks, Peg, Hawks, Wild - Tough schedule. Not going 8 for 8. At 6 for 8 we'd only need 4 points to finish ahead of them. Preds: Stars, at Avs, Wild, at Stars - Could win out, but I bet slip up once and go 6 for 8 (Stars won't lose every game). At 6 for 8 we'd only need 4 points to finish ahead of them. Us - Devs, CBJ, at Devs, Sens, at Caps - if we are being fair we should go 6 for 10 worst case. I will take that down and say 5 for 10. If we go 5 for 10 (50%) worst case we'll be 2nd or 3rd overall to only the Ducks and Preds who could win out. But if I were a betting man I think at this point now we'll win the Pres trophy or worst case finish 2nd behind the Ducks. If we lose tonight that could change, but if we beat the Devs tonight I think we are in fine shape for the Pres trophy or worst case 2nd overall to the Ducks.
Since I do now believe we are going to end up # 1 in the East, here is the 8th spot breakdown: Sens: Caps, at Leafs, Pens, at NYR, at Philly - I think they are done. You want to have any shot, MUST beat the Caps tonight. They have 90 points right now. Bruins: Leafs, at Caps, at Florida, at TB - Very tough schedule. Their edge is playing really well right now, own the TB over the Sens, and after tonight SHOULD be ahead of the Wings and own the TB over them (home Leafs for Bruins at Wild for Wings). Wings: at Wild, Caps, Canes, at Habs, at Canes - Tough schedule. I can see them going 6 for 10 which puts them at 99 points. Meaning the Bruins need 6 as well (since they would own the TB if they tied in ROW's). Pens: at CBJ, at Philly, at Sens, Isles, at Buffalo - A lot of road games. With no Malkin for today (and maybe tomorrow). And no Letang or Ehrhoff for today and tomorrow at least, it is hard for me to see this team winning a lot of games here. If they go 6 for 10 that would be good, and leaves them with 101 points. Caps: at Sens, at Wings, Bruins, Rangers - The team I'd least like to play. Tough schedule but playing so well. If they can win at the Sens tonight I think they'll stay out of 8th. A loss by the Pens at CBJ this afternoon coupled with a win by the Caps at the Sens tonight would be perfect for us. If it goes the other way we could end up with the Caps. Isles: Sabres, at Flyers, at Pens, CBJ - Figuring they should have an easy win tonight I would expect them to stay above 8th. That game at the Pens will be big for us with regards to which team we'll play.
So bottom line is I think we are now in good shape to win the East. And should be worst case 2nd or 3rd in the NHL if not # 1 (that could change if we lose tonight, but I think we'll win). And truthfully it is WIDE open with regards to which team we'll play if we finish # 1 in the East. It is so close. Today/tonight root for the Bruins, Isles, and Caps to win. Root for the Pens and Wings to lose. I think those things can all happen (closest being the Caps at the Sens).
OMG! I do not like putting a name to anything, BUT..................... compulsive-obsessive comes to mind. LOL All in good fun. Too bad there aren't 20 games left in this season for Columbus Blue Jackets. The way they are going, they'd make the playoffs. No doubt in my mind. They clubbed the Pens, 5-3....with Nick Foligno getting the hat trick. Lee Stempniak RW of Winnipeg Jets stars in Jets win over Canucks, 5-4. Jets are in playoff battle of their lives.......with 4 games remaining.
This 8th spot race is so close. Bruins, Wings, Pens all have 95 points. Bruins 79 games played 37 ROW's. Wings 78 games played 37 ROW's. Pens 78 games played and 38 ROW's. So right now we'd play the Bruins. The Bruins also have 0 home games left and struggled to beat the Leafs in a SO last night. The Bruins are certainly possible for us. That's why today is such a big day to determine which team we'll play. The Wings and Pens play their extra games today. The Wings host the Caps at 5 AND the Pens are at the Flyers at 12:30 on NBC. Let's go Caps and let's go Flyers. If the Wings and Pens lose today then I can see us playing one of those teams. If they both win today though, I think we are getting the Bruins round 1. The Wings have two games left against the Canes. The Pens have a game left against the Sabres. Those are almost free points, maybe 3 of 4 for the Wings, so to me today is huge. If the Wings and Pens win today, and you give them the points against the Canes/Sabres, the Wings would be 5 or 6 up and the Pens would be 4 up. Looking at the Bruins schedule, I think it would be almost over and we'd play the Bruins. I don't see anyway the Bruins win out. Maybe 4 of 6 which puts them at 99 points and max 39 ROW's. The Wings would be at 100 or 101 if they win today (factoring in 3 or 4 points against the Canes). The Pens would be at 99 points with 40 ROW's (factoring in a win today in regulation or OT). So to me if the Wings and Pens win today, especially in regulation or OT, I think we are playing the Bruins. Last night wasn't a great night for those who don't want the Bruins round 1. Needing a SO to beat the Leafs hurt the TB AND the Wings getting 2 points at the Wild really hurt our chances to play the Wings. As for the Sens passing the Bruins, still tough. If the Bruins win 1 game and end with 97 points, the Sens would need 6 of 8 to finish ahead. Not impossible, but still not likely IMO. For them start by winning at the Leafs tonight and go from there. Right now the money is on us playing the Bruins round 1...BUT still games left to be played. Root for the Caps and Flyers today if you don't want to play the Bruins/want to play the Wings/Pens.
And one last comment, I think the winner of the Caps/Wings game this evening will be elminated from playing us. It would have to be a perfect storm for the winner tonight to finish 8th, especially if it is a regulation win. So go Caps.
INSIDE THE GAME .......Devils at RANGERS. What I noticed. The Devils got problems. Cheap shot artists.....Ruutu, Zubrus showed when things don't go their way, they display crap tactics. Ruutu takes down Staal with his skates. Zubrus strangles St. Louis on the boards( can you ever pick on someone your own size?). And what's with Cammalleri knocking Zuccs around like a rag doll. There's a reason why Devils lose.....some of their players concentrate on the wrong things. Yeah. The Devils got problems. And it's not all about scoring or even hockey. It's all about their lack of focus. Oh, Lundvqist just frustrated the hell out of the Devils. That first period could have been real wild......if not for Lundy, Devils could have had 3 or 4 goals........ Devils lost focus. Hockey was not a priority.
Do not be surprised if Pittsburgh folds completely and misses out on the playoffs. Pen fans would want blood. What else is their to do in Pittsburgh if their is no playoffs? I think they have to go on the road to Ottawa, in what could be a HUGE game.
For that to happen the Pens need to lose today. If they win today they'll be in because they'd have 99 points pretty much when they beat the Sabres in their last game. Which means Ottawa would need to go 8 for 8. The Pens can pretty much lock themselves in and go a long way towards avoiding 8th with a win at Philly today. Huge game for them. Go Flyers...
Step one done...Pens lose again. Now they sit at 95 points with 79 games played and 38 ROW's. At Ottawa, Isles, at Buffalo left for the Pens. If they only win at Buffalo and end with 97 points and 39 ROW's they could finish 8th. Still going to be close because the Bruins could end up with 97 points and 38 ROW's, which means they would finish 8th. And if the Caps lose this evening they could still be in the 8 mix also. Going to be close, but in order for the Pens to stay in play for us I think they needed to lose, and they did. Now root for the Caps tonight and it will be down to the Pens, Bruins, and Wings for us (still a long shot the Sens slip in IMO).
Pretty clear, the Bruins at this point will win their games. They are healthy now and on the roll. We will either play the pens or the wings. The Pens have a ton of injuries. The Wings are showing their age. Does not seem like the first round will be difficult for the Rangers but who knows. Strange things happen in the playoffs.
When is the last time the Rangers didn't play a nail biting, 6 or 7 game series they won? Don't have a good feeling about this years playoffs. Hope I'm wrong. It's really hard to go on a long run and they do the same the following season. Almost no teams do that. Chicago is one of the few. I think next years team with another year of Hayes, Miller, Fast and Kreider will be the best team we've had in years. I hope they just get stupid hot and win it all. Just not feeling it. I think the faceoffs will be a monumental problem.
You were also feeling this was a bad team earlier in the season dump, so let's hope your feelings stay off this season.... In all seriousness, who knows. The NHL playoffs are always wide open and a crapshoot. We certainly can lose in round 1. It wouldn't shock me, although I admit if we get the Pens or Wings I would be surprised if we lost to either of those teams. Another good result for us as the Caps beat the Wings. Caps now sit at 99 points with 80 games played and 39 ROW's. At this point it would be a longshot at best for the Caps to finish 8th. Their last 2 games are home against the Bruins and home against us. I think we are down to the Bruins, Wings, or Pens as possible round 1 matchups. All with 95 points. All with 79 games played. The Bruins and Wings have 37 ROW's while the Pens have 38 ROW's. The advantage for the Wings is 2 games left against the Canes. The advantage for the Pens, on top of an extra ROW right now, is a game at Buffalo to end the season. The Bruins have the toughest schedule left with all of their remaining games on the road (at Wash, at Florida, at TB), BUT they are the hottest team of the 3. Going to be close, but odds are now we'll get 1 of those 3 teams (still don't see the Sens getting up...and if they don't win tonight they have no shot). I would go: 1. Wings 2. Pens 3. Bruins Right this second we'd play the Wings as the Bruins have the TB over the Wings and the Pens also have the TB over the Wings for the top WC. So right now it would be Det/NYR and Pitt/Mont
BTW...if the Caps and Isles play, and right now it looks likely, that will be a real good series. Could go either way but I would favor the Caps. The only way it won't happen IMO is if the Pens beat the Isles in regulation when they play this week in Pitt.
Caps beat Red Wings 2-1. Caps, coached by Barry Trotz, are the team to watch in the East. Wings threw the kitchen sink at Holtby and Caps held on to beat them. Not an easy feat to do it in Detroit. It looks like the 8th seed will be up for grabs among Red Wings, Pens, & Sens*. This is the scenario that NHL wants. Pure torture for those teams' fans. Teams to watch in East: Caps, Bolts with Bishop in goal, Mtl with Price. In West: Ducks, Kings, Blackhawks, Blues. * Sens.......thinking they would win the Toronto game tonight. Sens lose to Toronto in SO....3-2. Ottawa only has 34 ROWs, 3 behind all other seeds....it looks like they must sweep their 3 remaining games. --PIT, at NYR, at Phil .......and get help! Must rely on other teams to beat Pit, Bos, and Det. Pit: at Ott, -- NYI, at Buf Bos: at Was, at Fla, at TB Det: -- Car, at Mtl, at Car Four teams, 3 spots. Knowing that nothing goes according to plan in NHL nomenclature, let's have Chuck spell it out for us.................. Chuck, please take it away........one more time.
Trends: Leafs own Sens at The Gardens....8 wins in a row. Yet, Leafs cannot beat Boston at Boston ever since their near playoff upset a couple of years ago.
