The playoff push: 90+ points or bust

by James Mirtle on Apr 5, 2009 12:30 AM CDT Comment 168 comments

UPDATED with Saturday games
(56 games left in reg. season)

Given there's just a week left in the season, this will be the final update of the playoff push. My thanks to everyone who followed along and linked here this season.

I'll be doing a "who will play who" type update going forward, so stay tuned for that.

Western Conference (90 points)

San Jose - qualified Feb. 23
Detroit - qualified Feb. 27
Calgary - qualified March 23
Chicago - qualified March 25
Vancouver - qualified March 27
Columbus - 0-3-1
Anaheim - 1-2-0
St. Louis - 2-1-0
Nashville - 2-1-0
Minnesota - 3-0-1
Edmonton - eliminated April 2 (max 89 points)
Dallas - eliminated March 28 (max 86 points)
Los Angeles - eliminated March 24 (max 83 points)
Phoenix - eliminated March 14 (max 81 points)
Colorado - eliminated March 10 (max 74 points)

Eastern Conference (93 points)

Boston - qualified Feb. 26
New Jersey - qualified March 14
Washington - qualified March 17
Carolina - qualified April 2
Philadelphia - qualified April 3
Pittsburgh - qualified April 4
Montreal - 0-3-1
NY Rangers - 2-1-0
Florida - 3-1-0
Buffalo - 4-0-0
Ottawa - eliminated March 25 (max 86 points)
Toronto - eliminated March 19 (max 83 points)
Atlanta - eliminated Feb. 26 (max 82 points)
Tampa Bay - eliminated March 3 (max 72 points)
NY Islanders - eliminated Feb. 18 (max 69 points)

For an explanation of what this is, see the year's first playoff push post here.

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Comments

Stick a fork in Toronto?

NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Sports And The City

A Toronto sports blog, where we unequivocally and unapologetically support the home team...

by eyebleaf on Jan 5, 2009 12:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Look out for that fork!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 14, 2009 10:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t look now, but here comes Ottawa.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Mar 18, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

…rushing up like the ground beneath a skydiver with a broken parachute.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 19, 2009 12:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ottawa goes 12-1 down the strech, edges out Montreal for the 8th seed, and 12 000 Montrealers commit suicide.

by Habs on Mar 19, 2009 7:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only 12,000?

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 19, 2009 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There’s only so much room on the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 19, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They can take turns jumping.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Mar 19, 2009 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s only with Ottawa making the playoffs – they go on to win the Cup, and that numbers nears a million…

by Habs on Mar 19, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, there is going to be a lot of real estate available in Montreal, then? :)

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Mar 19, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

haha there already is! If you’re sharp, there’s already some astounding deals out there.

by Habs on Mar 19, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Of course to secure said deal you’d have to live in Montreal.

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* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Mar 19, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Once 12000 jump, the rest will be cushioned by the dead.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure!

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Mar 24, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

5 points

That’s the difference between Buffalo and Toronto, so with just over half the schedule left, I wouldn’t rule anything out.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Jan 5, 2009 2:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I concur

But stab those bastards from ottawa with your tyned utensil!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 5, 2009 2:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, yes

Probably my favorite overly simplistic standings system on the interwebs. Always a delight to see it up for the first time each season.

by jamestobrien on Jan 5, 2009 2:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Shh...

don’t let Melnyk know you think the Sens are done, he’s still convinced they’ll make the playoffs…

by Karina on Jan 5, 2009 5:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

they’ll still beat Buffalo 5-2 tonight, because that’s what Ottawa does.

by Afino on Jan 6, 2009 8:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

…or tell him everyone’s debating Tavares or Hedman, like Cybulski did last night. Smooth. Also:

the Penguins are almost caught by Florida

Those are five words you never want to see following your team’s name. Ruh roh, Shaggy.

by Doogie2K on Jan 6, 2009 9:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

When I first glanced at the list, I thought the numbers for the Islanders were “31-0-0.” Not quite that bad, but almost.

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jan 7, 2009 3:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Come back in 10 games!

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Jan 7, 2009 11:07 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

LOL.

by James Mirtle on Jan 7, 2009 12:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s just mean.

Maybe true, but still mean. :)

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jan 10, 2009 11:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

… ‘cause it’s down to 9 now!

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 12, 2009 10:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It is glaring how the top four teams in the west – San Jose, Detroit, Chicago and Calgary – are separating themselves from the pack.

And one of Minnesota or (more likely, imo) Edmonton is screwed, because four NW teams aren’t making the playoffs. Especially with Dallas creeping up.

by Resolute on Jan 7, 2009 1:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Vancouver’s in that mix, too. They need Luongo back.

by James Mirtle on Jan 7, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Vancouver missing out as well would bring a smile to my face, but the Avs are done, imo, and the Oilers are a mess. Even without Luongo, the Canucks have been a better team than the Wild, especially since Minnesota got completely hosed by the Gaborik situation.

I think the Canucks are still pretty safe as the 2nd place team in the Northwest, even despite their embarrassing loss to the Blues last night. Though at this point, they are slipping back into a position where they get to face Detroit or San Jose in the playoffs. Good luck with that.

Incidentally, I never felt the Northwest was nearly as good as people said the last few years. Everyone talked about how great and how “even” the division was. It had parity, no doubt, but parity is a synonym for mediocrity, and that was exposed in the playoffs each year. Man am I happy that the Flames are finally showing signs of separating themselves from that collection of “meh”.

by Resolute on Jan 10, 2009 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How are the Flames managing their decreasing “meh-ness”?

I haven’t followed them really, but I know that Iginla has been off his normal outstanding pace, Phaneuf is approximately mediocre, and the fans are a bit worried about the goaltending. Is it depth of scoring in the lineup? Curtis Glencross seems to have been playing well, despite being stuck with a name that reminds me of a British banker.

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jan 10, 2009 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Attitude more than anything I would think. There was always a general feeling of some kind of miasma within the Flames the past couple years. The team just wasn’t all moving in the same direction. Tanguay wanted out, and that would have affected his play, while Huselius’ vanishing act didn’t help. Though both of those players were fantastic for us overall, so I don’t want to shoot them in the back on the way out the door…

Every single off-season acquisition has done amazingly well for the Flames, all things considered. Even Bourque and Bertuzzi, who are both injury magnets, have remained healthy. Kids like Adam Pardy and Brandon Prust have proven they belong.

The big thing though was a 6-1 loss in San Jose a couple months ago, which followed a 6-1 loss in Chicago. The team completely reassessed how it was playing, and everyone bought into the new scheme. The Flames have been almost unbeatable since. Kipper (and the D in front of him) have played much better, though his numbers will never tell that story because of the early season struggles. And the scary part is that neither Phaneuf nor Iginla are “right” at the moment. Dion’s learning how to play top minutes against the top guys, and is struggling to adjust. Iginla is getting points, but he just doesn’t seem as comfortable out there on many nights as usual. If these two can get on track…..

by Resolute on Jan 11, 2009 5:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Where does Keenan fit into that narrative?

Subdued and controlled by Sutter? Uniting them through mutual fear/disdain/pity? Haven’t heard much about him this year (probably a good sign).

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 12, 2009 10:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, I think the Keenan angle was badly overblown last year. Not much has changed, including the utter lack of interest in making the powerplay work. Our PK has shown a marked improvement, which may indicate that losing Wayne Flemming was a good thing, since I believe he coached it last year.

by Resolute on Jan 12, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting. Yeah, he’s an easy target/focus for any story that involves him, whether good or bad. He’s had his successes but also his stubborn, almost galling failures (probably made more galling by a refusal to admit mistakes). I always figured he needs a clear authority above him to rein him in.

Regarding the powerplay, I remember Brett Hull (granted, not exactly an objective party on this topic) complaining that he never practiced it in St. Louis.

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 12, 2009 11:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, nobody will ever doubt that Sutter is a clear authority. ;o) And above him is Ken King in the president’s chair. Chances are very, very good Keenan knows exactly where he stands.

by Resolute on Jan 12, 2009 6:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Islanders are on pace to finish 82 points behind San Jose and 38 from a playoff spot. They’re one of the worst teams we’ve seen in a good long while.

Are you implying that Scott Gordon will come up just shy of number one in the Adams voting?

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by Donny Rivette on Jan 14, 2009 9:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I honestly don’t think Gordon deserves much of the blame. This is probably what they wanted from him.

by James Mirtle on Jan 14, 2009 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Isles are still just 5 wins back of the Leafs. Comes on fishsticks! You can do it.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 14, 2009 10:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it. Toronto would have to only win six or seven games the rest of the year for the Isles to catch them.

by James Mirtle on Jan 14, 2009 10:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I have faith in the Leafs :)

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 14, 2009 3:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gordon's fine...

….it’s the Glen Hanlon rule—he’s getting more out of his team than people expected, and he’s successfully developing the young guys.

by Forsch31 on Feb 11, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I've only heard good things about Scott Gordon

he seems to be very organized and knows what he’s doing. I forget where I read it but I heard when Gordon was interviewing for a job in the AHL, he had scouted that teams opponents and made gameplans for all of them. He seems bright, and could be the future of American coaches in the NHL.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Feb 11, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I interviewed him back when he was rumoured for the Atlanta job and he’s a smart dude, no question. I think he’ll do well, even if things don’t work out in Long Island.

by James Mirtle on Feb 11, 2009 12:02 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I pondered whether Gordon might get canned for this, until I realized of course not, Snow wants the kids to play, and this is a perfectly expected result from that. If the team is still garbage in two years, then we might have issues.

by Doogie2K on Jan 14, 2009 10:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. H was always going to get a free pass on this year, barring absolute team mutiny and Melrosian grasp of strategy. The 260+ man-games lost to injury provides decent cover, but either way he’s done what he was hired to do. His D-day won’t come until he gets to run with a better roster.

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 14, 2009 11:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I still say Gordon’s a good coach. They wanted 30th place this year.

by James Mirtle on Jan 14, 2009 11:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m probably one of the few commenters on here who can remember this version of the Islanders…this was LONG before the teams that put those stripes on the uniforms of the current team, and I can tell you, they were just horrible.

by tbell61 on Jan 14, 2009 10:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Said Al Arbour, on the NHL show “Pioneers”: “I took the job [in the Isles’ 2nd year], and Scotty Bowman said, ’You’re going to be in last place for 10 years.’ I said, ‘Well, we’ll see.’”

Thank God for Arbour.

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 14, 2009 11:04 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Of course, Bossy, Trottier, D. Potvin, et. al, helped at least a LITTLE bit, but Arbour is one of the finest men to ever coach in this league, and I rue the day the Blues let him go.

by tbell61 on Jan 14, 2009 11:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, this will sound ridiculous, but I’ve actually been impressed with how Gordon’s kept them, um, “energetic” despite the miserable record. Maybe it’s because there are constantly new bodies in the lineup, but they’ve rarely looked “dead” out there (for a last-place team, anyway). Just remarkably overmatched.

Lighthouse Hockey: an SB Nation New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Jan 14, 2009 11:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I like how Boston can lose more than 2/3 of their games and still make the playoffs.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jan 16, 2009 11:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t

~~~come visit my new blog~~~
~~~aroundthehabs.blogspot.com~~~

by gillis on Jan 18, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Montreal is in a really solid position, too.

Could be worse – Boston could go on an epic losing streak and recover just in time to play well against Montreal in the first round of the playoffs. :)

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jan 18, 2009 1:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I actually like how the Habs’ and Bruins’ positions would be essentially reversed if the season series had continued as it was last year. A lot of the Oilogosphere stats guys are waiting for the other statistical shoe to drop in Boston, with the high percentages all around, and if that happens against Montreal deep in the playoffs…well, so much the better.

by Doogie2K on Jan 19, 2009 7:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

God No

I want the “100th” season celebrations to end as soon as possible.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 20, 2009 2:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But that means another year of “Drive for 25!”

by Afino on Jan 20, 2009 2:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s only not the 100th season because of the lockout. After birthday 99 (12/4/08), you experience your 100th year.

by Doogie2K on Jan 21, 2009 10:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dallas let a point slip away after being up 3-0 in the 2nd and 4-2 in the 3rd.

Better not hope that’s the point that keeps them out.

by Afino on Jan 16, 2009 2:14 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So much for Moses Sundin leading Vancouver to the promised land. Five games, two or three points, a minus player, and he was in the box for three GWGs against as the Canucks have lost six in a row at home in what I’ve heard is the first time in nearly four decades.

by Resolute on Jan 16, 2009 5:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sundin is supposed to be rusty

And despite that he still got 3 points in 5 games. It’s only 0.6ppg, but knowing that he started playing in the middle of the season, 0.8ppg is probably the realistic target, and I think he’ll reach there. He’s only supposed to provide secondary scoring (primary scoring should come from the Sedin twins.) The Canucks played their most comfortable style last game against the Sharks and almost eked out an victory. They’ll make the playoffs assuming no more significant injuries. If Demitra is out long term and one more regular gets injured, then they should consider tanking the season and trading all the UFAs, including the twins.

by SJKel on Jan 22, 2009 1:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

20-14 doesn’t look like much but the Canucks are 1-4-2 since Sundin arrived…

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Jan 22, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It would be a surprise if they don’t come of their slump given the extra rest and the good effort last game. The worst problem with team during the slump was poor defensive plays, and against the Sharks they did a very decent job. Of course the team couldn’t reach 20-14 if they continue the 1-4-2 pace, but the same team in November was 8-3-2, with Luongo injured on 24th of the month. Then they were one game below .500 in December, and even in January the team got 2 games below .500, despite winning only two games (thanks to the OTL point).

by SJKel on Jan 22, 2009 3:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it’s going to be close. There’s a real dogfight for the playoff spots there in the West, but if Vancouver gets Luongo and Sundin going, they should be one of the favourites to get in.

There’s probably a big difference between finishing fifth or sixth and seventh or eighth, too.

by James Mirtle on Jan 22, 2009 5:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It looks like Sundin has shaken off some rust.

Luongo needs to regain his form soon too, even though he’s known to be a slow starter.

by SJKel on Feb 11, 2009 4:27 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No kidding, hey? And here I thought he’d close in on his first Vezina at some point soon.

by James Mirtle on Feb 11, 2009 4:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

On the other hand, I think the team is so shallow that they can’t afford more injuries going forward. Demitra coming back early would help, but they may do fine without him (they were fine without him for a while and he didn’t stand out as having a good season either, even when he was in the in lineup). However, if Demitra doesn’t come back at all, the team is very likely to be one major injury away from missing the playoffs.

by SJKel on Jan 22, 2009 6:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, we're past the "don't look now" category...

…but where the bloody hell did Dallas come from? I guess it just goes to show that no one’s out of it ‘til they’re out of it. Or, take heart Kings/Preds/Avs/Blues fans, there’s still a chance.

by Doogie2K on Feb 1, 2009 7:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

The good news for the Stars was that they always had a lot of time to make up that ground. Some teams are running out now.

by James Mirtle on Feb 1, 2009 9:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It is easier to make up ground with 60 games left than 30, but a late-season surge is still possible. Hell, the Oilers were one loss to Nashville away from completing the leap from 14th in January to 8th in April last year; that would’ve been one for the ages, I think.

by Doogie2K on Feb 2, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Remember how New Jersey was supposed to flop when Brodeur was hurt? They are having an excellent season.

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Feb 2, 2009 6:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

So does this prove that Clemmensen is a legit NHL starter, or that Brodeur is at least somewhat a product of the New Jersey system?

by Doogie2K on Feb 2, 2009 10:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It’s a pretty interesting question. How can you not think that?

Clemmensen’s an all right goaltender, but I think the Devils are actually playing much better this season than in the past few. Brent Sutter’s done an amazing job.

by James Mirtle on Feb 2, 2009 11:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As a Dev's fan,

I can tell you that the D playing really great this season has helped Clemmer tremendously. He gives up A LOT of big rebounds that our D has been alert enough to clear. Also, it’s not as though we’re playing the neutral zone trap anymore. I think, as James said, Sutter has just done a great job at getting the most out of his players this season. It’s very exciting to think about how good we could be when Marty returns.

by Mandmeisterx on Feb 2, 2009 12:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah

I figured there was some element of NJD changing the way they played because of the goalie; teams do play to their goalkeeper on some level. It just seemed like an amusing lead-in for Contrarian’s blog.

I figure the jury’s still out on Clemmensen as a #1, but I think he’s at least solidified himself as a backup down the road. Maybe Columbus could use some Mason insurance?

by Doogie2K on Feb 2, 2009 6:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

…the Devils aren’t really playing the lockdown trap style as much as they have in the past. They’ve actually opened up their offense a bit this year.

by Forsch31 on Feb 11, 2009 10:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with the sentiment that just maybe Sutter and the Devils rallied around Brodeur’s injury and used it as motivation to prove that it’s both not Brodeur and not the system at the same time.

I’m not sure that it quite legitimizes Clemmensen as a #1 NHL goalie yet, but it’s getting there.

It’s surprised me as well.

by Afino on Feb 2, 2009 2:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The funny thing is that I thought “all right” was the right description for Clemmensen when he was playing at Boston College. He never struck me as being any better than Adam Hauser or Travis Weber, the two goalies Minnesota won titles with in the early part of this decade.

by J. Michael Neal on Feb 3, 2009 12:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think he’s worked very, very hard. He is an interesting guy; I liked talking to him during his time with the Leafs last season.

by James Mirtle on Feb 3, 2009 12:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, that would be a significant difference, because I never got the impression that Hauser worked all that hard, and Travis Weber decided to leave the program, because he came to the conclusion that he didn’t enjoy playing big time hockey.

Weber’s a guy that I think would be interesting to track down. I thought it showed an amazing amount of courage and self awareness for a 21-year old to conclude, after winning a national title as a sophomore, that he wasn’t having any fun. I am still impressed that he was able to just walk away.

by J. Michael Neal on Feb 3, 2009 10:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you ever heard the adage ‘goalies are weird’? It applies in all sorts of ways.

by James Mirtle on Feb 3, 2009 10:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Weber’s so weird, he makes it back around to well adjusted.

by J. Michael Neal on Feb 4, 2009 12:54 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tough loss?

Yeah, it was tough, but considering the injuries on the back end right now, the Sabres still had a 2-2 Western road trip.

I think any more than 4 out of 8 points was unexpected anyways from most followers.

by Afino on Feb 3, 2009 7:52 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention the boatload of home games in February. If Buffalo’s going to make a charge, it’s going to be now.

by Afino on Feb 3, 2009 7:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Losing 8 of 10...

…and they’re still in 5th place? Boy, if the Habs ever get it together, they might just fulfill expectations, after all.

by Doogie2K on Feb 10, 2009 12:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking much along these lines… BUT it seems we’ve been waiting all year for them to ‘get it together’

by Habs on Feb 11, 2009 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair, we’ve also been waiting all year for them not to have at least one catastrophic injury to a key player.

by Doogie2K on Feb 11, 2009 4:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

They still have to get it together though… Is Vinny still on the horizon?

by Sct112 on Feb 13, 2009 12:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My apologies

Sorry about misunderstanding your model James. I have edited my blog so as to clear up any misunderstanding. Just curious, remember that professor last year whose class did a statistical projection on who would make it and who wouldn’t? Wondering if they will be doing that again or anyone else for that matter?

by Brad Ratgen on Feb 15, 2009 9:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That Jim Kelley article seems awfully familiar … wait a minute …

It only took a few years for him to rip the idea off from a better writer. Usually plagiarists are a little quicker than that. :)

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Feb 22, 2009 8:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Miller's injury

Obviously this is a key injury at a key time in the schedule. It may not mean he misses a lot, but who knows how he recovers from the sprained ankle at this point. We’ve seen plenty of goalies struggle in their returns to action this year. Fortunately they still managed to beat the Rangers with Miller out for most of the 3rd, but the Sabres will be interesting to watch over the stretch because of the injury.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Feb 22, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I realize this is "angels dancing on the head of a pin" territory

…but some folks have the Senators as twice as likely to make the playoffs compared to the Leafs.

(.2% compared to .1%)

hee hee hee.

jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog

"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)

by jrwendelman on Feb 22, 2009 1:08 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You should add the date when teams are eliminated.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Feb 22, 2009 8:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

How’s next Thursday for the Leafs?

by J. Michael Neal on Feb 22, 2009 9:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The sooner the better!

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Feb 22, 2009 11:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You’re right, I do usually do that. Now I have to look up when the Isles bit the big one.

by James Mirtle on Feb 22, 2009 9:44 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it was some time before Christmas…

Lighthouse Hockey: SBN's New York Islanders blog with hip issues.

by Dominik on Feb 25, 2009 12:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

90 points as a benchmark...

I understand the logic behind it at all, and the history over the previous 3 seasons.

But I think that benchmark will be altered by a few points in the coming seasons. You have to account for one conference dominating the either (last I saw, the East had won only something like 90 of 210 (give or take) games against the West this year. That’s a pretty brutal winning percentage even when you count for OTL points. Combine that with the increase in inter-conference games this year and down the road and I think it’s bound to make a couple point difference at least.

18 inter-conference games compared to the 10 the last couple of years is bound to make a bit of difference in the standings when one Conference is superior.

It might not play out every year, but I could see the “gold standard” for the playoffs dropping from 90 into the mid to upper 80s down the road.

by Make a play Whitner on Feb 22, 2009 11:41 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You also have to consider how close the races are, and whether the bubble teams cannibalize each other, or whether they all give each other Bettman points out the wazoo because they’re playing so tightly. I dunno, I don’t see it going too much lower than, say, 88.

by Doogie2K on Feb 23, 2009 7:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Another way is to look at it

is the projected points over 82 games. In the East, the 8th ranked team is project to have 93 points, while in the East, it’s 90 points. I think 90 is still pretty safe.

by SJKel on Feb 23, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, I agree, 90 is the best starting point, then adjust late if it looks like it’ll be really different, I was just saying, there’s no way it goes down past the high 80s.

by Doogie2K on Feb 23, 2009 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This is the third or fourth year I’ve done this, and the numbers are always within a point or two of where it ends up. The fact is, that doesn’t make hardly any difference given we’re just eyeballing things with nearly two months to go.

by James Mirtle on Feb 23, 2009 12:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

My prediction

Sabres sneak in because even with Lalime, they suck less than the Rangers.

Carolina gets in because of the Rangers’ downfall and ends up with the 7 seed and a date with the Caps (which would be very entertaining). Florida jumps to 5th with the meltdown in Montreal, which drops the Habs to 6th.

Sabres backdoor it into 8th after Pittsburgh can’t get it together either. By James’ table, all they have to do is play .500 hockey, even with a backup goalie.

1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Jersey
4. Philly
5. Florida
6. Montreal
7. Carolina
8. Buffalo

9. Pittsburgh
10. NY Rangers

Heard it here first. ;)

by Afino on Feb 23, 2009 8:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t like playing Jersey in the first round. Really don’t.

by Habs on Feb 23, 2009 9:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Frankly, I’d think Jersey would be the lesser of two evils between them and the Caps.

Did the Caps ever look good yesterday or what?

But you’re right. I want no part of either team in the playoffs. That’s why I’m hoping the Sabres stick in that 8 spot – they actually have played Boston tight all year and are one of the few teams to beat them in Boston. I think it would turn out a lot like the Habs/Bruins first round last year.

by Afino on Feb 23, 2009 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Similar to your reasoning, I like the Caps much better than the Devils as a 1st round opponent for the Habs. Their style of play matches ours much better than the Devils and most games we manage to give them a good run.
Jersey I think is our worst matchup in the playoffs, followed closely by Boston (hurts to say that…)

by Habs on Feb 23, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

None of the potential first round matchups look very enticing for Montreal, but that’s the way it goes. Even if the team made it past round 1, they’d likely get any of the top 4 for an opponent in round 2 unless there’s a ton of upsets. Montreal’s only chance at a long playoff run is a red hot Carey Price, regardless of the matchup.

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by saskhab on Feb 23, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d honestly think the best situation for Montreal is a rematch with the Bruins.

Of course, being a Sabres fan I’d love to see the two teams kill each other. ;)

by Afino on Feb 23, 2009 12:00 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Heck, I’d take a healthy team and a re-focused Price first and see if that goes anywhere.

by Doogie2K on Feb 23, 2009 2:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Any idea on how to re-focud Price? Because as it stands right now, it’s not looking good in that area… I think that’s our biggest concern right now, as the rest appears to be improving a bit.

by Habs on Feb 23, 2009 2:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Goalie coach? Sports psychologist?

They gotta bring someone in to screw his head back on because something’s not right there. Either that or he’s still injured and no one’s talking about it. Either way, this is beginning to become a pattern, in defiance of the scouting reports that he was unflappable. Granted, it’s easier to be unflappable in the Pacific Northwest than it is in Montreal, but still…

Actually, scratch all that, if I’m Bob Gainey, I man up and tell Gary that Carey’s still hurt, then put him on a conditioning stint during/after the ASG and ease him back in. Who the hell puts an injured goalie back in during a game that punishes goalies more than any other position?

by Doogie2K on Feb 23, 2009 6:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Halak?

I haven’t seen a ton of Montreal games, but in the ones I’ve seen where Halal was playing he’s looked very, very good. Maybe because there is less pressure on him than on Price.

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Feb 25, 2009 5:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Halal = Halak, of course.

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Feb 25, 2009 5:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He’s the man right now, and he can help win a playoff round (and make the playoffs), but Montreal’s only hope is a Conn Smythe type performance from their goalie, and Price is the guy to deliver that (as opposed to Jaro).

It’s still over a month until playoffs, so lot’s of time for Price to get his game on track as long as Jaro can handle a lot of the duties until then.

I personally think it doesn’t matter which of the 4 teams Motnreal plays, but I think the higher they finish the better, so my preference is Philly in that regard (it’d mean finishing 5th, maybe even passing them for 4th). If the Habs beat any of those teams I think it’d be good for them mentally and they’d make a tough 2nd round opponent as a result. Especially if Lang came back in time for Round 2 as he believes he could.

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by saskhab on Feb 25, 2009 11:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Have you not looked at Lalime’s stats over the last 4 games???

Yes, Tellqvist is going to have to play here and there, but there has been no dropoff from Miller to Lalime since the injury.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 6, 2009 12:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good point. I missed the games over the weekend when I was outta town.

by James Mirtle on Mar 6, 2009 1:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Lalime is good, but he is best when he gets to go on a run of starts. That was only going to happen if Miller got injured.

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by TheTick on Mar 6, 2009 1:06 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Stealing the stats from the Buffalo News, Lalime has a 1.73 GAA and .945 SP over the past 4. I can’t imagine he plays both games this weekend, though.

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by TheTick on Mar 6, 2009 1:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t either, which is why I added Tellqvist is going to have to get a start here and there.

I just took exception to James’ comment about the backup situation, because it’s a lesson the Sabres learned last year with Thibault. It’s the reason why Lalime is in Buffalo in the first place – the need for an experienced backup who, well, wouldn’t suck in case Miller got hurt or needed a break.

Lalime’s overall record (I think it’s something like 3-9-2 or close to that) has little to do with how well he’s actually played. Goal support was the bigger problem, and now that Vanek’s back, maybe that will fix itself….

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by Afino on Mar 6, 2009 1:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I still think they should have went with someone better than Lalime. Perhaps he’ll prove me wrong, but he’s been a below average netminder postlockout in every season.

by James Mirtle on Mar 6, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, the goal support for Lalime has been terrible even before this recent string of games (I could be wrong, but every time they’ve scored 3 goals for him, they’ve won. In none of his 11 losses have they given him more than 2 goals to work with…and on a lot of occasions, they scored their goals for him in garbage time or down by 2 with a minute left, that type of thing. He hasn’t been nearly the problem that his record says he is, even before Miller got hurt.

Still, he’s a backup for a reason…and it would be unfair to expect him to keep playing as well as he has the past couple weeks. They’ve absolutely gotta get more from Connolly and Stafford if they want to get in…those guys were tearing it up in January but have really struggled of late, especially Stafford.

by Make a play Whitner on Mar 6, 2009 2:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Right.

But which case is more likely the reason the Sabres miss the playoffs?

- Lalime regressing to the mean of merely average (or below average)

- Listless performances in big games like the 3-0 home shutout against Carolina 3 weeks ago or the 2-0 loss to the Islanders last weekend when that should have been two easy points?

If you look at the season series records of the teams the Sabres are around, you’ll find a bigger reason why they’re still out of a spot…

Carolina: 1-1-1 (lost 1 point there)
Pittsburgh: 2-1-1 (gained 1 point)
Florida: 1-1 (lost 1 point due to the win being a SO win)
Montreal: 3-1-1 (gained 3 points due to a Buffalo SO win)

Right there is only 7-4-3 against your closest competition (and the Sabres only racking up 2 more points), which is unacceptable in today’s NHL for making the playoffs. Thankfully, they still have 2 against Florida and 1 against Carolina, Montreal, and the Rangers. They’re also 3-0 against the Rangers already this season, but even that only puts them at 10-4-3 (a 7-point gap between the Sabres’ points and opponents’ points). Basically, it’s still not good enough.

More alarming is wasted points against Colorado (SOL), Atlanta (SO/OT losses twice), Islanders (two regulation losses), and the fact they can never beat Ottawa.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 6, 2009 3:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, nice research

Not really sure what you’re getting at though. Even good teams waste points against not so good opponents. Their record against the teams their competing with is pretty good, as you pointed out…at the very least 10-4-3 is acceptable there.

But the bottom line is that the Sabres are just about as mediocre as a team can possibly be. This isn’t a 64 game trend, it goes back to last year and really the last half of their President’s Trophy season too.

They played their best hockey this year when Stafford-Connolly-Vanek were together and clicking pretty well. A return to productive form by #21 and #19 are absolutely crucial if they’re going to get in…because their offensive depth is lousy. Roy is a very good center, but if Stafford and Vanek are up with Connolly, it’s really going to be tough to get balanced production…because their wingers aren’t very good depth-wise.

by Make a play Whitner on Mar 6, 2009 4:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

But the bottom line is that the Sabres are just about as mediocre as a team can possibly be

Ain’t that the truth.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 6, 2009 4:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So I didn’t see the game, but leaving Ozzie in for 7 goals, on only 23 shots, that has to spell the end of Chris Osgood in Detroit, right? I mean, there was already a problem there, they give him 10 days off to fix himself, and then they go right into giving up 8 goals a game. Theres no more clear way to say “put up or shut up” than to leave you out there to get absolutely embarassed for 7G on 23 shots, right? Again, I didn’t actually see the game, but to me, that’s a pretty strong statement that you’re making, isn’t it?

by IAmJoe on Mar 8, 2009 1:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Not all Ozzie's Fault

Brian Rafelski turned the puck over twice for two goals. The Andrew Murray goal was another give away. And Rick Nash had a hat trick, but all three goals were unassisted.

by Truth Serum on Mar 8, 2009 3:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Isles didn't get the memo!

Looks like the Islanders didn’t get your memo that they were supposed to be ’tanking the season" to get Tavares. LOL

by Fauxrumors on Mar 9, 2009 2:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that’s a pretty amazing record they’ve put up this season. I wonder if they’ll make the playoffs.

by James Mirtle on Mar 9, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

TB Tanking it!

1) A crappy record for sure james, but a team, that is supposed to be ‘tanking it" as some have repeatedly stated recently, they haven’t been playing along as planned. No?
2) Meanwhile the Lightning, chock full of super stars, etc, ARE tanking it yet we haven’t read too many recent stories of their motivations.

by Fauxrumors on Mar 10, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, you can’t underestimate how much better they are because they lost Witt to a suspension. That guy is garbage at this stage.

I think the old cliche about “playing for their jobs holds water.” Streit and Martinek are the only two guys in their lineup right now that even make a million bucks a year. Most of their players are due to be free agents, and I’m sure there’s no greater motivation for an NHL player than the difference between an NHL and AHL paycheck.

by Make a play Whitner on Mar 10, 2009 11:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

1) Ironicly they are playing better since they have reduced playing times to the older players and guys like Sutton, Witt, Weight, Hunter have been lost to suspension/injury.

by Fauxrumors on Mar 10, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gordon’s a good coach, too. That team will be interesting to watch as it grows into something.

by James Mirtle on Mar 10, 2009 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It is kind of funny that the minute James eliminated them, they suddenly started beating good teams.

by Doogie2K on Mar 9, 2009 9:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Rangers still have 9 “four point games” left against conference rivals so they truly control their own destiny. Carolina, for example, has only four such games and will be doing a lot of scoreboard watching. Looking at the glass half full, if the Rangers don’t fall any further behind the Flyers by this weekend’s home and home, they could win both games and be in a tie with the current fourth place team. On the other hand, lose both games and the game March 17 at Montreal and they could very quickly be in a death spiral out of playoff contention. The full list of “four point games” by team is here http://urhma.blogspot.com

by Big Picture Guy on Mar 10, 2009 11:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If Buffalo loses tonight

Stick the proverbial fork in.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 10, 2009 11:44 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sad but true. And that’ll be a tough game to win.

They can’t do much without Miller unfortunately.

by James Mirtle on Mar 10, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Atlas needs to heave them up on his shoulders again. A little help from the other ‘scorers’ would go a long way.

Honk if you love Justice!
"I'm betting that I'm just abnormal enough to survive. "

by TheTick on Mar 10, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last time I saw Jason Pominville was on the side of a milk carton.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 10, 2009 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah…it’s a winnable game though. They’ve outplayed Philly in both meetings this year…Biron stole one and Numminen gave the more recent game away. So, a win definitely isn’t out of the question.

Regier botched the deadline though…especially under the assumption that he has more of an idea how long Miller will be out than he’s letting on.

by Make a play Whitner on Mar 10, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They might want to put a body or three on that Mike Richards fellow too.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 10, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, that was a nice little whimper

The Sabres went out with last night.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 11, 2009 7:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it too late to tank for Tavares? The arena audio folks would already have some sound clips they could use for him…

Honk if you love Justice!
"I'm betting that I'm just abnormal enough to survive. "

by TheTick on Mar 11, 2009 8:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good call.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 11, 2009 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s really too bad. I don’t think the Sabres are a bad team, but they lack depth, and injuries to Miller and Vanek and poor play from guys like Pominville is the difference between making the playoffs and not.

And here I thought they’d be this year’s Bruins.

by James Mirtle on Mar 11, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, they’re pretty much last year’s Sabres again.

Honk if you love Justice!
"I'm betting that I'm just abnormal enough to survive. "

by TheTick on Mar 11, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well at least you have TO to look forward to.

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* Blog contains less than 2% puppet content by weight.

by Chemmy on Mar 11, 2009 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So do you, once. If anyone from Toronto bothers to spend to see him.

Honk if you love Justice!
"I'm betting that I'm just abnormal enough to survive. "

by TheTick on Mar 11, 2009 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hahaha, I’m not a Bills fan.

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by Chemmy on Mar 16, 2009 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neither is anyone else who went to the game up there, they got the tickets given to them…

Honk if you love Justice!
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by TheTick on Mar 17, 2009 10:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

WOOHOO

1st Western Conference team eliminated…Do we get some sort of trophy?

The 2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Slumpbusters

by Jibblescribbits on Mar 11, 2009 3:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They gave the most “honest” golfer in my grandfather’s old tournaments a golden pee pot.

by Doogie2K on Mar 11, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That would be perfect!

Does anyone know where to get one so that we can sent it to FG?

It really is ALL ABOUT LAPPY!

by gl avfan on Mar 14, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm sure this has been asked already, but

when you push the point totals up (say from 90 – 92 in the west), is it possible for a team to “unclinch” a birth? Would this not happen in the west, because it sounds like something the Rangers or Maple Leafs would pull off?

Insert clever and witty remark slash pun here!

UMD 8/04 - 5/08: Go Terps!

by ES46NE10 on Mar 13, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I suppose it’s plausible. A team would probably have to go on a losing streak and be stuck on 90 points long enough for the bubble teams to heat up and the minimum to rise.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 13, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Spoilers

I’d be really interested in knowing if late-season success carries over to the next year for teams out of the playoffs.

[I vaguely remember the Sabres doing really well over the stretch in the years immediately preceding the lockout.]

by Skunkworks on Mar 20, 2009 12:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Sabres were always a second-half team in the pre-lockout years.

They’d dig themselves such a hole before New Years’, then suddenly wake up after, but the hole was always too deep. Rinse and repeat the following year, so at least for them, late-season success didn’t matter.

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 20, 2009 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, that was usually their trend…the one time it really wasn’t happened to be ‘98-’99 when they went to the finals. I remember them really struggling down the stretch that year.

by Make a play Whitner on Mar 20, 2009 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My inclination is to say no, but I haven’t looked at it. There are a lot of canards of this type, though:

The first goal is not more important than other goals. Of course teams that score first win most of their games. That’s because you win by scoring more goals, and if you score the majority of goals, there is a better than even chance that any particular goal was yours. If anything, the second goal has a higher correlation to winning than the first if you remove games where only one goal is scored.

“Winning the third period” when your has zero value for winning your next game.

Defense doesn’t win championships. You win titles the same way you win any games: by scoring more goals than the other team. You can do that either by scoring or preventing the other team from scoring. They are pretty much equally valuable.

by J. Michael Neal on Mar 20, 2009 2:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Canucks 4th, no?

I know you like to bash on the ’Nucks James, but I think the win tonight against St. Lou bumps them ahead of the ’Hawks. ;)

by treved on Mar 20, 2009 3:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I just project their point totals to figure out the ranking, and Chicago is very slightly ahead of them. They’re effectively tied right now.

by James Mirtle on Mar 20, 2009 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Checked in with Sports Club Stats

They’re consistently assigning probabilities of making the playoffs in the high-80s and low-90s for bubble teams at the 90-point mark in the West, and markedly lower numbers (<80%) below that. Ditto in the East at 93.

Looks like James’s projections are good ones.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 21, 2009 9:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Such a tease

Of course with last night and Miller back, the Sabres will finish in 9th place, 1 or 2 out of 8th…..

Shut up when you're talking to me!

by Afino on Mar 26, 2009 7:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t put it pas the Habs to tank down the stretch… nothing bad is impossible for this team.

by Habs on Mar 26, 2009 7:52 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I still expect it, rather than “I wouldn’t put it past them”. I believe it will happen.

Cheer up, Buffalo and Florida fans!

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by saskhab on Mar 26, 2009 10:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What, you mean this recent pounding of the Thrashers didn’t convince you? You’re too demanding!

by Habs on Mar 26, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Buffalo makes life difficult for Florida (more on that later) but both are in tough unless the Habs really tank down the stretch.

You say that like it’s totally implausible or something. Since the coaching change, they’ve had one OTW handed to them on a platter (EDM) and one beatdown of a bad team (ATL). Colour me unimpressed.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on Mar 26, 2009 10:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

From Buffalo's standpoint

It’s not really about whether Montreal melts down or struggles…same with the Rangers (who I really don’t think are in the clear yet, they have a very tough schedule down the stretch and I could see them getting stuck somewhere in the 90-92 point range).

For Buffalo, it’s just about the fact that they haven’t demonstrated anything since the first few games of the season that can indicate they’re capable of actually stringing together 4 or 5 wins in a row.

In short, it’s not about Montreal or the Rangers being impassable, it’s about Buffalo not being a team good enough to make up the ground.

by Make a play Whitner on Mar 26, 2009 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Devils....

I don’t know, if the Devils don’t get it together quickly, they’re going to find themselves facing either Carolina or Pittsburgh in that 6th seed slot. They’ve dropped four in a row as of this morning.It looks like the Caps are going to fight for that second seed (something I wouldn’t have thought a week or two ago).

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Mar 29, 2009 7:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Sabres

Wow, with the Rangers loss today, Buffalo actually controls their own destiny. 5-0 and they’re in. They have the tiebreaker on the Rangers and Florida.

by Make a play Whitner on Apr 4, 2009 3:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs