2016-2017 Magic Number Thread.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Roast Beef

Ok. I've been seeing this magic number for years now, I've been too embarrassed to ask before because my brain can't figure it out. What exactly is this "magic number"? What is the significance?

When the number reaches zero, it means that the team on the bottom end cannot pass the team on the top end. Our magic number being 9 means that any combination of Flames wins or losses by the 9th placed team (in this case, LA) means that the Flames clinch a playoff spot.

Say the Flames go 8-5-0 the rest of the way. Los Angeles could only lose 1 game in OT and would have to win every other game to pass us.

[AC]

Originally Posted by tsquared1967

Current standings show Calgary has a record of 39-26-4 for 82 points. Kings have a record of 33-29-7 for 73 points. I guess I don't understand how they calculate the ROW.

ROW = regulation + overtime wins.

Flames have 4 shootout wins which don't count towards the tiebreak, and the Kings have 2.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by tsquared1967

Current standings show Calgary has a record of 39-26-4 for 82 points. Kings have a record of 33-29-7 for 73 points. I guess I don't understand how they calculate the ROW.

I just go based off the ROW thing on the NHL.com standings chart. Regulation + OT wins. I think the Flames have been great in the handful of shootouts they have participated in, which is the reason for that.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by tsquared1967

I am scratching my head on this one.

The Kings have 73 points with 13 games remaining. They win out and they will have 99 points with a record of 46-29-7.

The Flames have 82 points with 13 games remaining. They win 8 games, lose 4 in regulation and lose 1 in OT. This would give them 99 points as well but their record would be 47-30-5.

Would the Flames be in the playoffs with 47 wins vs. the Kings 46? Is the magic number 9 or 8.5?

In the scenario you presented, the Flames have more ROWs and would therefore be in. However, there are also scenarios where they both have the same number of points but the Kings have more ROWs. For instance, if the Flames went 6-2-5 instead of 8-4-1.

So the Flames could clinch with 17 points, but it's not guaranteed, which is why 18 points is still the magic number.

[Tsawwassen]

The magic number keeps on falling!

[heep223]

If the Flames beat LA tomorrow does that take 2 off the magic number vs the Kings?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by heep223

If the Flames beat LA tomorrow does that take 2 off the magic number vs the Kings?

Yeap

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by heep223

If the Flames beat LA tomorrow does that take 2 off the magic number vs the Kings?

If it were a regulation win, yes.

An OT win would take 1 1/2 points off.

[Roof-Daddy]

A regulation win and it's down to 6
An OT or SO win and it's down to 6.5

[Tsawwassen]

There should be a lot more red on the chart as the bottom feeders are being eliminated and yes, the magic number has fallen to 6!

[Caged Great]

down to 5 now. Not going to be updating this the rest of the way because I am swamped with work and I can't do so unfortunately.

[TheScorpion]

I'll take over, spreadsheet coming up!

[TheScorpion]

My brain is still hurting, but here are today's magic number graphs!



I decided to remove the eliminated Avalanche and Coyotes from the next graph.

[Barnet Flame]

The top 8 is decided.

All that needs to be sorted is the running order.

[Blankcanvas]

Originally Posted by Barnet Flame

The top 8 is decided.

All that needs to be sorted is the running order.

Most likely but I think LA still has a sporting chance of taking the 2nd wild card spot at the expense of possibly St. Louis or Nashville. It's not over until the fat lady sings!

[crapshoot]

Originally Posted by Blankcanvas

Most likely but I think LA still has a sporting chance of taking the 2nd wild card spot at the expense of possibly St. Louis or Nashville. It's not over until the fat lady sings!

It's hard to imagine the Blues lose to the Avs in the next game. If they win that game both Blues and Preds are eight Points up on the Kings with ten games to go. That's just not gonna happen, especially not since the Kings have managed to lose just about every must-win game lately.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Blankcanvas

Most likely but I think LA still has a sporting chance of taking the 2nd wild card spot at the expense of possibly St. Louis or Nashville. It's not over until the fat lady sings!

Theoretically yes, but the Kings suck. They're not catching anyone.

The Blues are also 14-7 since the start of February and have possibly the softest remaining schedule in the league. (Colorado x3, Coyotes x2, Carolina, Florida, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Nashville, Calgary.)

[Jbo]

The thing that would concern me if I am the Blues or even Edmonton, is that "soft" schedules can be anything but this time of year. Teams playing for nothing tend to be more difficult opponents then not. Guys start playing for jobs, playing spoiler, etc. While the difficult teams tend to start resting players, being careful of injury...

How often did we see the Flames look like world beaters after being eliminated all those years.

[Patek23]

I know it's 5 now to clinch the playoffs. But the real magic number here is 11 to put those dirty Oilers permanently behind us in the standings where they belong!

[edn88]

I think that the Blues are a lock with their schedule. Edmonton is a lock. I'd like to see the Kings catch the Preds for Iggy's sake, but don't see that happening unless the Kings go on a serious run.