I posted this in the "drive for 30th" thread, but I guess it fits here as well. I took a look at the schedules of the seven teams at the bottom and tried to predict the outcome as realistically as I could think of.
FLORIDA PANTHERS: I don't expect much from them, they have 30th pretty much wrapped up.
at NYR L
at NJD L
at BOS L
vs NYR OTL
vs TOR L
at TBL OTL
COLORADO AVALANCHE: Giguere's rant has lifted them a bit, but they'll probably lose most of the games left.
vs EDM W
vs STL L
at STL L
at PHX L
vs MIN OTL
CALGARY FLAMES: tough schedule. I predict one more win, probably against Nashville.
vs DET L
vs ANA L
at MIN L
at NSH W
at STL L
at CHI L
CAROLINA HURRICANES: they have been pathetic, given their offensive depth. They have pretty much given up trying.
at WPG L
vs PHI OTL
at TBL OTL
vs NYI L
vs NYR L
at PIT L
NASHVILLE PREDATORS: shockingly bad ... 7 straight losses, 3 shutouts against during that span. I don't see them win another game.
at CHI L
vs CGY L
at DET L
at CBJ L
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: probably the easiest schedule, with CAR and FLA at home. I don't see them picking in the top 5.
at MTL L
vs CAR W
vs TOR L
at BOS L
vs FLA W
EDMONTON COILERS: something special. They have given up trying and have a tough schedule left = bad combination.
at COL L
vs ANA L
vs ANA L
vs CHI L
at MIN L
vs VAN L
As a result, the standings would look like that:
24 | 42 Points | Tampa Bay Lightning (19-25-4, 16 ROW)
25 | 39 Points | Edmonton Coilers (16-25-7, 14 ROW)
26 | 38 Points | Carolina Hurricanes (17-27-4, 17 ROW)
27 | 38 Points | Calgary Flames (17-27-4, 17 ROW)
28 | 38 Points | Colorado Avalanche (15-25-8, 14 ROW)
29 | 38 Points | Nashville Predators (15-25-8, 13 ROW)
30 | 34 Points | Florida Panthers (13-27-8, 10 ROW)
In that scenario, we would be ahead of Colorado and Nashville because of ROW, but behind Carolina because of goal differential. It's very close though, there's a good chance that we finish 25th, but we could also easily finish 28th or 29th.
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