Before anyone gets too caught up on the 102 pt pace, let's remember that there were several teams in full-on tank mode trying to get McEichel last year. As a result there were an inordinate amount of freebie points for contending teams last year.
The season before it only took 91 pts to land a playoff berth. 55pts the season before that (a 94 pt pace), and 95 pts in '11/'12. In fact, since the '04 lockout only twice has 97 pts been required to make the playoffs in the West
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