Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
Here are the facts:
Oilers home games:
· v. Arizona 19 Feb
· NYI 21 Feb
· Anaheim 23 Feb.
Teams between the Oilers and a playoff berth:
· Anaheim (+2; -1 game)
· Arizona (+4; -1 game)
· Vancouver (+6; -2 games)
· Chicago (+6; -2 games)
· Colorado (+6; -1 game)
· Minnesota (+7; -1 game)
Games between teams #8–13 from today until 25 Feb when the Oilers are in Nashville:
· Anaheim @ Minnesota, 19 Feb
· Arizona @ Vancouver, 21 Feb
· Chicago v. Colorado, 22 Feb
If the Oilers win all their games this week they will at best find themselves in 11th place, two points out of the playoffs, but surrendering the first tiebreaker to both Colorado and Minnesota. Effectively, in a perfect world they are still three points back:
· Colorado 62 GP 61 pts
· Vancouver 62 GP 61 pts
· Minnesota 63 GP 60 pts
· Edmonton 61 GP 59 pts
· Chicago 63 GP 59 pts
· Arizona 62 GP 57 pts
· Anaheim 62 GP 57 pts
What are the chances that between six teams and fifteen games only three of them pick up two points?
|
The only possible way to make a run for a playoff spot when behind by so much, with so many teams to pass, is to have a VERY long winning streak. Saint Louis is 14-2-1 in their last 17 games, for example.
A three game winning streak for the Oilers on this homestand helps the Oilers nothing, because one of the teams ahead of them will almost certainly get 4-5 points in those 3 games, and several of them will get 3-4. Win three in a row, and you will only be 5 or 6 points out, instead of 7.
Also, the problem with having a three game winning streak - is that by definition, you have a loss at the end of a winning streak. A three game winning streak is really a 3-1 streak, or at best a 3-0-1 streak. You need longer streaks than 3 to make any difference in the standings.
The Oilers have one winning streak of longer than 3 games all season - why would anyone think they could manage that now?