Quote:
Originally Posted by Strange Brew
I had to read this twice. That sounds like an insurmountable difference but under this formula you can gain 4 points each time you both play. So in four games, Oilers could in theory pull ahead.
No of course I don't think it will happen. But I am a long time Jays fan and Jays had this exact same big a lead (3.5 games) with only 7 games left and didn't even make it to a tiebreaker. Of course there were no three point games and they had head to head matchups with the Tigers.
Still just need to keep winning and celebrate when it's done, not before.
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That's why I posted this.
It appears, at first glance, that the Oilers could pass us in as little as 4 games. But when you think about the actual number (28) you realize how difficult the task actually is.
Let's say the Oilers win their next 4 and the Flames lose their next 4. That would mean that the Oilers have now won 10 in a row, and the Flames have won 5 in their last 12 (or something around there). The Oil would then be ahead, but streaks don't continue forever. After 10 straight wins, the Oil would be due for some losses, and the Flames, conversely, would be due for some wins.
The 28 number shows just how many games have to go the Oilers way for them to win the division. It's not just 'they win 4 and we lose 4', it's 'they win 4 and we lose 4, and on top of that, they still need more points in their remaining 6 than the Flames get in their remaining 7'. Mathematically possible? Of course. Realistically? Not so much.