Quote:
Originally Posted by Buff
I don't know who all has said it, but I first heard it from Peter Maher only a couple of years after the lockout shortened season.
I am not sure how applicable that saying is anymore though. At least there seem to be teams that buck that trend more often. The most immediate example the comes to mind is the St.Louis Blues the year they won the cup where they were putrid all the way until January and just turned course 180 degrees.
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There is a pretty strong correlation that being in a playoff position at that arbitrary milestone matters. Obviously it's no guarantee, but I like the 77% side much better than the 23% side.
As you correctly point out, St Louis was an exception and there are other examples of teams going on crazy runs at the end of the season that make the playoffs. If you are pedalling that hard just to get in makes it pretty tough to find yet another gear for the playoffs.