I see a path to the playoffs most clearly for Calgary and Winnipeg more than Nashville. Mostly because of the players Nashville is missing and the tough teams they will face.
What’s interesting for the Jets is that the race for the top two spots in their division amongst Minnesota, Dalllas and Colorado will play a big role in the difficulty of their remaining games. If the battle for the Central Division goes right to the last game of the season, they will face a determined Colorado team. If the final standing for Colorado is decided before their last two games of the season, I think Winnipeg’s schedule could be easier than most people thought.
The Jets play Calgary next which could be a toss up. They also have the Wild, Predators, Sharks and Avalanche. If the seeding of the top 3 spots in the Central Division is decided before the last two games for Colorado, the Avalanche will likely ice a bare-bones line up for their game against the Jets. It will be the first game of a back-to-back for the Avalanche to finish the season and they will face the predators in the final game. If I were coaching the Avalanche, I would rather rest my stars for the first night (against the Jets) and put them in for the game against the predators on the last game. They would face an easier (and likely playoff-eliminated) opponent the second night and minimize the time between their last game of the season and playoffs so they don’t feel too rusty in game 1.
Winnipeg’s opponents:
Calgary - on a roll and desperate to win.
Nashville - desperate to win but missing pretty much all of their top players.
Minnesota - good team in a dead heat to win the division and have home-ice in the playoffs.
San Jose - terrible team but has had the Jets’ number this year.
Colorado - very good team but could be resting all of its top players by then which could make them a much easier opponent
Calgary’s opponents:
Chicago - terrible team with nothing to play for.
Winnipeg - found their scoring touch last two games and desperate to win.
Vancouver - tougher team to beat than the standings show and has been on a roll in March.
Nashville - desperate to win but missing pretty much all of their top players and could be pretty much done by the time they face Calgary.
San Jose - terrible team with nothing to play for.
Nashville’s opponents:
Dallas - good team in a dead heat to win the division and have home-ice in the playoffs.
Vegas - good team in a dead heat to win the division and have home-ice in the playoffs.
Carolina - very good team that will be hoping to have first in the division locked up by then and, if so, they might start resting some players.
Calgary - on a roll (hopefully still is by then) and desperate to win.
Minnesota - good team but could be resting all of its top players by then which could make them a much easier opponent
Colorado - very good team but could be resting all of its top players by then which could make them a much easier opponent
It’s going to be quite the race! I believe the flames can pull it off! GFG!!
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