Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolven
I don't think this team needs to talk about doing more to try to intentionally tank. Either they will continue to defy expectations and hold off the Blues and Canucks from passing them or they will lose games that are one the road and/or to the playoff contenders.
This is how I look at the schedule leading up to the trade deadline.
Expected Wins: Sabres (H), Ducks (H), Sharks (H)
Likely Wins: Red Wings (H), Kraken (H)
Likely Losses: Kraken (A), Flyers (A)
Expected Losses: Wild (A), Jets (A), Caps (H), Leafs (H), Avs (H), Caps (A), Lightning (A), Panthers (A), Hurricane (A), Stars (A)
The X factor to this list is determining which games Wolf will play. Maybe he can move a bunch of those games into the win column... but I think these are safe and objective expectations for the upcoming schedule.
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Now the schedule is even split between home and road games and we are about to have a pile of home games (7 of the next 8 games are at home). The team needs to capitalize on these home stands, even with the tough competition. In this string of home games, I expect we'll see a lot of Wolf but I doubt he gets all 7 games. It'll be interesting to see how the goalies are deployed.
Update to my schedule prediction heading into the trade deadline:
Expected Wins: Ducks (H), Sharks (H)
Likely Wins: Red Wings (H), Kraken (H)
Likely Losses: Kraken (A), Flyers (A)
Expected Losses: Capitals (H), Leafs (H), Avalanche (H), Capitals (A), Lightning (A), Panthers (A), Hurricane (A), Stars (A)
Confirmed Wins: Sabres (H), Wild (A)*,
Confirmed Losses: Jets (A),
*Defied expectation