Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[Toonage]

I really could see them going 10-5 to end the season. Any skeptis...skeptcis...any doubt I had was erased over the past 5 games. This team can beat anyone. Anyone.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Toonage

I really could see them going 10-5 to end the season. Any skeptis...skeptcis...any doubt I had was erased over the past 5 games. This team can beat anyone. Anyone.

Skepticism!

[Textcritic]

How weird is it that as of this morning, every team presently outside of a playoff spot in the WC has played 68 games, and everyone in has played either 67 or 69 games?

[Sylvanfan]

There are also 6 teams currently with 91 points. I can't ever remember that many teams being that close at the top of the standings.

[Flames89]

Originally Posted by Manhattanboy

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

If you are going to post stuff like that, you should take a moment and learn how to format stuff on here.

[Resolute 14]

Rough night for Winnipeg. Sportsclubstats says their odds of making it dropped 15 points to 31% after every single game went the wrong way for them.

[PegCityFlamesFan]

Injuries have finally caught up with us, Myers hurt now and the goaltending is average at best.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Myers and Buff out at the same time is rough. Worse than losing Gio.

Canucks are supposedly getting Bieksa back on the weekend or early next week, at which point they will have a fully healthy defense (though missing Higgins and Richardson upfront and Miller obviously).

All of this could be worth 2-3 points down the stretch which could make all the difference.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by PegCityFlamesFan

Injuries have finally caught up with us, Myers hurt now and the goaltending is average at best.

Nothing "catches up" to Winnipeg. It's symptomatic of always being the worst.

[hwy19man]

After Thursday's games:

1. Minnesota (37-23-7) 33 ROW, 81 pts
Vancouver (38-25-4) 34 ROW, 80 pts--second in Pacific Division
Calgary (37-25-5) 33 ROW, 79 pts--third in the Pacific Division
2. Los Angeles (33-21-13) 31 ROW, 79 pts--and fourth in Pacific Division
3. Winnipeg (33-23-12) 27 ROW, 78 pts
4. San Jose (34-26-8) 31 ROW, 76 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Colorado (31-26-11) 22 ROW, 73 pts
6. Dallas (31-27-10) 28 ROW, 72 pts

Kings, Sharks, and Stars won in regulation
Canucks and Jets lost in regulation
Avalanche won in the shootout

[hwy19man]

After Friday's games:

Calgary(38-25-5) 34 ROW, 81 pts--second in Pacific Division
1. Minnesota (37-23-7) 33 ROW, 81 pts
Vancouver (38-25-4) 34 ROW, 80 pts--third in the Pacific Division
2. Los Angeles (33-21-13) 31 ROW, 79 pts--and fourth in Pacific Division
3. Winnipeg (33-23-12) 27 ROW, 78 pts
4. San Jose (34-26-8) 31 ROW, 76 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Dallas (32-27-10) 29 ROW, 74 pts
6. Colorado (31-26-11) 22 ROW, 73 pts

Flames and Stars won in regulation
Wild lost in regulation

[troutman]

CGY over 90% now, and ahead of VAN. Win tomorrow puts us close to 95%.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Western.html

WIN and SJ in serious trouble with losses tomorrow.

[hwy19man]

After Saturday's games:

1. Minnesota (38-23-7) 35 ROW, 83 pts
Vancouver (39-25-4) 35 ROW, 82 pts--second in the Pacific Division
Calgary (38-26-5) 34 ROW, 81 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Winnipeg (34-23-12) 28 ROW, 80 pts
3. Los Angeles (33-22-13) 31 ROW, 79 pts--and fourth in Pacific Division
4. San Jose (34-27-8) 31 ROW, 76 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Colorado (32-26-11) 23 ROW, 75 pts
6. Dallas (32-27-10) 29 ROW, 74 pts

Avalanche, Jets, Canucks, and Wild won in regulation
Flames, Kings, and Sharks lost in regulation

[tkflames]

Looking more and more like 96 points to get in after last night. Teams would need the following records for that:

Chicago: 4-10 IN
Wild: 6-6-1 Likely IN
Canucks: 7-7 Likely IN
Flames: 7-5-1 Battling for 2 spots
Jets: 8-4-1 Battling for 2 spots (really 8-5, but they have a low ROW)
Kings: 8-5-1 Battling for 2 spots
Sharks: 10-3 ALMOST DONE
Avalanche: 10-2-1 ALMOST DONE
Stars: 11-2-0 ALMOST DONE

I believe 2 out of Calgary, Winnipeg and LA will have a winning record, but I don't see the Jets going 8-4-1 or higher (hopefully!!). Therefore to me it looks like 96. To put this another way using the Troutman simplified counting system: 7

Side Note: While we have an easier schedule, it looks like we will be the ones eliminating Dallas and Colorado. Not mathematically, but from the 96 point threshold. Those will be tough games.

[Jets4Life]

When all is said and done, it is fun to see how The Hockey News predicted the Flames and Jets would finish dead last in their respective divisions:

http://www.thehockeynews.com/blog/20...ley-cup-picks/

Here, on one easy page, are THN’s official predictions for the 2014-15 NHL season.

EAST

Metropolitan

1. Pittsburgh Penguins*
2. Columbus Blue Jackets*
3. New York Rangers*
4. Washington Capitals*
5. Philadelphia Flyers
6. New York Islanders
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Carolina Hurricanes

Atlantic

1. Boston Bruins*
2. Tampa Bay Lightning*
3. Montreal Canadiens*
4. Florida Panthers*
5. Detroit Red Wings
6. Toronto Maple Leafs
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Buffalo Sabres

WEST

Pacific
1. Anaheim Ducks*
2. Los Angeles Kings*
3. San Jose Sharks*
4. Vancouver Canucks
5. Arizona Coyotes
6. Edmonton Oilers
7. Calgary Flames

Central

1. St. Louis Blues*
2. Chicago Blackhawks*
3. Minnesota Wild*
4. Dallas Stars*
5. Colorado Avalanche*
6. Nashville Predators
7. Winnipeg Jets

*playoff team

[GGG]

To be fair Calgary Puck had Calgary last in the pacific too with I think Winnipeg garnering votes in that bottom 5 poll

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by GGG

To be fair Calgary Puck had Calgary last in the pacific too with I think Winnipeg garnering votes in that bottom 5 poll

32% voted for Calgary in that poll, while another large portion called shenanigans because Edmonton made it through 2 rounds somehow. I am sure all those people you voted Calgary feel a great deal of shame now.

[Street Pharmacist]

Every single year there are a couple of teams that surprise everyone

[dash_pinched]

Yeah, I honestly thought the Flames would be in the draft lottery discussion prior to the start of the season. Not the first time I've been wrong and it won't be the last either.

[polak]

Originally Posted by tkflames

Looking more and more like 96 points to get in after last night. Teams would need the following records for that:

Chicago: 4-10 IN
Wild: 6-6-1 Likely IN
Canucks: 7-7 Likely IN
Flames: 7-5-1 Battling for 2 spots
Jets: 8-4-1 Battling for 2 spots (really 8-5, but they have a low ROW)
Kings: 8-5-1 Battling for 2 spots
Sharks: 10-3 ALMOST DONE
Avalanche: 10-2-1 ALMOST DONE
Stars: 11-2-0 ALMOST DONE

I believe 2 out of Calgary, Winnipeg and LA will have a winning record, but I don't see the Jets going 8-4-1 or higher (hopefully!!). Therefore to me it looks like 96. To put this another way using the Troutman simplified counting system: 7

Side Note: While we have an easier schedule, it looks like we will be the ones eliminating Dallas and Colorado. Not mathematically, but from the 96 point threshold. Those will be tough games.

At this pace, Two losses in a row by any team will change your entire chart around.