Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[Rick M.]

It's fun to be able to focus on the standings without spending all our time wondering what our draft pick position will be.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by FlameZilla

I'm still worried about the Wild starting to find their groove. Too much talent in that lineup...

Huge game against the Sharks tonight.

Wild are looking good. But Winnipeg, Vancouver and San Jose are all sputtering a little. If we keep winning more than we lose, there'll be a spot for us.

[Resolute 14]

Plus, the Central will spend a fair bit of time cannibalizing itself.

Assuming the Hawks stop crapping the bed against teams they should beat, at least.

[mrkajz44]

3-4 point buffer at this point - hard to say what the games in hand will bring. And given the ROW numbers at this point (only 15 for Colorado!), looks like a tie in points will leave us ahead.

Great fun watching the race - the Flames just need to keep winning!

[Huntingwhale]

Thank you Caps. WTF Chicago. Damn you 3pts games. Getting 2nd spot in the pacific if we beat the Sharks tonight is more important then ever.

Questions about the playoff format: even though spots are claimed via the Wildcard format, will they still do the old 1vs8, 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5 when the teams play each other?

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Thank you Caps. WTF Chicago. Damn you 3pts games. Getting 2nd spot in the pacific if we beat the Sharks tonight is more important then ever.

Questions about the playoff format: even though spots are claimed via the Wildcard format, will they still do the old 1vs8, 2vs7, 3vs6, 4vs5 when the teams play each other?

2nd and 3rd within the div play each other while the first place teams in each division play the two wild card.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Robbob

2nd and 3rd within the div play each other while the first place teams in each division play the two wild card.

Interesting. A a wild card sport ensures us a date with the Ducks. If we get (ideally) 2nd place in the division and the Canucks are 3rd....Flames vs Canucks. I'm down with that.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Interesting. A a wild card sport ensures us a date with the Ducks. If we get (ideally) 2nd place in the division and the Canucks are 3rd....Flames vs Canucks. I'm down with that.

Not necessarily. The second wild card plays the team with the best record. If the playoffs began today, we would be playing Nashville.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not necessarily. The second wild card plays the team with the best record. If the playoffs began today, we would be playing Nashville.

As if anyone needs a reason to hate Mike Ribeiro more.

[terminator]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Interesting. A a wild card sport ensures us a date with the Ducks. If we get (ideally) 2nd place in the division and the Canucks are 3rd....Flames vs Canucks. I'm down with that.

I don;'t get it, how do we play the Canucks if we're 2nd and they are 3rd or vice-versa?

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by terminator

I don;'t get it, how do we play the Canucks if we're 2nd and they are 3rd or vice-versa?

1st in a division plays a wildcard team.

2nd and 3rd from the division play each other.

[Igster]

Can we just go to 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc? This wildcard thing is annoying.

[Bourque's Twin]

Schedule Update (next 5 games)
Flames:
Sharks, Penguins, @ Sharks, @ Kings, Canucks

Canucks:
Sharks, Penguins, @ Wild, @ Blackhawks, Bruins

Kings:
@ Panthers, @ Lightning, @ Blue Jackets, Flames, Capitals

Sharks:
@ Flames, @ Canucks, Hurricanes, Flames, Capitals

Winnipeg:
Blackawks, Avalanche, Wild, @ Predators, @ Wings

At first glance, all of the teams have difficult schedules over their next 5 games. LA's looks to be easiest, but they have really struggled on the road this season, and they play 3 more on the road before returning home. The Flames play 4/5 of their next games against teams that they are competing with for playoff spots. The other team is the Penguins.

[vicarious]

Dubnyk is 6-1-0 with 3 shutouts since joining Minnesota. I now see the Wild as a very dangerous team and very much in the mix for a playoff spot if his solid play continues.

[Robbob]

Originally Posted by Igster

Can we just go to 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc? This wildcard thing is annoying.

If you want to bring back divisional rivalries this is the way to do it. To make it out of the first round you more than likely have to go through a divisional opponent. That is good in my books.

[puckedoff]

Originally Posted by vicarious

Dubnyk is 6-1-0 with 3 shutouts since joining Minnesota. I now see the Wild as a very dangerous team and very much in the mix for a playoff spot if his solid play continues.

Dooobie doobiie dooouu!

3 shutouts in 7 games is quite good. Wild are a threat for sure.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

Schedule Update (next 5 games)
Flames:
Sharks, Penguins, @ Sharks, @ Kings, Canucks

Canucks:
Sharks, Penguins, @ Wild, @ Blackhawks, Bruins

Kings:
@ Panthers, @ Lightning, @ Blue Jackets, Flames, Capitals

Sharks:
@ Flames, @ Canucks, Hurricanes, Flames, Capitals

Winnipeg:
Blackawks, Avalanche, Wild, @ Predators, @ Wings

At first glance, all of the teams have difficult schedules over their next 5 games. LA's looks to be easiest, but they have really struggled on the road this season, and they play 3 more on the road before returning home. The Flames play 4/5 of their next games against teams that they are competing with for playoff spots. The other team is the Penguins.

That's good for the Flames I think. I like that they play the Sharks twice and the Canucks at home. If you can't beat 'em you shouldn't be in. LA will be tough at home after the last time I think. Sutter probably has had enough of losing to the Flames this year.

I think the Jets are in tough. The Wild are playing way better, the Hawks, Preds and Wings are very good. They can only hope some of those teams feel like they can coast a bit.

The Canucks have a tough sched as well. Sharks after Calgary beats them bad , Pens, the improved Wild, Hawks and Broons.

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

Originally Posted by Teh_Bandwagoner

Got some scoreboard watching to do with Winnipeg @ Vancouver tonight. What's the ideal situation for tonight? Winnipeg in regulation? Dear god just let it not be a 3-point game!

Goddamnit!!

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Plus, the Central will spend a fair bit of time cannibalizing itself.

Assuming the Hawks stop crapping the bed against teams they should beat, at least.

Yeah, those teams all still have like 10-13 Division games left to play. I suppose it's possible that the entire Division tightens up with the top 3 falling back to the pack. But in order for anyone to really move they need more than just Winnipeg to fall off the map.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

Yep but, if the Flames pass the Jets for the #1 wild card spot, it doesn't matter what the Pacific does.

I'd far rather be top-3 in the division, and not have to play one of the first-place teams in the opening round.

Besides, the way the standings are now, if the Flames passed the Jets for the first wild-card spot, they would also pass both San Jose and Vancouver for 2nd in the Pacific. So it's kind of a moot point at present.