Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Agreed. Long term it would appear we're in a good place, but this year has been a series of fortunate incidents. Don't get me wrong, the flames deserve to be on the playoffs this year on merit, but lots went right for that to happen

On the other hand we also had lots of things go wrong during the 8 game slid.

Another point to think about is we are 46-33-3 for 95 points in the last 82 games. That is a significant enough sample size to say this is a team now that can compete for a playoff spot without relying on good fortune.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Bingo

So many unlikely things happening ...

Calgary goes 8-2-0
Vancouver starts to slide
Jets implode with Kane
Kings get in a huge funk

Unreal.

I wouldn't call any of those things particularly unlikely.

Lots of teams go 8-2-0 at some point in the season. Even bad teams can have hot streaks. (It certainly isn't any less likely than going 0-7-1.)

We've been expecting Vancouver to slide as the Sedins and other key players get older, with not much in the pipeline to replace them.

Kane has always been a bit of a loose cannon, and anyway he hasn't been such a big contributor in Winnipeg that his absence is likely to make the whole team implode. It's been an entertaining freak show, but the Jets may actually be a better team now that Kane is sidelined for surgery.

The Kings have always been a team that got into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth and then made magic happen. They're built for the postseason. Sooner or later they were bound to have an off year, and they didn't have much margin for error when that happened.

However, I will certainly enjoy watching all these things as they happen.

[hwy19man]

After Thursday's games:

San Jose (28-18-7) 26 ROW, 63 pts--second in Pacific Division
Calgary (29-20-3) 26 ROW, 61 pts--third in Pacific Division
1. Winnipeg (26-18-9) 22 ROW, 61 pts
2. Vancouver (28-19-3) 26 ROW, 59 pts
3. Colorado (22-19-11) 15 ROW, 55 pts
4. Minnesota (24-20-6) 22 ROW, 54 pts
5. Dallas (23-20-8) 21 ROW, 54 pts
6. Los Angeles (21-18-12) 20 ROW, 54 pts


Sharks won in regulation
Canucks, Avalanche, Stars, and Kings all lost in regulation

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Eastern playoff teams are pretty much settled:

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

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I noticed that the other day when I was looking at the standings. Philly is the only team who seem to have a remote chance to make a push into the top 8. Lots of position jockeying to be done there, but the playoff teams do appear to be settled there.

It sure looked that way but since then the Panthers have been slowly creeping up the standings and are now just 5 points back of the Bruins for the last playoff spot.

[Tsawwassen]

After Friday's games:

Chicago (32-18-2) 26 ROW, 66 pts--third in Central Division
San Jose (28-18-7) 26 ROW, 63 pts--second in Pacific Division
1. Winnipeg (26-18-10) 22 ROW, 62 pts
Calgary (29-21-3) 26 ROW, 61 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Vancouver (28-19-3) 26 ROW, 59 pts
3. Colorado (22-19-11) 15 ROW, 55 pts
4. Minnesota (24-20-6) 22 ROW, 54 pts
5. Dallas (23-20-8) 21 ROW, 54 pts
6. Los Angeles (21-18-12) 20 ROW, 54 pts


Bhawks won in OT
Jets lost in OT

I put the Bhawks in the list just for tonight to show how close they were to being part of this wild card race had they lost in reg time.

[Resolute 14]

Chicago is so useless...

[Tsawwassen]

After Saturday's games:

San Jose (28-19-7) 26 ROW, 63 pts--second in Pacific Division
1. Winnipeg (26-18-10) 22 ROW, 62 pts
Vancouver (29-19-3) 27 ROW, 61 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Calgary (29-21-3) 26 ROW, 61 pts--and fourth in the Pacific Division
3. Minnesota (25-20-6) 23 ROW, 56 pts
4. Los Angeles (22-18-12) 21 ROW, 56 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Colorado (22-20-11) 15 ROW, 55 pts
6. Dallas (23-21-8) 21 ROW, 54 pts


Kings, Wild, and Canucks won in regulation
Sharks, Avs, and Stars lost in regulation

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Tsawwassen

After Saturday's games:

San Jose (28-19-7) 26 ROW, 63 pts--second in Pacific Division
1. Winnipeg (26-18-10) 22 ROW, 62 pts
Vancouver (29-19-3) 27 ROW, 61 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Calgary (29-21-3) 26 ROW, 61 pts--and fourth in the Pacific Division
3. Minnesota (25-20-6) 23 ROW, 56 pts
4. Los Angeles (22-18-12) 21 ROW, 56 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Colorado (22-20-11) 15 ROW, 55 pts
6. Dallas (23-21-8) 21 ROW, 54 pts


Kings, Wild, and Canucks won in regulation
Sharks, Avs, and Stars lost in regulation

When adjusting for games in hand the wild look to actually be in good position:

Vancouver +10
San Jose +9
Winnipeg +8
Calgary +8
Minnesota +5
LA +4
Colorado +2
Dallas +2

[blender]

The Wild are in a very good position, indeed.
They look like a serious threat for playoffs.

[getbak]

One good thing is that Minnesota plays Vancouver and Winnipeg next and the Canucks twice in their next 5 games, so if they keep winning, at least it'll be at the expense of the other teams in the hunt.

If they go 2-0 in their next two games, that's good for the Flames because it keeps Vancouver and Winnipeg close. If they go 0-2 in their next two games, that's good for the Flames too.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by getbak

One good thing is that Minnesota plays Vancouver and Winnipeg next and the Canucks twice in their next 5 games, so if they keep winning, at least it'll be at the expense of the other teams in the hunt.

If they go 2-0 in their next two games, that's good for the Flames because it keeps Vancouver and Winnipeg close. If they go 0-2 in their next two games, that's good for the Flames too.

Assuming no 3 point games

[blender]

Yeah, so many variables with so many teams in the hunt and the division/WC breakdown.
At least the Flames are doing the right thing on the ice and are in a spot now. Just gotta keep playing good hockey.

[Sylvanfan]

Devin Dubnyk joins his 5th organization within a calender year and looks like a cyborg of Jacques Plante, Dominic Hasek, and Patrick Roy. Hopefully the real Dubnyk shows up again.

[sa226]

I'm surprised Aaron Ward has been so quiet.

[sureLoss]

Flames have put together a nice playoff race tracker:

flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=103861

[Caged Great]

Too bad they didn't have magic numbers on that.

[heep223]

This race is so tight. It's going to be a heck of a remaining 30 games.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Flames have put together a nice playoff race tracker:

flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=103861

Wonder if the Oilers' website has a last-place tracker?

Because if not, that needs to happen.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Flames have put together a nice playoff race tracker:

flames.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=103861

Edmonton is currently developing a draft lottery tracker.

[Eric]

Does anyone know the last team to go on an 8 game skid and still make the playoffs?