Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[Igster]

Sure hope the Jets don't make it.

[Resolute 14]

Darren Haynes posted about how everybody in the race is picking up points in the last week. Other than Winnipeg falling to Nashville and Colorado to the Rangers, pretty much the only teams losing in regulation over the last week are when they play another team in the chase. The Eastern Conference - especially Boston - has been useless.

Since Tuesday:
Minnesota: 2-0-1, 5pts
Winnipeg: 2-1-0, 4pts
Los Angeles: 2-0-0, 4pts (and won previous two before that)
Vancouver: 2-1-0, 4pts
Dallas: 2-1-0, 4pts
San Jose: 1-0-1, 3pts
Colorado: 1-1-0, 2pts
Combined: 12-4-2; 26 out of 36 points.

[hwy19man]

After Saturday's games:

1. Winnipeg (29-19-10) 24 ROW, 68 pts
San Jose (29-20-8) 27 ROW, 66 pts--second in Pacific Division
Vancouver (31-21-3) 29 ROW, 65 pts--third in Pacific Division
2. Calgary (31-22-3) 28 ROW, 65 pts--and fourth in the Pacific Division
3. Minnesota (28-20-7) 27 ROW, 63 pts
4. Los Angeles (25-18-12) 24 ROW, 62 pts--and fifth in the Pacific Division
5. Dallas (26-22-8) 24 ROW, 60 pts
6. Colorado (23-22-11) 16 ROW, 57 pts

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

[Heavy Jack]

The pacific division outside of the Yotes and Oilers is insanely tough. Wow.

[Enoch Root]

Colorado beating Dallas was huge. Colorado is already done - they would need to go 19-7-0 for 95 pts.

And the loss moves Dallas one step closer to the edge. They now need to go 17-8-1 to hit 95 pts. Not impossible but very unlikely, especially with Seguin out.

[mrkajz44]

I think its safe to assume that Dallas is out of it now. Not only due to their record and position in the standings right now, but losing Segin might just seal the deal there.

Only LA and Min still in the mix that are on the outside looking in. Still, that's 2 too many!

[heep223]

I still truly believe that Vancouver will fall out. Not convinced San Jose won't either.

[Street Pharmacist]

San Jose is done. Vancouver still makes it

[Obsidian]

Just making a guess, no 'prediction', because I know that usually doesn't end up well

But I have this hunch it'll end up

2.Calgary
3.LA
4.Vancouver

With LA climbing from 9th to 3rd in the pacific and San Jose falling out all in the final 2 weeks.
We'll see how things continue to progress.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Obsidian

Just making a guess, no 'prediction', because I know that usually doesn't end up well

But I have this hunch it'll end up

2.Calgary
3.LA
4.Vancouver

With LA climbing from 9th to 3rd in the pacific and San Jose falling out all in the final 2 weeks.
We'll see how things continue to progress.

Which would mean we face LA in the playoffs. The team nobody wants to face.

[Itse]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Which would mean we face LA in the playoffs. The team nobody wants to face.

I'll take them over Anaheim or Nashville this season.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Itse

I'll take them over Anaheim or Nashville this season.

Well the Ducks for sure but I would rather face the Preds. They look to me like a regular season team ripe for an early playoff exit. Kings are battle tested and I don't think the Flames could handle the Kings playing the way they did this week in a seven game series because that's the playoff version teams face in the playoffs not the regular season version that the Flames have had success with.

[Vulcan]

Well if we make the playoffs my order of teams I wouldn't want to face in the first round would be, LA, St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim, Nashville.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

Well if we make the playoffs my order of teams I wouldn't want to face in the first round would be, LA, St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim, Nashville.

My order would be Anaheim/ST. Louis, Chicago, LA/Nashville.

I'm not convinced that the last game is a true testament to how the Flames and Kings stack up against each other—the Flames were bad, and LA was really, really good. If the Flames have home ice, I think that series would be pretty even in the end.

[Dan02]

The Wild really need to make a move in next couple weeks or they will be in trouble, looking at their schedule, they have a murderous last 15 games. The only 2 non-playoff teams they play are Toronto and LA.

Calgary on the other hand only plays 5 of our last 15 games against teams currently ranked in the playoffs.

[dissentowner]

Yeah, pretty sure in the end LA gets in and the Sharks miss. Everyone else in right now stays in.

[jaikorven]

I think Vancouver is going to miss. Especially with another loss on the blue line for them. I can hope anyway.

[EldrickOnIce]

Only interested in division, so don't currently care about the Wild. Grabbing 2nd and home ice is critical to potentially having any post season success.
Better than all of Sharks, Canucks and Kings down the stretch? Unlikely... but less unlikely than this season so far, so I'll say yes!

[Bourque's Twin]

I know everyone is hot on LA because they've picked up their play recently, but I want to share with you the difficulty of their schedule. They are 18-6-6 at home and 7-12-6 on the road. They have 16 road games and 11 home games remaining. If they go 8-8 on the road, and 7-4 at home (15-12), they finish with 92 points. If the Flames were to finish with 92 points, they would need to go 13-12-1 for the remainder of the season. The Sharks have already played 58 games and also have a huge road trip in their schedule. To finish with 92 points, they would need to go 13-10. The way this looks to me is that the Flames are in a bit better shape than SJ and LA. However, all of CGY, VAN, LA, and SJ have massive eastern road trips. The performance on these trips will determine who gets in and who doesn't. Best case is for LA to not get in, because the Flames would most likely play either SJ or VAN in round 1.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well the Ducks for sure but I would rather face the Preds. They look to me like a regular season team ripe for an early playoff exit. Kings are battle tested and I don't think the Flames could handle the Kings playing the way they did this week in a seven game series because that's the playoff version teams face in the playoffs not the regular season version that the Flames have had success with.

2 words: Pekka Rinne. I wouldn't want to face him or Price in the playoffs. They are playing at an unreal level.

If anything, the Ducks numbers suggest they are the "regular season team" ripe for an early playoff exit.