Quick look at the pacific division at the halfway point

[CaptainCrunch]

I thought it would be a good idea to look at where the Pacific Division stands at the halfway point. From the start of the season the consensus among NHL fans is that the Pacific sucks and the Central is the King Slayer and any team that faces a Central Position team is just going to be a victim of a mauling.

However that prediction has really turned on its ear with most of the Central teams have gone either cold or into an outright free fall (Colorado). Also the Jets don't look as powerful as many thought they would be.

But this isn't about them, its about the pacific division

1) Calgary 25-12-4, last 10 6-2-2 dif +31

They do look like the class of the division right now. Getting first line scoring and secondary scoring is huge. The pp is 11th in the league, the penalty killing is 17th which is a concern at 79.4%. What stands out to me is that their GA/GM is 6th. In terms of needs, I would like to see them pick up one more scoring capable winger, and possibly explore the backup goalie position.

2) Las Vegas 24-15-4 last 10 6-1-3 dif +15

They've rebounded from an early season funk that might have been a hang over to crawl back into things. The only Pacific Division team to out gain the Flames in the last 10 games. Scoring is a concern as they're middle of the pack at 15th, however defensively they are top 5. Their pp is 17th in the league at 19.8%, but that's balanced off by a 7th best penalty kill. They are back to scoring by committee with no one surpassing the points per game barrier, Fleury is putting up great numbers again. I would expect that they're going to want to address their scoring depth and playmaking depth leading up to the deadline.

3) San Jose 22-13-7 last 10 6-2-2 dif +12

This is a team that is really seeing its window in doubt with an older veteran lineup. They're offensively solid but have allowed the second most goals in the Pacific Division and are 19th in the NHL in that regard. They have the 7th best powerplay in the league and the 6th best penalty kill so they're really leaking goals 5v5. They're getting a lot of production from Burns, Couture and Pavelski but it falls off a bit after that with Meier and Hertl having good seasons. Karlsson hasn't looked like Norris level Karlsson. Goaltending has to be a big concern for them as neither Jones or Dell have been good. There is no question that the Sharks should be buyers at the deadline and try to shore up their blueline.

4) Anaheim 19-15-7 last 10 4-4-2 dif -18

We hate the ducks, their window should be closed right. But they're still in it, though they've gone a little bit cold. They're not scoring a lot with the 30th place g/gm, and not defending all that well at 18th. Their pp is 27th in the league, and their penalty kill is 13th. Everything about this team screams unsustainable over the second half of the year. When you look at their individual stats no one is scoring at a point per game clip and it does really fall off a bit after Getzlaf's 29 points in 35 games. What's really holding this team in place is John Gibson who has a .924 svpct. In fact their entire goaltending cast has been strong. The question is, should this team really be buyers or sellers, and I expect that question to be answered in the next 10 to 15 games. But if they were to buy, again they have holes through out their lineup. They could use way more scoring up front and a puck moving blueliner that can run a power play.

5) Vancouver 20-19-4 last 10 6-3-1 dif -8.

This is my surprise team of the season along with the Habs. I expected this team to be floating at the bottom of the league. They've been respectable offensively at 16th and defensively respectable at 11th. Their power play is 20th as is their penalty kill. This team is really getting by on the play of Pettersson, Horvat and Boeser thought they are getting soem secondary scoring from Vitanen and Goldobin. Markstrom has been ok with a .910 svpct. However this team is going to have to win or lose based on work ethic. There's no question that they should continue with their rebuild and sell at the deadline to build for the future.

6) Edmonton 19-18-3 last 10 3-6-1 dif -13

I'm shocked that a team with this lineup is a game over .500 but they got there due to the now evaperated Hitch bump and stellar goaltending. But this is a thin team that wins or loses on the back of McDavid. Offensively their 20th in the league, defensively they are 2-th in the league. PP wise they're 12th in the NHL, pk wise they're 23rd. When you look at their shots for and against per game they're getting outshot more often or not. After McDavid, Draisaitl and Hopkins their offense falls off a serious cliff. Chaisson is a nice story but does he return and continue to score at a un natural pace? Koskinen is part of the McDavid, I'm carrying this train wreck club. This is a team with no depth and a serious cap team and should be selling like crazy at the deadline.

7) Arizona 17-21-2 last 10 4-6 dif -14

Once again Spreadsheet boy has failed, this club has been in perpetual suck mode forever and the promises of their rebuild have turned to ashes again. They have the 28th best offense, and the 19th best ga/gm. Their powerplay is 20th in the league, however the lone bright spot is their pk is the best in the league. Scoring wise they just don't have much offense. Ekman-Larsson carries the mail for this team. Their leading scorer is Clayton Keller. The Galchenyuk trade just doesn't look very good on any spreadsheet. Their goaltending has been ok but not earth shaking. Its no surpise that once again this team should be selling at the deadline.

8) LA Kings 16-22-3 last 10 5-3-2 dif -29

A trainwreck that's been respectable over the last 10. They really have scoring problems as they are DFL in offense, but a respectable 15th defensively. Their power play is 25th at an ugly 15%, their penalty kill is a terrible 28th in the league. This team is also getting outshot and outchanced on a nightly basis. The core of this team is too old and too slow. Doughty hasn't been great for them and Kopitar has fallen off a cliff scoring wise. Quick hasn't played to the level that he needs to be at, but Campbell has been stellar in 14 starts. There's no doubt that this team needs to be heavy sellers at the deadline and needs to start a rebuild that they really should have kicked off last year.

Predictions from me

Calgary 1st in division, minor deadline buyer
Las Vegas 2nd in division, minor deadline buyer
San Jose 3rd in division, major deadline buyer
Anaheim 4th, second wildcard, stand pat
Vancouver 5th out of playoffs, seller
Arizona 6th out of playoffs seller
Edmonton 7th in division major seller (One major piece moves to get cap relief)
LA 8th in division out of playoffs, major seller (Major pieces move)

[Otto-matic]

I think its going to be a bloodbath between CGY/VGK/SJ for the top 3 seeds in the division.

Going to be a real fun stretch drive.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Really hoping we finish first so that Vegas and San Jose play a 6-7 game bruiser.

[sec304]

Good idea to evaluate the division. Things are tight at the top and if any team goes into a slump they will be stuck in 3rd place. Calgary has to keep winning to keep their pace atop the division. Too bad Vegas had to claw their way back up or else it would just be a two horse race. This will be an exciting race during the second half of the season and any team that falters could be in trouble

[looooob]

heard on the radio (not Calgary) this morning on the drive in that Vegas has only worked their way back into the mix for top of the Pacific because ' as everyone knows the Pacific is not a very strong division this year'

[Vansmack]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Really hoping we finish first so that Vegas and San Jose play a 6-7 game bruiser.

I'm not so sure I would like to play the Avalanche either. It seems like the first round will be tough no matter the opponent.

[Robbob]

My only concern with Vegas is their utter dependence on Fleury right now. He is on pace to start 70 games. If they can't get Subban going to help him out then Fleury might burn out by the end of the season.

I tend to agree that seeds 1 to 3 are going to be a dog fight down the stretch.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by looooob

heard on the radio (not Calgary) this morning on the drive in that Vegas has only worked their way back into the mix for top of the Pacific because ' as everyone knows the Pacific is not a very strong division this year'

Takes the media months to catch up, even though its their jobs

Calgary, SJ, Vegas, and even Vancouver are some of the hottest teams in the NHL over the last month or so.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Vansmack

I'm not so sure I would like to play the Avalanche either. It seems like the first round will be tough no matter the opponent.

Or the Ducks. I know their underlying numbers are garbage but man I just don't like that matchup.

[Huntingwhale]

Originally Posted by Otto-matic

I think its going to be a bloodbath between CGY/VGK/SJ for the top 3 seeds in the division.

Going to be a real fun stretch drive.

I can pretty much guarantee the Ducks are going to come in and spoil the fun like they do every season. While they aren't playing good right now, that is their motto. They start the season bad, injuries pile up, only to come roaring back after the AS break and win the division at the expense of a more deserving team. The injured players come back in time for the playoffs and they win a round or 2.

Unfortunately it's like clockwork with them.

[Toonage]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Or the Ducks. I know their underlying numbers are garbage but man I just don't like that matchup.

If you're the Flames you avoid the Ducks in the playoffs at all costs.

1 win in Anaheim in the past decade.

You continue to get over that hump in the regular season, not when you're already under the most pressure.

[Bonded]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

5) Vancouver 20-19-4 last 10 6-3-1 dif -8.


6) Edmonton 19-18-3 last 10 3-6-1 dif -13

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Vansmack

I'm not so sure I would like to play the Avalanche either. It seems like the first round will be tough no matter the opponent.

If you want to win playoff rounds you will have to beat good teams...Flames are far deeper than the Avalanche

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

The Golden Knights' success was the talk of the league last year and it feels like this year they're flying completely under the radar. I'm not sure why. I guess people have some expectations for them this year, but they're still playing ridiculously well. Arguably, the Flames are to blame - after they got spanked 7-2 (the night Monahan/Gaudreau/Tkachuk combined for 11 points) they've gone 15-3-3. Obscene.

[dino7c]

Vegas also had some major returns to their lineup and MAF is standing on his head nightly

[Erick Estrada]

I'm not sure if the Flames will hold on to first place but as long as the Ducks stay out of the playoff discussion I'm happy.

[looooob]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

- after they got spanked 7-2 (the night Monahan/Gaudreau/Tkachuk combined for 11 points) .

those games are getting hard to keep track of (for example as opposed to NYE where they combined for 13, Philly 10, Columbus 11 etc)

[vicarious]

The stupid Ducks are going to get Rakell, Perry, Eaves and Fowler back in time for the playoffs, which I sure as hell hope isn't the Flames first round matchup.



It's not that the Flames cannot beat them but the Ducks are firmly in their heads and have been for years.

[kukkudo]

Originally Posted by vicarious

The stupid Ducks are going to get Rakell, Perry, Eaves and Fowler back in time for the playoffs, which I sure as hell hope isn't the Flames first round matchup.



It's not that the Flames cannot beat them but the Ducks are firmly in their heads and have been for years.

That is the scary part, if the Ducks can hang in the wild card spot for the next month or so they are going to be dangerous once they are healthy. I don't want no part of the ducks in the first round.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

In terms of needs, I would like to see them pick up one more scoring capable winger, and possibly explore the backup goalie position.

I think we can all agree that an upgrade to the back-up goalie situation would be ideal. In regards to the "one more scoring capable winger" I'm not so sure.

Here's my reasoning... I see no reason to muck with lines 1 & 2. So what we'd really be looking for is an upgrade to line 3 (so a legit 2nd line even-strength scoring forward to play one spot down in the order) but here's the thing I can't think of a rental that fits those parameters that would really do better then then Bennett with the bump down in ice-time from 2nd to 3rd (and I just don't see the Flames putting Neal on the 4th line). What we really need is for Neal to shake whatever funk he's found himself in since he arrived here.