Wild Card Race (Western Conference)

[polak]

Originally Posted by sec304

I'm an optimist, still hoping 96 isn't the hard line, but after updating that list this morning I don't see how it can't be. Every team in the race is hot, it's getting ridiculous

Every team in the race has been hot since late February it seems like.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

Jets still have a very tough schedule, though 5 are at home:
Habs
Hawks
Rangers
Canucks
@Wild
@Blues
@Avs
Flames
That said, it would be unrealistic to think the Flames won't have to beat them the last game of the season to get in.

The only certain thing on the schedules now are that you get 2 pts when playing Edmonton. Arizona walked into Detroit (now 6 pts ahead of 9th place Boston) last night and picked up 2 points.


LA was reeling and has an awful road record and is about to be knocked out and go into New Jersey and NYR back to back and come out with 4 pts.

Throw the form out. each game is winnable and lose-able for all the teams involved.

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by ricardodw

Throw the form out. each game is winnable and lose-able for all the teams involved.

I understand that.
Just pointing out next 6 for Jets is about as tough a stretch as it gets.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by polak

Every team in the race has been hot since late February it seems like.

San Jose is the only team that is falling back and might be out of it, but otherwise every team seems to be winning every night. Need more 2 point games with teams in the race playing each other

[dissentowner]

I am not worried because I think the Jets are done with that schedule. Can't see LA going away now.

[sec304]

A puck daddy analysis aimed towards the Jets final games:

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nh...134149012.html

Like I said, I'm an optimist

[troutman]

Less confident now. Thought LA would play around .500 on road trip. WIN might be our best hope now.

[heep223]

Originally Posted by polak

.... Wish I could dig up some of those posts calling me out for thinking 96 Points wasn't going to cut it.

Here's another one. 96 will still do it.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am not worried because I think the Jets are done with that schedule. Can't see LA going away now.

They have beaten some pretty good teams over the past month and IMO they will do fine with that schedule as their tough games are on home ice where they have been hot.

Flames have been a great story this season but it may be time for a reality check here as they simply aren't going to get any help as no team in the race is going to go .500 over their last 9/10 games. If I wasn't a Flames fan and just looking at things I would put my money on the Flames not making it as I don't see them being able to win the required games down the stretch. I'm hoping the prove me wrong here but either way it's been a fantastic season and if they just miss the playoffs they should come back hungry next fall.

Originally Posted by heep223

Here's another one. 96 will still do it.

Nope. The Canucks and Wild are both on pace to eclipse 100 points and the Jets over 97. Flames do own tiebreakers but they will probably need to be at 97 points just to win a tiebreaker.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I am not worried because I think the Jets are done with that schedule. Can't see LA going away now.

Flame next 5 games

stars (8-2-0)
@wild (7-3-0)
@preds (4-5-1) just beat montreal in OT last night lost to wild in OT 2 games ago

@stars (8-2-0)
@Blues (6-2-2)

Not a game that the Flames could bring their A game and still lose.

Then @Edmonton

After the Flames next 5 they may be in a position that a win over Edmonton is win or go golfing. This would be Edmonton's version of a game 7. The Flames AHL team at the end of last year cased a lot of problem.

[ricardodw]

I find it interesting that the Jets are sort of on playoff death watch here because they lost a road game to a playoff team.

After winning 5 in a row.

That is sort of like counting a team out in a playoff series after losing the opening game to the home team.

Are the Flames in or out based on what happens tonight with Dallas..... NO but it will sure seem like it.

[Itse]

I'm thinking no matter how it happens, it will come down to the last 2 games.

[ricardodw]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They have beaten some pretty good teams over the past month and IMO they will do fine with that schedule as their tough games are on home ice where they have been hot.

Flames have been a great story this season but it may be time for a reality check here as they simply aren't going to get any help as no team in the race is going to go .500 over their last 9/10 games. If I wasn't a Flames fan and just looking at things I would put my money on the Flames not making it as I don't see them being able to win the required games down the stretch. I'm hoping the prove me wrong here but either way it's been a fantastic season and if they just miss the playoffs they should come back hungry next fall.



Nope. The Canucks and Wild are both on pace to eclipse 100 points and the Jets over 97. Flames do own tiebreakers but they will probably need to be at 97 points just to win a tiebreaker.

Really an excellent opportunity for them to play in games that really matter.

Right now all they have to do is win one game at home against Dallas.

[polak]

I think the "toughness" of schedule talk can go out the window just like the 96 points talk. Every team in the race seems to be winning regardless of who they're playing.

Basically, the Flames need to focus on their 2 pts every night. They're not going to get any help.

Scary.

[Igster]

Originally Posted by polak

I think the "toughness" of schedule talk can go out the window just like the 96 points talk. Every team in the race seems to be winning regardless of who they're playing.

Basically, the Flames need to focus on their 2 pts every night. They're not going to get any help.

Exciting.

fyp

[Inglewood Jack]

poll poll poll

I would definitely still vote 96 points. no team has ever missed with that total, and no way the western conference magic fairy dust lasts for another 9 games. the longer everyone's winning streak goes, the more likely that one or more is on the precipice of an inexplicable death spiral.

[polak]

Originally Posted by Inglewood Jack

poll poll poll

I would definitely still vote 96 points. no team has ever missed with that total, and no way the western conference magic fairy dust lasts for another 9 games. the longer everyone's winning streak goes, the more likely that one or more is on the precipice of an inexplicable death spiral.

Just hope that's not us.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by EldrickOnIce

I understand that.
Just pointing out next 6 for Jets is about as tough a stretch as it gets.

except the teams they are playing are mostly playoff locks and won't have the same urgency

[Dr. Doom]

Originally Posted by sec304

A puck daddy analysis aimed towards the Jets final games:

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nh...134149012.html

Like I said, I'm an optimist

Thanks for that.
I think Puck Daddy nails it here.

I'll add that I think last night's match-ups were very telling.

Kings have done this before, they aren't about to go away. A decisive win against the Rangers last night is huge and they have a favorable schedule down the stretch.

Before last night - I thought that the Jets were a better team - I don't think the Canucks are as good as their record shows but they proved me wrong in that they indeed look better than the Jets. I think the Jets needed that game last night in hand, now they are over everyone else on games played with no doubt a very difficult schedule ahead (even Colorado could give them a hard time).

I think we're good if the Jets do as expected down the stretch here.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Just for the hell of it, here are the standings if you eliminate the shootout (i.e. all games going to a shootout instead end in a tie and each team gets 1 point)

1. ANA - 94 pts
2. NSH - 92 pts
3. STL - 90 points
4. MIN - 87 pts
5. VAN - 86 pts
6. CHI - 85 pts
7. LAK - 84 pts
8. CGY - 82 pts
9. WPG - 81 pts
10. DAL - 77 pts