The Pacific Division is no good - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

SebC · 11-25-2018, 05:59 PM

It has to be newsworthy at this point how lousy our division is.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AC

Flames back into 1st in the division.

1. Calgary 24 GP, 29 PTS (+12 goal differential)
2. San Jose 24 GP, 28 PTS (+1 goal differential)
3. Anaheim 24 GP, 25 PTS (-15 goal differential)
4. Vegas 25 GP, 25 PTS (-1 goal differential)
5. Vancouver 26 GP, 24 PTS (-17 goal differential)
6. Edmonton 22 GP, 22 PTS (-9 goal differential)

If San Jose loses their next game by one, the Flames will be the only team in the division with a positive goal differential.

If San Jose loses their next game by two, the Flames will be the only team in the division without a negative goal differential.

The Flames are the only team in the division with more wins than loses.

As a reminder, there are eight teams in the division, i.e. seven non-Flame teams.

The NHL should be pissed off at its schedule makers for not scheduling more early divisional games thus allowing this to happen. That is, except that it's been their own philosophy to put the "four point games" at the end. Oops.

If it weren't for divisional games, the Pacific would potentially be making the argument that it does not deserve three guaranteed playoff spots.

The Cobra · 11-25-2018, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

It has to be newsworthy at this point how lousy our division is.

If San Jose loses their next game by one, the Flames will be the only team in the division with a positive goal differential.

If San Jose loses their next game by two, the Flames will be the only team in the division without a negative goal differential.

The Flames are the only team in the division with more wins than loses.

As a reminder, there are eight teams in the division, i.e. seven non-Flame teams.

The NHL should be pissed off at it's schedule makers for not scheduling more early divisional games thus allowing this to happen. That is, except that it's been their own philosophy to put the "four point games" at the end. Oops.

If it weren't for divisional games, the Pacific would potentially be making the argument that it does not deserve three guaranteed playoff spots.

Both San Jose and the Ducks have more wins than loses.

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SebC · 11-25-2018, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Cobra

Both San Jose and the Ducks have more wins than loses.

No they don't. There are two columns of losses.

Haplo · 11-25-2018, 06:13 PM

What would be the point of the three guaranteed playoff spots if you had to earn it by having enough points to be top 8 in the conference?

chummer · 11-25-2018, 06:16 PM

Calgary and San Jose are good, the rest no good.

I think Vegas takes 3rd though.

SebC · 11-25-2018, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haplo

What would be the point of the three guaranteed playoff spots if you had to earn it by having enough points to be top 8 in the conference?

The function of guaranteed divisional spots should be to protect teams in strong divisions from missing out due to higher quality of competition. That's clearly not the case for the Pacific this year.

flamesforcup · 11-25-2018, 06:22 PM

I think we have a legit shot at the conference finals depending on goaltending. Also i wouldnt wanna face Vegas in the first round. We saw them run through the league last year and i would rather not risk that happening to the Flames. Would rather get the Ducks/Oilers.

The Cobra · 11-25-2018, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

No they don't. There are two columns of losses.

The standings refer to them as “OT”, not losses.

But I get your point.

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Flames Draft Watcher · 11-25-2018, 06:33 PM

VGK - seem to be missing Stastny and Haula quite a bit. Fleury probably not as bad as his early season form. Are they a Stanley cup final team? Are they a non-playoff team? The truth may lie in the middle.
ANA - Their stars are aging but they do have some youngsters bridging the gap. Hard to write off any team with a goaltender as good as Gibson in a league where goaltending is the single most important position.
EDM - Have one of the most dangerous players in the world. Their depth is a huge problem. They have 3 legit top two line players and arguably zero Giordanos (top pairing dmen.) When Talbot or Koskinen is stealing games they look okay. They need their goaltenders to be well above average to compete for the playoffs. I’m not sold on them.
VAN - Nice run early and I like some of their young pieces. But they are in the midst of a rebuild and we know how that goes. Depth is an issue and I wouldn’t expect them to compete for the playoffs.
ARI - So far they are looking like one of the worst offenses in the league. They have maybe one 1st line forward. I don’t expect them to compete
L.A. - The worst offense in the league. Love seeing these guys crash down to earth without Sutter.

That leaves the two strong teams IMO

SJ - They have fire power up front, on the blue line and passable goaltending.
CGY - Finally looking like a deep team up front and on the blue line. Goaltending as we all knew is the question but Rittich has replied strongly. Smith hasn’t been quite as bad as some fans make him out to be but he’s struggled mightily in a few games. Transitioning to Rittich looks like it should be the plan this year.

I’d expect CGY and SJ to be favs for the division title and I’d expect ANA and VGK to contend for 3rd. You can never completely rule out EDM in case Talbot and McDavid go into god mode at the same time but I’m skeptical.

But yes overall the division is weak. L.A., ARI and VAN likely to be bottom feeders.

Table 5 · 11-25-2018, 06:40 PM

It looks to be one of those years where it's preferable to finish second in the division, so you get to play another Pacific team in the first round.

Haplo · 11-25-2018, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

The function of guaranteed divisional spots should be to protect teams in strong divisions from missing out due to higher quality of competition. That's clearly not the case for the Pacific this year.

How in the world would 6 teams from a weak division reach the playoffs while only 2 teams from a strong division does? I doubt that is possible even if two teams in the Pacific lost every interdivisional game. Even with a lot of loser points amongst the other 6.

DeluxeMoustache · 11-25-2018, 06:41 PM

Ok. Are we now complaining because many of the Flames’ divisional opponents are finally hitting a down cycle at the same time?

That’s what I take from the tone of the OP.

The crappier our division, the better. I don’t like any of those teams.

Flames Draft Watcher · 11-25-2018, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Ok. Are we now complaining because many of the Flames’ divisional opponents are finally hitting a down cycle at the same time?

That’s what I take from the tone of the OP.

The crappier our division, the better. I don’t like any of those teams.

I didn’t see any hint of a complaint. He merely called it newsworthy.

Funkhouser · 11-25-2018, 06:45 PM

Good.
Bring on the Seattle Plaids...even more points in the bank

DeluxeMoustache · 11-25-2018, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I didn’t see any hint of a complaint. He merely called it newsworthy.

Ok.

Well, perhaps the title should be that the rest of the Pacific Division is no good.

SebC · 11-25-2018, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Haplo

How in the world would 6 teams from a weak division reach the playoffs while only 2 teams from a strong division does? I doubt that is possible even if two teams in the Pacific lost every interdivisional game. Even with a lot of loser points amongst the other 6.

Balance. A division with only slightly-above average teams would cannibalize itself, whereas a division with two doormats would have six boosted teams.

The Yen Man · 11-25-2018, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

No they don't. There are two columns of losses.

Sure, but thats just semantics. They still get points for OT losses, so the fact that they have earned more than 50% of their maximum earnable points mean they have a winning record in my eyes.

Haplo · 11-25-2018, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

Balance. A division with only slightly-above average teams would cannibalize itself, whereas a division with two doormats would have six boosted teams.

There is no cannibalizing in a loser point system. A division with slightly above average even teams would boost each other with loser points.

Timbo · 11-25-2018, 07:04 PM

Lots more hockey to be played.

Macindoc · 11-25-2018, 07:14 PM

E=NG
V=NG

Ari = tire fire
LA sucks
Ana sucks

NG + NG + tire fire + sucks + sucks = NG