Races over the last week

[Cheese]

So with a week to go in the regular season, and playoff spots mostly decided, it comes down to positioning.

Lets see where the races are, and what games these teams have left:

In the East its looking like a 2 horse race for first with Pittsburgh and Buffalo, and Philadelphia with an outside chance.
Pitts is currently in first holding a two point lead over Buffalo and four points over Philly.

Pitts 2 games left
Wash @ Pitt
Dallas @ Pitt

Buffalo 3 games left
Wash @ Buff
Buff vs Mont
Buff vs CMB

Philly 3 games left
Det @ Phil
Phil vs NJ
Phil vs Van

Pittsburgh looks solid to hold the one spot with both games at home.

Detroit, Toronto and Montreal look to be fighting for the two spot in the Atlantic with Detroit holding a slim 1 point margin over the other two. Detroit also has a game in hand. The key here is that either Toronto or Montreal could fall right out and give Ottawa a shot at the playoffs if not careful.

Detroit games left:
Mont @ Det
Det vs Phil
Det vs StL

Toronto games left
TB @ Tor
Tor vs NYR

Montreal games left
Mont vs Det
Buff @ Mont

Ottawa games left
Col @ Ott
Ott vs Cal

Toronto seems to have ease of games vs TB and NYR but will need to win them both.

New Jersey and the Isles seem happy to be fighting for the 5 - 6 spot with the Isles having a game in hand.

In the west it has been an absolute dogfight over the last few months for top spot. Right now 3 points are all that seperrates1st from 4th. It does appear that StL and Chicago have the upper hand, StL specifically due to having three games left. Any losing streak though and Phoenix or Calgary could move up quickly. This will be decided on the last game for each of these clubs.

Chicago games left
Chic vs NYI
LA @ Chic

StL games left
StL vs Minn
StL vs Col
Det @ StL

Yotes games left
LA @ Yotes
Col @ Yotes

Cgy games left
Ott @ Cgy
Cgy vs Edm

StL seems to have the toughest schedule remaining, but anything can happen.

Colorado and Edmonton seem to have the 5-6 spots, with position the only factor left. The Avs have 2 games in hand on the Oilers so this is likely what will push them into the 5 spot.

The Wild are all by themselves in 6th with no real threats from behind leaving the Ducks and the Sharks fighting for that last spot.
The Ducks have advantage via holding a game in hand, lets look at these games.

Ducks games left
Ana vs Nash
Minn @ Ana
Ana vs Nash

SJ games left
Dal @ SJ
Last game of reg season LA @ SJ

No head to heads here so winning out their respective schedules is likely the determining factor.


so what are your thoughts GMs? Where are these teeams going to land?

[TheScorpion]

Uh I'm getting the 3 spot in the East obviously

Only two points back of the Flyers with the same GP and now momentum

[SportsJunky]

Philly and Buffalo had a pretty good race for 1st going and then Pittsburgh won like 8 in a row and passed right by us. I'm not even mad. This is my first time qualifying for the post season. I'll be happy wherever we get seeded.

[MJK]

Who cares about all the playoff teams and the seeding, this is the time of the year to focus on the battle to get into the playoffs!

Although apparently not considering the complete lack of posts and seemingly (what appears to be) lack of interest from the Wild, Ducks and Stars all who were in the playoff race.

What gives?

I sure do miss when GM’s posted about their teams often, those were the days. I look forward to the ironic posts in defence of what I just wrote.

Welcome to the conversation!

[Swayze11]

Avs are eligible to get 2nd in the conference. That is our goal.

[TheScorpion]

I do wish more teams were more passionate, Dave -- you clearly are very much, and that's a great thing. Off the top of my head, I know that Calgary, Edmonton, Minnesota, and Philly all have great, passionate GMs too.

I do wish there was more posting here. I'd like to see some more diversity of logos represented in the forum for the thread icons! But that's not up to me

[MJK]

I’m just old school, you should have seen this place back in the day! Some of the posts GM’s made would blow your mind.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Swayze11

Avs are eligible to get 2nd in the conference. That is our goal.

Eligible and able are two different things

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

Philly and Buffalo had a pretty good race for 1st going and then Pittsburgh won like 8 in a row and passed right by us. I'm not even mad. This is my first time qualifying for the post season. I'll be happy wherever we get seeded.

####ing McDavid

[Completely]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

I do wish more teams were more passionate,

My ex complained about that all the time too

[Hanni]

Originally Posted by Cheese

The key here is that either Toronto or Montreal could fall right out and give Ottawa a shot at the playoffs if not careful.

I can't believe that after trading away the few good player's we had other than Dubnyk this is even possible, we may just sneak in.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by MJK

Who cares about all the playoff teams and the seeding, this is the time of the year to focus on the battle to get into the playoffs!

Although apparently not considering the complete lack of posts and seemingly (what appears to be) lack of interest from the Wild, Ducks and Stars all who were in the playoff race.

What gives?

I sure do miss when GM’s posted about their teams often, those were the days. I look forward to the ironic posts in defence of what I just wrote.

Welcome to the conversation!

I don’t have much to say because I’m pretty much 7th unlikely to move
Up or down. Just want to get in healthy

[savardandjokinen]

I can place anywhere between 4-7th, but 4th and 7th are unlikely, and atm even 5th isn’t too likely. I probably remain in 6th where I’ve been for a long time. Injuries have killed us in the last half but Parayko and klingberg should be ready to go on day 1 of the playoffs. Not sure who I’m gonna play yet as the west is very tight.

And yeah I agree with some of the above statements, lots of the gms aren’t too active in sending lines, posting or even logging on

[Goffie]

The Pens are looking to lock down the top seed, but will be happy with our season where ever we land. Injuries are starting to add up so I will be looking to add some depth at all positions over the weekend.

Right now we have Ehlers, Provorov, and Sedin out for extended periods. Hopefully we can survive the 1st round while we wait to get players back.

[Unlucky Puck]

I will try to post more guys,

I thought for a bit there that we were going to get knocked out of the playoff race. We went through a bit of a losing skid but we seemed to have recovered. I am excited to see how we will fare in the playoffs but I think that the cup will be going to the western conference.

Detroit is looking to make some moves before the deadline so fingers crossed that we can get something done. Perhaps there is some room on Robidas Island.......

[I wanna be like Miikka]

Ducks have been following closely but a couple weeks ago made some moves to look to next year. I have really been spending my time on the trade market trying to move some guys as I am 50/50 to make the playoffs anyways.

I have a few guys expected to get big raises this summer so it was important to move out some of my other expensive players like Backlund and Killorn (RFA). Plan is to retool and then go big for it next year. Even if we squeeze into the playoffs this year, anything can happen but with a 50% chance of missing I had to make some moves to maximize the return on some players.

[savardandjokinen]

Habs vs Sens, Ducks vs Sharks are the last two battles. Fitting as they’re rivals irl