so most of the hockey fans on BBI have their teams eliminated or close to it. See if anyone wants to discuss the tank-a-thon or playoffs.
Pretty much eliminated (of the BBI fan teams):
Rangers
Canadiens
Islanders
Senators
Hurricanes
Some fans still have teams alive
Bruins
Capitals
I've seen a Flyers fan on here
and of course our Penguins fan, plus the lone Vegas Knights fan.
Anyway more of us probably interested in Rasmus Dahlin than playoff seeding, but still some good races left.
Most teams have between 12 and 15 games left.
The Lightning and Predators, the two conference leaders, are on absolute fire. Both 9 - 0 - 1 in their last 10.
The Jets (my darkhorse) are also pretty hot.
And Patrik Laine is now in elite company, he's tied Gretzky for 3rd most goals as a teen. Interestingly that's not the 1st most, Jimmy Carson (92) and Dale Hawerchuck (85) both have more than Laine who currently has 76, but what Laine is doing is impressive since it's being done in a lower scoring era.
If the season ended today draft order (subject to lottery of course) would be:
Arizona
Buffalo
Ottawa
Vancouver
Montreal
Detroit
Edmonton
Rangers
Chicago
Islanders
Carolina
Islanders (from Calgary)
Columbus
Philly (from St Louis)
Anaheim
A lot of movement will take place in that group, plus the lottery will shuffle things, but just my view it's a strong top of the draft.
Current playoff matchups would be:
East
TAM vs CBJ
BOS vs TOR
PIT vs NJD
WAS vs PHI
still alive: FLA, CAR
West
LVG vs DAL
SJS vs ANA
NSH vs COL
WIN vs MIN
Still alive: LAK, CAL, STL
some good matchups
Rick Carpiniello
@RickCarpiniello
2m2 minutes ago
So Chytil will play between Hayes and Zuccarello, Andersson will center Vesey and Spooner. Desharnais, Holland and Carey scratched. Georgiev in goal. #NYR
he was a legit star at the world juniors and really good in the NCAA. He, Reinhart, and Eichel plus another high pick a really solid, Oilers-like, core they're building. Not to mention veteran leaders like Ryan O'Reilly.
maybe a 2019 rebuond? Obviously not a Sabres fan, but how long can they suck?
Haven't won a playoff series in 11 years and only appeared in the playoffs twice the past 10 years.
Wonder how long Eichel puts up with this losing.
Wonder how long Eichel puts up with this losing.
The only pass I give them is it's Housley's first year.
But Eichel just signed an 8 year $100M contract in October or November. Not sure what choice he has.
Wonder how long Eichel puts up with this losing.
No, but without that kind of player you're not going to win a Cup. The best you're likely to do is play at the level of the 2012-16 Rangers - very good team, win a bunch of playoff series, never really come close to a championship.
If you're in the cup final, you're pretty damn close. I'll always believe they would have been the favorites to win it in 2015 if Zuccarello doesn't take that puck to the head.
agree.
The individual brilliance of Lundqvist kept them competitive in those games, to the point that you could say that the Rangers had a chance to win all the games they lost, but would anyone say that the better team lost? No.
You can deal with that whatever way you need to and I agree the better team won, but to say the Rangers weren't good enough to win the cup is probably some psychological ploy to help you deal with getting so close but losing. I don't mean that as a criticism just an opinion - and I'd maybe do the same thing in that situation.
they were mere bounces away from winning 3 of those games.
That series went 5, but 3 of the 4 Kings wins were up for grabs and while maybe the ice was tilted, I remember the Kings outshooting the Rangers, the Rangers had chances to win all those games.
Two great goalies on display that series, it was fun to watch as an unattached observer and again, even though it went 5 the teams seemed pretty evenly matched to me.
If anything this year I'd rather see the Devils make it than Florida.
Devils have the most American players in the league.
I like it, I think offsides reviews need to be eliminated, it sucks when a call doesn't go your way, but it's game played by humans and officiated by humans you know going in that there is potential for human error.
As long as you can be reasonably assured refs are all on the level, then I don't think offsides review is necessary.
Goalie interference I can take it or leave it, but it needs to be consistent and it's not, this may help
link - ( New Window )
I like it, I think offsides reviews need to be eliminated, it sucks when a call doesn't go your way, but it's game played by humans and officiated by humans you know going in that there is potential for human error.
As long as you can be reasonably assured refs are all on the level, then I don't think offsides review is necessary.
Yea I can live with the offsides review but they need to tweak the rule to make you onsides as long as your skate is above the blueline, as well as not allow a review if the defense touches the puck, or the offending player leaves the ice before the goal is scored. The goalie interference thing should help having the same group review all of them for consistency.
EAST
TBL vs NJD
BOS vs TOR
WAS vs PHI
PIT vs CBJ
Still alive: FLA; 3 points behind NJD, 2 games in hand
WEST
LVG vs STL
SJS vs LAK
NSH vs ANA
WIN vs MIN
Still alive: COL, 1 point behind ANA, 1, game in hand
DAL on life support, 5 points behind ANA
A little drama, but should be good end.
At the other end of the standings:
BUF, 60 pts, 6 games left
ARI, 63 pts, 6 games left
OTT, 63 pts, 6 games left
VAN, 65 pts, 5 games left
DET, 67 pts, 5 games left
MTL, 68 pts, 5 games left
McDavid making a late push for Hart (and Ross), I think he'll get Ross, but will Hart go to him with his team being eliminated since December.
Hart obviously subjective, vs Ross which is most points, so I think Hart comes down to MacKinnon (if COL makes the PO's), Kucherov, and Malkin. I think if McDavid goes nuts the last two weeks he might get himself some votes.
Richard race tightening a little, Ovie with a 2 goal lead over Laine, 3 goal lead over Malkin, and 5 goal lead over McDavid.
Hart obviously subjective, vs Ross which is most points, so I think Hart comes down to MacKinnon (if COL makes the PO's), Kucherov, and Malkin. I think if McDavid goes nuts the last two weeks he might get himself some votes.
I understand the Devils get forgotten when it comes to individual awards, but if they make the playoffs Hall has to be in the top 3.
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Hart obviously subjective, vs Ross which is most points, so I think Hart comes down to MacKinnon (if COL makes the PO's), Kucherov, and Malkin. I think if McDavid goes nuts the last two weeks he might get himself some votes.
I understand the Devils get forgotten when it comes to individual awards, but if they make the playoffs Hall has to be in the top 3.
I don't forget the Devils nor do I think anyone else does - every franchise has a persecution complex, when they have someone worthy of an award they win.
Hall has been great, he's not in my top 3 though. Maybe top 5. And who knows, he could win, this is just my opinion.
he turned 41 10 days ago.
As much as I hate him (sports hate) and thought he was done a couple years ago, it's amazing to see an athlete that age in an endurance sport still battling and competing at a high level.
By your logic then William Karlsson should run away with the award.
Going in to the season many people, me included, had Vegas in the fight for #1 pick, not #1 seed in the playoffs or winning their division.
Devils on paper have far more talent than Vegas.
But that doesn't change the fact those other players (IMO) on my list had better years (so far) than Hall. I just don't think he has the points.
I've seen twitter fights over why McDavid should win it - but IMV the Ted Linsday award is for the best player, not the Hart.
I think you need to be on a playoff team to win the Hart - going from non-playoff team to a worse playoff team without you doesn't change anything.
I'm curious on others' thoughts, though.
By your logic then William Karlsson should run away with the award.
Going in to the season many people, me included, had Vegas in the fight for #1 pick, not #1 seed in the playoffs or winning their division.
Devils on paper have far more talent than Vegas.
I don't care what we thought going in to the season, but the fact is the Knights have 5 20 goal scorers, and Karlsson isn't even leading them in points, so no my logic does not apply there at all. In fact just the opposite, Hall is 36 points ahead of the next nearest point guy on the Devs. 36 points. Let that sink in for a bit.
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By your logic then William Karlsson should run away with the award.
Going in to the season many people, me included, had Vegas in the fight for #1 pick, not #1 seed in the playoffs or winning their division.
Devils on paper have far more talent than Vegas.
I don't care what we thought going in to the season, but the fact is the Knights have 5 20 goal scorers, and Karlsson isn't even leading them in points, so no my logic does not apply there at all. In fact just the opposite, Hall is 36 points ahead of the next nearest point guy on the Devs. 36 points. Let that sink in for a bit.
So what, the Devils have more 20-point scorers than the Penguins (just as an example).
Because they spread their scoring around more than other teams that means Hall should be MVP?
Plus the Devils are just about neutral in goal diff. meaning their team defense and goalie is contributing as much to their record as the offense. Not the case with the other contenders I named - except McDavid - and for him to win he'd need to go crazy this week and wind up like Lemieux when he won the Hart on a team who missed the playoffs (I think he outpaced the closest competitor by 20 pts).
Submitted: the Predators are the 2018 equivalent of the 2014 Rangers. Great regular season team, dominant goaltending, don't have the kind of elite forwards to actually win a cup.
Most cup winners are considered elite coaches, but for some reason Lavy is underrated IMO. He's had some bad teams and bad seasons, but when you look at the style of coach, I like him.
Also agree, NSH has the best overall D in the league, but best pair I'll take Jones and Werenski in CBJ.
Plus CBJ upgraded their second pair with Cole, who has a ton of playoff experience (almost 50 playoff games the past two seasons).
Thanks for providing this chart pj......it looks to me your Habs are in a fight with Detroit mainly, but this chart shows the difference between 5th or 6th is only one percentage point, so from my way of thinking, 7.5% chance or 6.5% seems about the same to me. How about you?
PS. I dont think Ottawa passes Habs, and the other 3 teams look to be below Habs for good too. Just Detroit.
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Thanks for providing this chart pj......it looks to me your Habs are in a fight with Detroit mainly, but this chart shows the difference between 5th or 6th is only one percentage point, so from my way of thinking, 7.5% chance or 6.5% seems about the same to me. How about you?
PS. I dont think Ottawa passes Habs, and the other 3 teams look to be below Habs for good too. Just Detroit.
agree, DET and MTL play each other again. @DET.
But that's the only real movement I see possible.
MTL finishes @ your leafs, just hopeful the Leafs have something to play for.
MTL has all playoff teams left other than the @DET game.
@PIT
NJD
WPG
@DET
@TOR
then pray for ping pong ball luck.
I doubt he survives the off-season.
I have a feeling there were as many disappointed Hab fans than happy when your boys beat Detroit a few days back.
I have a feeling there were as many disappointed Hab fans than happy when your boys beat Detroit a few days back.
It's hard to tank - I don't think any professional athletes will embrace tanking. Hockey is no different the players, the coaches, they want to win every game.
So I don't get disappointed when they win, but luckily that hasn't been too often since they were eliminated.
Dahlin is an immediate game changer, he's a top pair LD next year at 18 years old.
He's a bigger Erik Karlsson.
Kenny Albert
Verified account @KennyAlbert
21h21 hours ago
.@NYRangers fans - take a moment to appreciate the last 12 seasons. Never played a single game while out of playoff contention. 129 playoff games (2nd most in NHL since 2005-06). Six Game 7 wins. 3 Conference Finals, 1 Stanley Cup Final @MSGNetworks @DaveMaloneyMSG @TheGarden
Quote:
Kenny Albert
Verified account @KennyAlbert
21h21 hours ago
.@NYRangers fans - take a moment to appreciate the last 12 seasons. Never played a single game while out of playoff contention. 129 playoff games (2nd most in NHL since 2005-06). Six Game 7 wins. 3 Conference Finals, 1 Stanley Cup Final @MSGNetworks @DaveMaloneyMSG @TheGarden
Actually that is a hell of a lot better than I ever would have guessed, and I don't think I missed even a single game over that period of time (meaning, I lived it, but didn't realize how good it was while it happened)
Predators I think activated Eeli Tolvanen, kid is legit. I know he signed an ELC, I think he should debut this weekend.
Looking forward to see if he plays in the playoffs too.
He's an example of how these 17 years old can develop and over perform their draft spot. He was pick #30 last year and would probably be top 10 if that draft took place again, but a year later.
lonk - ( New Window )
His rec league guys are probably pissed since many rec leagues (or at least tournaments) prohibit ex-NHL (or any level of pro) players. Maybe goalies don't count.
No one usually says anything though if one shows up in a league game b/c they're so star struck playing against pros.
We had a guy on my men's league team at 44 years old sign a 10-day ECHL contract with a team from the Cape.
He was playing against 18 - 22 years olds mostly. He held his own, hardest thing he said was going from no-check to checking after all these years. Goalies wouldn't face that though.
He's now prohibited from playing in any tournaments we enter.
asshole.
but at least he played pro.
The line of Marchand, Bergeron, and Pastrnak is the best line in hockey.
I'm not even sure 2nd place is that close and it could have been last night's other great line, JT Miller, Stamkos and Kucherov.
they also played well. Miller looked really good, but they weren't close to the Bruins top line.
ARI: 65 pts, 4 left
OTT: 65 pts, 5 left
VAN: 67 pts, 4 left
MTL: 68 pts, 5 left
DET: 69 pts, 4 left
MTL and DET play each other next Thursday
VAN and ARI play each other next Thursday
OTT and DET play each other tomorrow
So there could be some shuffling at the bottom
Quote:
Kenny Albert
Verified account @KennyAlbert
21h21 hours ago
.@NYRangers fans - take a moment to appreciate the last 12 seasons. Never played a single game while out of playoff contention. 129 playoff games (2nd most in NHL since 2005-06). Six Game 7 wins. 3 Conference Finals, 1 Stanley Cup Final @MSGNetworks @DaveMaloneyMSG @TheGarden
Yeah well.... maybe more frustrating than enjoyable. The Flyers played in more Finals games over that span as did the Hurricanes and the Devils. Rangers fans deserve more luck than we've had
I'm no scout, but I believe the top 15 is as deep as any draft the past decade.
Other than McDavid I don't think any prospect has been as NHL ready as Dahlin (I'd put Dahlin on the same level as Matthews).
And after that there are probably 3 prospects who may have gone #1 last year (Svechnikov, Zadina, Tkachuk)
and after that there's about a dozen high floor high ceiling players. Some of the best puck moving, smooth skating defensemen at the top of a draft in a long time.
They look like the best team in the league right now. I said it above, but Pastrnak, Bergeron, and Marchand is the best line in the league right now, only close is the Pens PP1 unit of Malkin, Crosby and Kessel IMO.
Looks like they lost Carlo last night, but I doubt it matters too much. I hope they lose 1st round, but IMO they've passed NSH and TBL.
Right now they're 2 behind NSH for President's Cup with a game in hand. NSH has 4 left, B's have 5.
TBL is 3 back of NSH with 4 to play.
MTL gets some help with a VAN win, a DET win, and their own loss to PIT.
Bottom up standings are:
1. BUF, 62 pts 4 left
2. OTT, 65 pts, 4 left
3. ARI, 67 pts, 3 left
4. MTL, 68 pts, 4 left
5. VAN, 69 pts, 3 left
6. DET, 71 pts, 3 left
7. NYI, 74 pts, 3 left
8. EDM, 74 pts, 3 left
9. CHI, 74 pts, 3 left
10. NYR, 77 pts, 3 left
Current playoff matchups:
East:
BOS vs NJD
TBL vs TOR
WAS vs PHI
PIT vs CBJ
West:
NSH vs STL
WIN vs MIN
LVG vs ANA
SJS vs LAK
In the East NJD up 5 on FLA, NYR eliminated CAR last night so no one else alive
In the West, COL and STL tied in pts, STL has the tiebreaker.
DAL 4 back with 3 left, on life support.
COL and STL play on the last day of the season for both (next Saturday). Hope it's meaningful.
Never know. Could be because it's Marchand and he's always deserving of a suspension IMO because of history any time anything borderline happens.
but that looked a little embellished to me. I don't think it's as bad as MacDonald made it seem.
I've stopped trying to predict league discipline at this point. I don't think the Bruins would mind so much if he's suspended for the last couple regular season games. I doubt he suspended for a playoff game. but with his history he won't (and shouldn't) get the benefit of the doubt. So who knows.
come away with no points.
pretty sure they wind up top 5 heading in to the lottery.
For most teams, that will equate to a nice long losing streak that has you drafting in the top 5. But no Sir, not your 2017-2018 New York Rangers... these assholes keep pulling horseshoes out their ass to win meaningless hockey and end up picking 10th.
Since the Western Canada trip and excluding Tampa and Washington, since they're elite teams - i'm talking the 12 other games played against good/mediocre competition:
7-3-2 record
42% shots for/against (343 shots for, 481 shots against)
40 shots against/night on average against these teams
Ridiculous 92.5% save percentage
Very high 12% shot percentage
Consider this year's Carolina series. The Rangers went 4-0 in these games, winning all 4 in regulation. This despite over 4 games, Carolina posted 151 shots to the Rangers 93!
So, Carolina's shot percentage was 4%... the Rangers was 20% (adjusting for 3 empty net goals, NYR shot percentage was 18%)
The Rangers, the numbers show above, have been one of the worst statistical teams in hockey - even against bad teams like Buffalo, Carolina, Vancouver - they are badly outplayed.... yet they keep fucking winning. Hate this team.