A lot of the drama is basically decided in the East.
All 8 playoff teams have clinched, only jockeying for position/seeding is left.
All teams have anywhere from 2 to 4 games left.
As it stands today (games remaining in () at the end):
E1: (Atlantic champ) Panthers 120 pts (clinched 1 seed) (4)
E2: (Metro champ*) Hurricanes 110 pts (*not clinched) (3)
E3: Leafs 109 pts (3)
E4: Rangers 108 pts (3)
E5: Lightning 105 pts (4)
E6: Bruins 101 pts (4)
E7: Pens 101 pts (3)
E8: Caps 99 pts (4)
If nothing changes the 1st round matchups would be:
Panthers vs Caps (A1 vs WC2)
Hurricanes vs Bruins (M1 vs WC1)
Leafs vs Lightning (A2 vs A3)
Rangers vs Pens (M2 vs M3)
If I'm the Rangers I'm fine where I am and they have clinched at worst the 2 seed in the Metro. I'd rather play the Pens than the Bruins.
I will add the West in a separate post (5 teams have clinched and basically 4 teams vying for the final 3 spots).
Also hope Tyler Motte is recovered for the playoffs. He added a ton of spark and speed to the 4th line and was great with PKs. Not much news about if he can return.
W2: (Pacific champ) Flames 108 pts (clinched 2 seed) (3)
W3: Wild 107 pts (4)
W4: Blues 107 pts (3)
W5: Oilers 98 pts (4)
W6: Kings 96 pts (2)
W7: Preds 93 pts (4)
W8: Stars 93 pts (3)
W9: Vegas 89 pts (4)
W10: Canucks 87 pts (3)
Canucks on life support as is Vegas. if DAL and NSH get just one point in their remaining games VAN is eliminated.
We know the Wild (C2) and Blues (C3) will play each other, just jockeying for home ice
.
Yeah, they'll need those three players back for the Playoffs. God forbid we give Dryden Hunt top-6 minutes like we did for the first two periods yesterday. Panarin may be a magician, but he can't even make Hunt have any modicum of offensive skill.
And Greg McKegg and Gauthier...just gross.
W2: (Pacific champ) Flames 108 pts (clinched 2 seed) (3)
W3: Wild 107 pts (4)
W4: Blues 107 pts (3)
W5: Oilers 98 pts (4)
W6: Kings 96 pts (2)
W7: Preds 93 pts (4)
W8: Stars 93 pts (3)
W9: Vegas 89 pts (4)
W10: Canucks 87 pts (3)
Canucks on life support as is Vegas. if DAL and NSH get just one point in their remaining games VAN is eliminated.
We know the Wild (C2) and Blues (C3) will play each other, just jockeying for home ice
Avalanche are obviously the creme de la creme in the West, but the Blues are surging. They're going to be a very tough out. And Buchnevich has had an amazing year for them....and we got a second round pick and a bottom-six player.
But I digress. I think the Blues will handle the Wild easily.
He reminds me of Datsyuk.
Kevin Fiala might be the most underrated player in the league right now. Zucc found the fountain of youth with an 80-point (and over a ppg) season. And Matthew Boldy is having a great season for a 20-year old.
That Wild team has some depth and talent. I think they're a year and some good fortune away from being a contender, but I like a lot of what they do.
If MAF (he's lost just one game since being traded to MIN) can catch some playoff lightning (no pun intended) I like the Wild as a darkhorse in the west.
But I don't see anyone who wins the West winning the cup unless the East teams just beat up each other. The Panthers are ridiculous, the NYR have all the cup elements, the Canes, Lightning, Bruins etc. I think all go toe to toe or better with the Avs. I don't include the Leafs yet because they have no playoff heart.
Flames are an enigma a little - I love their talent but they go through absolutely horrid stretches.
As it stands today the worst either of them can pick is 4th and this is really IMO a 4-player tier one draft. A good draft, but the top 4 is very close. 2023 is supposed to be incredible.
Bottom six teams (league wide)
32: Habs 51 pts (3)
31: Yotes 51 pts (3)
30: Kraken 58 pts (4)
29: Flyers 59 pts (4)
28: Devils 62 pts (4)
27: Blackhawks 63 pts (3)
I wouldn't mind Logan Cooley in a Habs uniform if they miss on Shane Wright. Or even Matthew Savoie or Juraj Slafkovsky.
And that's pretty much how they played yesterday, even given they were missing three top 9s (albeit Laf is doing 4th line work so who knows). Fox looked like he was on automatic pilot, dreadful game. w/o Copp their faceoff wins went way down. Was looking forward to this game to see how they matched up with Brunz with their trade deadline adds and Pasta back. But the playoff standings and injuries killed meaningful contest imo.
pj, gotta hand it to your early season call on NYR, but now we'll see just how much that call sticks with the young team thrown into the Playoff crucible. And apropos that, not sure I agree with your proposition that Metro teams stack up well with Avs, certainly NYR didn't, twice, albeit those games were played before the team really got its legs and GG's system. Speed and playmaking vs more NZ checking, let er rip
Wild impress me too, but only times I've seen them is vs NYR
The East teams have been set for what feels like months now.
Nothing changed in the East last night
Or the West, but LVG did what they need to do (win) to keep their hopes alive
No significant games tonight.
MTL had an incredible ceremony for Lafleur, when they finished the tribute the crowd started a standing ovation that lasted over 10 minutes. the PA announcer tried 3 times unsuccessfully to get the crowd to observe a moment of silence but they wouldn't have it. The love for Guy was obvious when they showed the crowd and many of the people, including Yvon Cournoyer had tears streaming down their faces. Not sure I've seen much like that in sports. Maybe a Kobe tribute but he was a young man who died tragically.
anyway, MTL now has a game in hand vs ARI for worst record.
They have lost 10 games in a row (in regulation) their longest losing streak in team history. They had two 8-game losing streaks this year.
Habs last two easily losable other than the "nothing to play for" factor of their opponents they play @NYR and vs FLA.
ARI has three games left @MIN, @DAL, vs NSH. All are playing for something so it could go either way.
Quote:
we can finish the last game of the season with Kakko, Chytil, and Copp back in the lineup.
.
Yeah, they'll need those three players back for the Playoffs. God forbid we give Dryden Hunt top-6 minutes like we did for the first two periods yesterday. Panarin may be a magician, but he can't even make Hunt have any modicum of offensive skill.
And Greg McKegg and Gauthier...just gross.
McKegg, Gauthier, Nemeth--all better be in the pressbox come the first week of May.
Feel like Tuesdays game vs Carolina will decide how they approach the end of the season as far as trying to rest some key guys this week in addition to guys they are holding out as a precaution. Regulation win vs Canes would be 2 pts back with a game in hand.
I actually don't think they played all that badly on Saturday given who was in the lineup. Bruins third goal was just an unfortunate deflection off Igor of what would have been a remarkable full-length extension save.
That's very good news.
It has really felt like just.. playing out the string since almost the start of April. Everyone's just kind if waiting for the playoffs now.
Seven teams from a conference had reached 100 points in the same season twice: in the Western Conference in 2006-07 and 2009-10.
they are winning 1 - 0 after 1.
That's very good news.
Copper reinjured, and Panarin out with upper body injury. That does not bode well for their chances if they're serious injuries
McDavid widens his Ross lead with a 4-point night (so far).
MTL back by two with two left for both.
MTL would need points in both games to pass ARI with ARI getting no points.
7 spots now claimed in the West with VAN eliminated. Down to DAL and LVG. DAL up 4 with two to play for both. LVG leads the ROW tiebreaker.
So DAL would need no pts in their final two and LVG would need 4 pts.
LVG @CHI
ARI @DAL
tonight to probably wrap it up.
When I read shit like that and I see the point totals put up this year I feel like we got robbed of another Olympics and it pisses me off.
USA could have probably had their most talented team ever, maybe even more than 1996 World Cup.
Matthews
Gaudreau
Tkachuk (Matthew)
- all over 100 points
Miller (JT)
Kane
Connor
- all over 90 points
Guentzel
Kreider
Debrincat
Fox
McAvoy
Larkin
Thompson
Troy Terry
Hughes brothers
Zegras
Caufield
Colin White
Brady Thachuk
Clayton Keller
Nelson
John Carlson
and more....
would have been fun picking that team.
Last place still up for grabs, one ARI point and they clinch 31st. MTL needs 3 pts in two games to 0 for ARI to take over 31st.
LVG and DAL both in action tonight, any points for DAL or less than two for LVG and LVG is eliminated.
In the East, WAS and PIT can jockey between 7th (metro #3) and 8th (WC2), and WAS has a banged up Ovi - looked worse than it is I think, but I believe those are the only two playoff teams who can change spots.
In the West, 6 - 8 (LAK, NSH, and DAL/LVG) all still could shuffle.
With just 30 ROW, DAL is unlikely moving much.
Yes, usually within a week or so, this year the NHL had a two-week "pause" scheduled for Olympics they didn't attend and a brief COVID shut down so the end of the season is about two weeks later than normal.
Doesn't matter to DAL though, LVG failed to win in regulation so the Golden Knights are eliminated from the PO's and the Stars get the 8th spot.
If ARI gets the 2nd point, they clinch 31st and MTL gets last place.
i'm not going to overreact like some people because Eichel is signed long term. Their whole team is basically signed for next year except Reilly Smith. but still a major disaster.
while there has been no drama for the 8 playoff teams since what seems like January, the seeding has come down to the final day.
What is locked in?
FLA won the President's Cup/1 seed
CAR won the Metro and is the 2 seed
TOR has clinched Atlantic 2nd place and will host Atlantic 3rd place
NYR clinched Metro 2nd place and will host the Metro 3rd place
What is TBD:
BOS and TBL jockeying for Atlantic 3rd place and WC1
WAS and PIT jockeying for Metro 3rd place and WC2
CAR got hosed IMO (good, lol) because I'd rather play WAS or PIT than TBL or BOS but it happens.
All 4 teams (PIT, WAS, BOS, and TBL play tonight so it will be sorted out tonight).
In the West:
What is locked in?:
COL won the central and clinched the #1 seed
CAL won the Pacific and clinched the #2 seed
EDM clinched 2nd place in the Pacific and will host the 3rd place team
LAK clinched 3rd in the Pacific and will play EDM
MIN and STL are 2nd and 3rd n the Central and play each other, but who is home team is still TBD
NSH and DAL are the WCs, but still TBD who is WC1 and plays CAL and who is WC2 and plays COL.
this will also be sorted out tonight.
5 teams from the Central made the playoffs, the only division with 5 teams.
Caufield with his first NHL hat trick, Jordan Harris with his first NHL goal.
Price his first win of the season.
PIT win clinches the #3 seed in the Metro and secure their matchup with NYR.
Bruins lose and wind up WC1 and will face CAR.
All the matchups are final in the East - West will be soon.
Tuesday
East
FLA (E1) vs WAS (EWC2): FLA in 5. FLA is too much, Ovi not 100% and the WAS goalie situation is no bueno
CAR (E2) vs BOX (EWC1): BOS in 7. CAR has talent but BOS is the hottest team in the league, and have the poise/experience and not sure what is happening in net for CAR
NYR (MET2) vs PIT (MET3): NYR in 6. PIT is top heavy, but that top is aging. It would be a sweep but Crosby/Malkin can steal a game or two. Maybe the last time Crosby, Malkin and Letang play together (Malkin and Letang are UFAs)
TOR (ATL2) vs TBL (ATL3): I'll pick TBL in 6 here because TOR is soft. But no result would surprise me.
West
COL (W1) vs NSH (WC2): COL could sweep, but I'll say in 5 and give Saros one game when he's on
CAL (W2) vs DAL (WC1): I'm calling a CAL sweep, that's gutsy to call, but I think people could be sleeping on how well rounded CAL is.
MIN (C2) vs STL (C3): MIN in 6. I like MIN as a darkhorse, but it's alarming they still have not announced who starts in net. I am always prioritizing watching MIN to see Kaprizov and EDM to see McDavid. Fun players to watch.
EDM (P2) vs LAK (P3): EDM in 5. Time for McDavid and Draisaitl to turn scoring into playoff success. I think they do, Evander Kane elevates that team.
I thought CAR would be favored over BOS.
No surprise FLA and COL the cup favorites and FLA has a MUCH tougher road.
I am surprised they are that much of a favorite over TBL. I think that's a close series, but TOR does not strike me as flawless like FLA or even mentally strong like TBL
If Mike Smith plays like he did down the stretch EDM is undervalued.
Smith won his last 9 starts and gave up 3 goals or more just twice in that stretch.
Hart: Matthews - I can see a case for Igor, but Matthews putting up 60 outweighs him IMO, no argument for people voting for Igor I can also see a case for McDavid though my three go: Matthews, Igor, McDavid
Vezina: Igor in a landslide, Markstrom gets noticed with 2nd, and I think Freddie probably 3rd.
Norris: Makar, Josi not far behind
Selke: Bergeron (I truly believe some day this will be renamed the Patrice Bergeron award). Barkov doesn't get enough credit here, he will once Bergeron retires. Kopitar too.
Lindsay (most outstanding player): McDavid
Calder: Zegras (another month of the season and Caufield wins it)
I think Seider may steal it with the voters he's been great on a shitty team, but Zegras deserves it IMO
Jack Adams: Mike Sullivan - I didn't even think PIT makes the playoffs, but I suspect Brunette (FLA) or Sutter (CAL) win this. I think Brunette is still interim head coach after Quenneville's resignation, so I wonder if an interim HC has ever won this award. hard to believe it's still the same season all the Kyle Beach stuff came out - seems so long ago.
Richard (most goals - not a vote): Matthews
Art Ross (most points - not a vote): McDavid
Not many teams have the offense punch the Leafs do, it's time for Tavares, Matthews, Marner, Nylander, etc. to man up and put in the effort on the defensive side.
TOR weakness was always (for this version of their team) the blue line and net and they fixed the blue line with Brodie, Giordano, etc. and first half Campbell was as good as any Vezina candidates, but he fell back to Earth.
time to elevate or be known forever as losers.
This is Campbell's splits pre and post AS break,looks like a different goalie. Maybe he's injured.
Look at Campbell, goes from pushing for 1st, to a solid 2nd to out of the top 10.
Thought the Bruins would give the Canes much more of a fight too.
Game was called pretty tight. Will be interesting if this is the new playoff directive or if it slacks back to the norm.
Project all the ads you want on the glass, leave the ice clean