First of all, in case there was any question, McDavid is the best player on the planet and is really getting himself into the discussion of ATGs IMO. He just needs a ring.
Second, down to the final 20 games or so for almost every team, some less.
Playoff positioning is pretty solid other than some seeding and a couple WC races.
As of this morning:
EAST
Atlantic:
BOS (103 points, 20 games left)
TOR (84 points, 19 games left)
TBL (79 points, 19 games left)
In the WC hunt:
BUF (68 points, 20 games left)
OTT (68 points, 19 games left)
FLA (68 points, 18 games left)
Metro:
CAR (90 points, 21 games left)
NJD (88 points, 20 games left)
NYR (79 points, 19 games left)
In the WC hunt:
NYI (72 points, 17 games left)
PIT (71 points, 20 games left)
WAS (68 points, 17 games left)
WEST
Central
DAL (81 points, 18 games left)
MIN (78 points, 19 games left)
WIN (75 points, 18 games left)
In the WC hunt:
COL (74 points, 21 games left)
NSH (69 points, 21 games left)
Pacific
LVG (82 points, 19 games left)
LAK (81 points, 17 games left)
SEA (78 points, 19 games left)
In the WC hunt:
EDM (78 points, 17 games left)
BU vs Western Michigan on now. 3 - 1 BU so far
St. Cloud State moves on
Minnesota
Cornell
BU
St. Cloud State all advance to the elite eight.
Minn may be the only team who can match the talent of Michigan.
Cooley, Knies, Faber, Snuggerud, etc.
Today:
Ohio State vs Harvard (2pm)
Merrimack vs Quinnipiac (5:30pm)
Michigan Tech vs Penn State (5pm)
Colgate vs Michigan (8:30pm)
Minnesota
Cornell
BU
St. Cloud State all advance to the elite eight.
Minn may be the only team who can match the talent of Michigan.
Cooley, Knies, Faber, Snuggerud, etc.
Today:
Ohio State vs Harvard (2pm)
Merrimack vs Quinnipiac (5:30pm)
Michigan Tech vs Penn State (5pm)
Colgate vs Michigan (8:30pm)
Go Colgate! (I just want Luke Hughes to lose so he can joint the Devils:-)
Harvard, surprisingly to some, has the most NHL draft picks of any NCAA team, but Michigan has the most talent
the knock is always they don't play a difficult schedule. I mean, Quinnipiac was 30 - 4 - 3 on the season.
but they do have a bunch of good teams in the conference and is always underrated.
Hopefully Sean Farrell signs an ELC with the habs in the near future, but it's why I hate drafting Harvard commits - they often complete their education.
Hopefully Sean Farrell signs an ELC with the habs in the near future, but it's why I hate drafting Harvard commits - they often complete their education.
lol bad timing for my post
Harvard, surprisingly to some, has the most NHL draft picks of any NCAA team, but Michigan has the most talent
Colgate has been a thorn in the side of a few good teams this year, including all three of the other ECAC entrants. It would not shock me if they pulled an upset (or if they get crushed).
Any way, Go Big Red! They played a brilliant game to knock of the defending champs yesterday.
5 - 0 - there was an ENG I forgot about.
All blowouts so far today.
Ohio State 8 - 1 over Harvard
Penn State 8 - 0 over Michigan Tech
Big 10 dominant so far with 3 teams in the elite 8 and can get a 4th if Michigan wins. If Colgate wins would give the ECAC 3 teams in the elite 8.
Hockey East with BU
NCHC with St. Cloud State
ECAC still has 2nd most teams in the elite 8, after big 10, but this round went as I expected.
someone results in a Bruins power play.
it's so clear a team like TBL plays down to their competition, kind of on cruise control it seems - like their loss to MTL - just have to hope they don't go to "turn it on" and find it's not there if you know what I mean. when that happens, IMO, you're team is descending. TBL may be at the pinnacle of that right now - when teams like WAS and PIT are on the way down.
2 pts for the Pens would be good.
Goaltending is a concern and I have no idea why they are playing Blackwood. He looks bad again tonight.
Quote:
Let's see if they can get right down the stretch, in a bit of rough patch the last five games.
Goaltending is a concern and I have no idea why they are playing Blackwood. He looks bad again tonight.
I wish Blackwood would never play another meaningful game for this franchise again. Goaltending will be ok Jay. You have egregious breakdowns vs the elite skill guys Buffalo has like they did last night I don't care who's in net you're gonna struggle. Seriously even if Vanacek or Schmid get hurt I'd rather they call up Dawes from the American league over Blackwood. A huge positive is Jack the past 2 nights. He's been flying around again like the Jack we know and love.
A lot to be excited about, good young core, solid nucleus and a lot to look forward to.
As mentioned I this thread (or was it a different one) goalie is my main question on the Devils.
So, Quinnipiac and Ohio State in Bridgeport (4pm)
and Penn State and Michigan in Allentown (6:30pm)
the 4 teams playing today won their sweet sixteen games by a combined 32 - 2.
If Ohio State wins, there will be 3 Big 10 teams in the frozen four.
I don't care about conferences too much, just interesting.
Some other frozen four fun facts
This is both Minnesota and BU's 23rd Frozen Four and both have 5 titles.
Michigan has the most appearances (26) and titles (9 - tied with Denver).
This would be Quinnipiac and Ohio States 3rd frozen four, neither have won the title, but Quinnipiac has appeared in the title game twice, Ohio State is 0 - 2 in frozen four appearances.
I hate to keep repeating myself but this is just another reason why Ruff has to go. He continues to ride with Blackwood despite the fact that Schmid has been the best goaltender this season for the Devils.
Not just that but he is so quick to bench a young player for a bad game but now that Wood is healthy again he immediately put him back in the lineup over Foote who was playing well. How did Wood respond? He had 17 penalty minutes and turned the puck over in their own zone late in the 3rd when the Devils were up by 1. He constantly commits turnovers, takes stupid penalties, and now he isn't scoring. Please explain to me why this guy continues to play?
A lot to be excited about, good young core, solid nucleus and a lot to look forward to.
As mentioned I this thread (or was it a different one) goalie is my main question on the Devils.
Thanks PJ, I agree with you about the goaltending. I like Vanecek and Schmid but I genuinely question if they are good enough to get this team to the stanley cup finals.
This the past couple weeks shifted a few things, but as expected not much changed beyond some seeding.
every team has between 8 and 11 games left.
This is how the races stand:
(x) clinched playoffs, (y) clinched division
EAST
Atlantic:
BOS (y) 117 pts (10 games left)
TOR 95 pts (10 games left)
TBL 90 pts (8 games left)
Metro:
CAR (x) 102 pts (11 games left)
NJD (x) 100 pts (9 games left)
NYR 96 pts (9 games left)
Wild card:
NYI 83 pts (8 games left)
PIT 82 pts (9 games left)
FLA 79 pts (9 games left)
In the hunt (on life support):
BUF 76 pts (10 games left)
WAS 76 pts (8 games left)
OTT 75 pts (9 games left)
WEST
Central:
MIN 93 pts (9 games left)
DAL 92 pts (9 games left)
COL 90 pts (11 games left)
Pacific:
LVG 98 pts (9 games left)
LAK 94 pts (10 games left)
EDM 91 pts (9 games left)
Wild card:
SEA 88 pts (10 games left)
WIN 85 pts (8 games left)
In the hunt:
CAL 81 pts (8 games left)
NSH 80 pts (11 games left)
If Calgary misses the playoffs, 15 OT losses will be why - 7 more than the closest team they're chasing.
The Bedard sweepstakes bottom 6 is just about locked but CBK and SJS in a battle:
SJS 53 pts (9 games left) 14 RW 18 ROW
CBJ 53 pts (10 games left) 15 RW 22 ROW
CHI 54 pts (10 games left) 16 RW 22 ROW
ANA 56 pts (9 games left) 13 RW 20 ROW
MTL and ARI fighting for 5th
BOS will win the Presidents Cup
2 - 1 Quinnipiac, heading to the PP, 5:16 left in the 1st
Will play the winner of Michigan vs Penn State on now.
scoreless after 1, both teams had 14 shots on net, a bunch of posts and missed nets too.
Hopefully Farrell follows him to the NHL.
Calgary Flames
@NHLFlames
·
1m
Welcome to the #CofRed, @MattCoronato
🔥
Montreal Canadiens sign Sean Farrell to entry-level contract
The NCAA star will start his professional career.
1 - 0 Penn State after 2. Weak penalty on Michigan, led to a Penn State PPG. so many shots, goalies playing great.
Michigan and Minnesota will be big favorites.
ironically, his sister plays for Quinnipiac (per wikipedia)
I believe BOS can clinch President's Trophy Tuesday.
Let's hope it's the cursed version.
Fluto Shinzawa
@FlutoShinzawa
·
2m
Matthew Coronato (CGY), Sean Farrell (MTL), and Henry Thrun (SJ) have signed entry-level deals. Alex Laferriere (LA) could follow.
Examining the Harvard-to-NHL pipeline.
Marc Dumont
@MarcPDumont
·
3h
According to Elliotte Friedman, #Habs and Jets have discussed a potential Pierre-Luc Dubois trade.
"We know Dubois is going to end up there, 95 percent."
But in this case, there's no need to rush. Patience is in order for the Canadiens.
FLA @OTT
NJD @NYI
It's so hard to make up ground in the NHL
PIT has just a 3pt lead on FLA.
If PIT goes 5 - 4 down the stretch
then 6 - 3 from FLA still doesn't catch them.
they would need 6 - 2 - 1 and then would be tied
If PIT goes 6 - 3
FLA needs 7 - 1 - 1 to tie them
Need to win the winnable games, and tonight for FLA is winnable. OTT is tough, and not eliminated in their own right, but FLA should win - it's a winnable game for them - and with their talent they should win.
in MIN, Matthew Boldy is on fire.
I went to that Rangers Flyers game on 3/1 and it was packed with Ranger fans (after they got Kane) lol that stupid ass Flyers mascot was booed so loudly. I joined in.