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)
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I’m definitely recording this one. I wonder if they are going to bench Bahl or go with an 11-7 lineup. I’d prefer 11-7 with Wood sitting because Bahl has really improved this season and deserves to play.
I agree about Bahl. He is really showing he is a legit NHL regular. I feel that Foote can be the same if given the opportunity. Man both ends of the Taylor Hall trade really paid off for us. First we stole him for Larsen and he gave us our only playoff trip in 10 years with a Hart winning performance, then we traded him for Bahl and what turns out to be Dawson Mercer.
I agree about Bahl. He is really showing he is a legit NHL regular. I feel that Foote can be the same if given the opportunity. Man both ends of the Taylor Hall trade really paid off for us. First we stole him for Larsen and he gave us our only playoff trip in 10 years with a Hart winning performance, then we traded him for Bahl and what turns out to be Dawson Mercer.
From what I read the plan is for Foote to become a regular next season replacing Wood on the roster. I pray that’s the case because I don’t want Wood back even for the league minimum. The Devils need to open up spots for Foote, Holtz, and Clarke.
Sidney Crosby (35 years old) recently recorded his 1500th, which is even more awesome.
for some perspective, Wayne Gretzky was 23 years old when he recorded his 1,000th point and he was 26 years old when he recorded his 1,500th point.
And that does not include the 220 points Wayne scored in the WHA before EDM joined the NHL.
got to be this week, but probably need to wait and see who has home ice in each series.
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Anyone have any idea when the schedule for the playoffs comes out?
got to be this week, but probably need to wait and see who has home ice in each series.
Yeah probably tomorrow night or later Friday during the day we'll get the schedule.
still some seeding to be determined in the final 3 days, but here is what we know for both conferences:
EAST
Atlantic (all locked up)
BOS #1 overall seed
TOR ATL #2, home ice vs TBL
TBL ATL #2,
Metro
NYR #3, road team vs Metro #2
CAR 111pts with 1 left, NJD 110pts with 1 left. NJD owns tiebreakers with CAR, so if they wind up tied in pts NJD wins the division.
Wild card
FLA 92pts 1 left. clinched playoff spot, could still be WC1 or WC2
NYI 91pts 1 left (vs MTL tonight). NYI need just to get to OT to clinch the final WC because they own the tiebreakers with PIT - MTL team has 3 NHL players on it, so it should be easy for NYI, but nothing in hockey is easy.
PIT 90pts 1 left, does not control their destiny
West - basically all the seedings are up for grabs - close races in both divisions except we know WIN is WC2 and MIN is Central #3. I don't think anything else is definite yet because SEA and LAK could flip flop on WC1 and Pacific #3 and then the rest of the teams are within striking distance of each other with 1 or 2 left to play.
Only consequential game(s) tonight:
MTL @NYI
DAL @STL but that's really just possible seeding since DAL can still catch COL.
I hate playing against the CAR style of play, but NJD are a wagon.
Gun to my head maybe I prefer to eliminate travel entirely and have maybe a 50/50 crowd or 60/40 advantage at Prudential?
Feels like it's an absolute dog-fight either way.
I went to one last year where the Devils won like 7-3 or something against the Rangers. Didn't seem like there were that many Rangers fans compared to the Meadowlands days.
I hope they have a better attendance showing than they did when they were by Giants Stadium. I went to some Devils games deep into the playoffs in 2003 and it was a sad showing lol
Say you are the Rangers for example. You (may) need to knock off Carolina in the 1st round. then they play the Devils/Panthers winner (possibly) then the Bruins (if they hold serve).
of course we know there will be upsets, but the East is going to be a battle this year.
Not to say the West won't be, but they don't have the goalies IMO, so it will be a more free-wheeling style, last year EDM set the all-time NHL record for the most playoff losses in a single playoff when you score 5 or more goals.
I think this year could be similar.
DAL (and finally I'll admit LVG) have very complete teams though. DAL is the only one I think has a goalie who can elevate enough to steal games.
It's going to be like surviving a war zone.
It's going to be like surviving a war zone.
No, off the top of my head I don't remember a tougher conference.
I can see all 8 teams from the East (assuming NYI not PIT for the other WC spot) win the cup.
Maybe the Maple Leafs would be my 8 seed if I ranked them due to being mentally weak and not winning a playoff series in decades.
but even by that standard, TOR is a great team who will probably lose to TBL, but if they do it's also a commentary on how good TBL is vs how weak TOR is.
I hope they have a better attendance showing than they did when they were by Giants Stadium. I went to some Devils games deep into the playoffs in 2003 and it was a sad showing lol
Stop that's just not true. I went to a bunch of playoff games in 2000,2001 and 2003 and the building was packed and rocking every time. Of course there are way more Rangers fans in the area no shit. The Devils have built a nice fan base up though, and when the Devs are competitive the building rocks. I went to a bunch of games in '18 too.
I went to a ton of Nets games during those days as well and they had trouble filling up that arena. Let's not rewrite history, shall we?
Was just wondering if the Devils had a better attendance showing than they did across the street from Giants Stadium. I've only been to the new arena once.
START THE FUCKING PLAYOFFS. RIGHT NOW AT 730 IN THE MORNING!
I would like to see Anaheim or San Jose get him as their franchises could use it.
I don't get this one. Why sit Graves and Marino but play Hamilton?
Most wins in franchise history
Most points in franchise history
Jack Hughes breaks franchise point record
Hamilton breaks franchise record for points by defensemen, ties record for goals
Hughes falls one point short of 100.
On to the rangers!
Most wins in franchise history
Most points in franchise history
Jack Hughes breaks franchise point record
Hamilton breaks franchise record for points by defensemen, ties record for goals
Hughes falls one point short of 100.
On to the rangers!
Hamilton broke the goals in a single season by a defenseman also with 22 passing Scott Stevens previous record of 18 but Hamilton did not break the points record by a defenseman as Stevens had 78 the same year he set the goal record.
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What a regular season for the devils:
Most wins in franchise history
Most points in franchise history
Jack Hughes breaks franchise point record
Hamilton breaks franchise record for points by defensemen, ties record for goals
Hughes falls one point short of 100.
On to the rangers!
Hamilton broke the goals in a single season by a defenseman also with 22 passing Scott Stevens previous record of 18 but Hamilton did not break the points record by a defenseman as Stevens had 78 the same year he set the goal record.
Ah, screwed that one up. Too many records😂
Schmid was fantastic especially in OT. He had four huge saves in OT. That better be Blackwoods last game as a Devil.
Ah, screwed that one up. Too many records😂
It has been a great season so far.
Pjcas18 you do the honors and starting that thread. NHL playoffs are the fucking best. Suck it other sports?
I could easily see the Isles upsetting them. Carolina did not look great the last month of the season. if Barzal is healthy and he gets Horvat going that is huge. Sorokin gives them a big advantage in net.
Hallelujah!
Their beats and fans are in full panic and it's hilarious.