2017 Playoff Watch

[crazyperfectdevil]

The Bubble going into Wednesday, March 92th. Stanley Cup Playoffs begin April 12th.

            GR    PTS              Current Matchup             
Toronto  7      86          (3rd Atlantic vs Ottawa)
Boston    6      85        (Wildcard vs Washington)
--------------------
Tampa    7    83          (furious locker cleanout)
NY Isles  7    82          (somber locker cleanout)

Tuesday's action: Leafs and Bruins win.

Don't we have 87 pts? And Boston 86?

I'm also fairly certain today isn't march 92th

 

[ZBBM]

Carolina gets a couple more forwards and they are going to be good for a long time to come.

 

[Zee]

The Bubble going into Wednesday, March 29th. Stanley Cup Playoffs begin April 12th.

            GR    PTS              Current Matchup             
Ottawa    7      91        (2nd Atlantic vs Toronto)
Toronto  7      87          (3rd Atlantic vs Ottawa)
Boston    6      86        (Wildcard vs Washington)
--------------------
Tampa    7    83          (furious locker cleanout)
NY Isles  7    82          (somber locker cleanout)
Carolina  7    82              (locker cleanout)

Tuesday's action: Leafs, Bruins and Canes win. Sens lose in O/T.
Next up: Off day for everyone.

Boston sched
Dallas
Florida
@Chicago  (back to back and travel from Florida)
Tampa
Ottawa
Washington

Tampa sched
Detroit
Montreal
Dallas (back to back)
@Boston
@Toronto
@Montreal (back to back and travel from Toronto)
Buffalo

The highlighted games might tell the tale here.

Islanders sched
@Philadelphia
New Jersey (back to back negligible travel)
@Buffalo
@Nashville
@Carolina
@New Jersey
Ottawa (back to back travel from NJ)


Boston only has 1 back to back game left.  Tampa has a tougher schedule just factoring in the back to back games.  It's going to go down to the wire methinks.

 

[Zee]

Ottawa is in trouble

 

[L K]

Ottawa is in trouble

Zee is the stupidest idiot in the history of the internet.  What a moron, the NHL should ban him to the moon but they won't because he's in their pockets.

<end Eugene Melnyk rant>

They have enough of a gap that the playoffs probably aren't an issue (next three games against the Jets, and Red Wings x2) but Boston and Toronto are gaining on them fast.  If Karlsson isn't back soon they might find themselves facing Washington.

Toronto/Boston would certainly be an interesting first round matchup if that happened.

 

[Zee]

Ottawa is in trouble

Zee is the stupidest idiot in the history of the internet.  What a moron, the NHL should ban him to the moon but they won't because he's in their pockets.

<end Eugene Melnyk rant>

They have enough of a gap that the playoffs probably aren't an issue (next three games against the Jets, and Red Wings x2) but Boston and Toronto are gaining on them fast.  If Karlsson isn't back soon they might find themselves facing Washington.

Toronto/Boston would certainly be an interesting first round matchup if that happened.

You would *think* Ottawa should be ok with their schedule, but 4 of their last 6 are on the road and those road games are usually tougher to win.  I think they'll make it but like you suggested they could drop to a wild card spot at this rate.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Even though the Islanders won last night over New Jersey, their playoff hopes may just be done, thanks to Tavares' injury.  He's their best and without him in the lineup, it ain't going to look good.

As an Isles fan, hope JT's season isn't over. (* keeping fingers crossed * )

 

[ZBBM]

We're in.

 

[Frank E]

Ottawa is in trouble

Ottawa is the only team in a playoff position today with a negative goal differential (-2).

 

[Bender]

Man it would be nice for some of these teams to slip up at some point. We can't win every game. Were probably going to need 5pts minimum to make it in. 2-3-1 could do it. Fingers crossed.

 

[L K]

Buffalo recalled Alex Nylander.  Should be fun.

 

[bustaheims]

Carolina officially no longer a factor in the Leafs' season result. With Ottawa picking up a single point, they're unofficially eliminated. Best they can do is tie the sens in points and ROW, and they'd have to pick up more than 10 goals in differential.

 

[Arn]

So two points should be enough to make it? That would be 95 points with both the Isles and Lightning able to make it to 94 if they win all their 3 remaining games.

If we only get 1 point do we have the tie-breakers?

 

[Kin]

So two points should be enough to make it? That would be 95 points with both the Isles and Lightning able to make it to 94 if they win all their 3 remaining games.

If we only get 1 point do we have the tie-breakers?

Two points clinches it. The Leafs have the tie breaker right now but that would change depending on how many of the wins the Lightning/Islanders get in regulation.

 

[Zee]

So two points should be enough to make it? That would be 95 points with both the Isles and Lightning able to make it to 94 if they win all their 3 remaining games.

If we only get 1 point do we have the tie-breakers?

This is way more stress than I needed.

 

[Zee]

For the Leafs to blow this, they would have to end the season with their worst losing streak of the year, 4 games where they get less than 2 points.  If that happens, I don't think I can handle it given the amazing run they've had this year. 

 

[CarltonTheBear]

For the Leafs to blow this, they would have to end the season with their worst losing streak of the year, 4 games where they get less than 2 points.  If that happens, I don't think I can handle it given the amazing run they've had this year. 

And I mean even if that happens there's a good chance they could still make the playoffs.

 

[Bender]

Doesn't Tampa need to run the table?

 

[Zee]

For the Leafs to blow this, they would have to end the season with their worst losing streak of the year, 4 games where they get less than 2 points.  If that happens, I don't think I can handle it given the amazing run they've had this year. 

And I mean even if that happens there's a good chance they could still make the playoffs.

I suppose so, given that Tampa or the Islanders would have to go 3-0, but there's a chance one of them does that given that one of the Tampa 3 wins would be against the Leafs, and the Islanders are playing some weak teams (including Ottawa who are decimated by injury)

The only thing I hope after seeing Tampa meekly lose to Boston last night, is that the same Tampa team shows up against the Leafs tomorrow night.  I assume Stamkos will play, it's desperation mode for Tampa at this point, so if he's in maybe they get an emotional lift.  I hope not though.

 

[hockeyfan1]

For the Leafs to blow this, they would have to end the season with their worst losing streak of the year, 4 games where they get less than 2 points.  If that happens, I don't think I can handle it given the amazing run they've had this year. 

No, I don't think that will happen (Leafs losing the next three).  In fact, they'll win against the Lightning because Babcock won't let them lose.  After being displeased with his players efforts against the Capitals, one can bet the Leafs will be in finer form come Thursday.

There's a playoff spot to clinch at stake.  This Tampa game represents their best chance of the two remaining (Pittsburgh, Columbus) to win it.

I'm optimistic.