Are the Eastern playoff teams already decided?

[Stonehands1990]

Columbus had the same record as Toronto did going into the play-in’s, they were the 8-9 seeds… WDYM?

Do you keep forgetting that Toronto wildly underperformed that season to the point that a coaching change had to be made? Columbus was horrible. We were miles ahead of them talent wise

 

[zeke]

Do you keep forgetting that Toronto wildly underperformed that season to the point that a coaching change had to be made? Columbus was horrible. We were miles ahead of them talent wise

From when Keefe took over (Nov.21):

Standings:

And the best defensive teams from that point on:

 

[DraftSchmaft]

Winning the division isn't all it's cracked up to be. The best thing for Atlantic teams is to flee the Atlantic entirely and face leader of the Metro. Winning the division only buys you 1 round escape. Saying bye to our friends will result in 2 rounds of escape, with the slight chance second (or other) wild card team can go assassin mode for us.

I mean the Metro isn't easy either but I still feel more confident going there.

This post has me picturing the Leafs drifting away on a boat shouting "peace out suckers" to Florida and Tampa shaking their fists like an angry mob watching us from the shore.

 

[Bluelines]

Winning the division isn't all it's cracked up to be. The best thing for Atlantic teams is to flee the Atlantic entirely and face leader of the Metro. Winning the division only buys you 1 round escape. Saying bye to our friends will result in 2 rounds of escape, with the slight chance second (or other) wild card team can go assassin mode for us.

I mean the Metro isn't easy either but I still feel more confident going there.

The two teams that scares me in the East are Pitts with Jarry in nets and two HOF Centers, great coach. Carolina with a really well balanced team and a smart coach. For the rest of the East I think we will win a 7 game series, where we bring our best and they bring their best, the rest of the east does not worry meat all. Florida with Quenneville behind the bench concerned me but now, not so much.

 

[Bluelines]

From when Keefe took over (Nov.21):

Standings:

View attachment 500612


And the best defensive teams from that point on:

View attachment 500613

St Lou,, Minny and CBJ surprise me. I thought we were better than that. I'll take top 10 vs what Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal are going through right now.

 

[Bluelines]

Do you keep forgetting that Toronto wildly underperformed that season to the point that a coaching change had to be made? Columbus was horrible. We were miles ahead of them talent wise

Talent yeah we were easily the better team, coaching there was massive gulf in experience and ability between Torts and Keefe and that is one of the key ingredients in playoff hockey, a coaching staff who can adjust during the series based on conditions during the game. Torts won that series, Keefe was simply out coached.

Put Quenneville, Gallant, Cooper, Cassidy, Trotz, Sullivan behind the Leaf bench in the last two series.... I think we win vs CBJ and vs Montreal. I firmly believe we will not win a Cup with Keefe behind our bench. Put it this way I'd rather play vs a team that Keefe coaches than on a team Keefe coaches.

 

[zeke]

St Lou,, Minny and CBJ surprise me. I thought we were better than that. I'll take top 10 vs what Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Ottawa and Montreal are going through right now.

Those numbers were only for that 19-20 season.

 

[ShaneFalco]

Talent yeah we were easily the better team, coaching there was massive gulf in experience and ability between Torts and Keefe and that is one of the key ingredients in playoff hockey, a coaching staff who can adjust during the series based on conditions during the game. Torts won that series, Keefe was simply out coached.

Put Quenneville, Gallant, Cooper, Cassidy, Trotz, Sullivan behind the Leaf bench in the last two series.... I think we win vs CBJ and vs Montreal. I firmly believe we will not win a Cup with Keefe behind our bench. Put it this way I'd rather play vs a team that Keefe coaches than on a team Keefe coaches.

His in-game adjustments were just..... sad

 

[Mattfan02]

Would we be playing Boston if we fall to 4 or stay in 3rd?

 

[Stonehands1990]

Talent yeah we were easily the better team, coaching there was massive gulf in experience and ability between Torts and Keefe and that is one of the key ingredients in playoff hockey, a coaching staff who can adjust during the series based on conditions during the game. Torts won that series, Keefe was simply out coached.

Put Quenneville, Gallant, Cooper, Cassidy, Trotz, Sullivan behind the Leaf bench in the last two series.... I think we win vs CBJ and vs Montreal. I firmly believe we will not win a Cup with Keefe behind our bench. Put it this way I'd rather play vs a team that Keefe coaches than on a team Keefe coaches.

Couldn’t agree more with this statement

 

[Bluelines]

His in-game adjustments were just..... sad

Adjustment #1 - Stack the top line with Tavares, Matthews and Marner
Adjustment #2 .... (crickets)

 

[Buds17]

Would we be playing Boston if we fall to 4 or stay in 3rd?

A divisional series is only a guarantee for a 2 vs 3 matchup. The games in hand make it possible - albeit unlikely - for the Leafs to usurp the Lightning from 2nd. Boston faces the much tougher task in moving up too (even to 3rd). I find the likelihood of a Toronto-Boston first round series to be really slim right now.

 

[wingman75]

Yup, and they were 2 weeks ago too. Who in that bottom group could make a run (spoiler, none)? And which of the top teams goes in the tank (spoiler, none)? Both of those things have to happen for any swap to happen.

 

[notDatsyuk]

Yup, and they were 2 weeks ago too. Who in that bottom group could make a run (spoiler, none)? And which of the top teams goes in the tank (spoiler, none)? Both of those things have to happen for any swap to happen.

The only possibility I see is the Islanders overtaking Washington.

Caps are ahead by 19 points, but have played 8 more games. They are also only 3-5-2 in their last 10, while Isles are 7-2-1.

 

[DarkKnight]

The regular season is painful.

 

[wingman75]

The only possibility I see is the Islanders overtaking Washington.

Caps are ahead by 19 points, but have played 8 more games. They are also only 3-5-2 in their last 10, while Isles are 7-2-1.

Islanders would be the only bottom team that I could envision going on a run... but not sure I see the Caps falling off that much I guess it depends on how many of the 'in-hand' games the Isles win.

But, if that is our only hope... it is a stretch!

 

[mydnyte]

Do you keep forgetting that Toronto wildly underperformed that season to the point that a coaching change had to be made? Columbus was horrible. We were miles ahead of them talent wise

is that a fact? ...our forwards may have been better but, their defense and goaltending was better, and thats why they won

 

[mydnyte]

Talent yeah we were easily the better team, coaching there was massive gulf in experience and ability between Torts and Keefe and that is one of the key ingredients in playoff hockey, a coaching staff who can adjust during the series based on conditions during the game. Torts won that series, Keefe was simply out coached.

Put Quenneville, Gallant, Cooper, Cassidy, Trotz, Sullivan behind the Leaf bench in the last two series.... I think we win vs CBJ and vs Montreal. I firmly believe we will not win a Cup with Keefe behind our bench. Put it this way I'd rather play vs a team that Keefe coaches than on a team Keefe coaches.

at the same stage of their coaching careers Keefe is better than the lot! ...like players, it also takes a coach some time to learn how to 'win' when it counts

 

[Bluelines]

at the same stage of their coaching careers Keefe is better than the lot! ...like players, it also takes a coach some time to learn how to 'win' when it counts

I agree most coaches are able to learn.. Keefe.... stacking lines two rounds in two consecutive seasons tells me Keefe is a slow learner...

 

[Koolboss]

Would we be playing Boston if we fall to 4 or stay in 3rd?

Ouch Daddy Boston waiting for us lol

 

[ponder]

There’s a TONNE of season left, but … the top 8 in the east are damn, damn good, and I’m a lot less impressed by 9 on down. I’ll be surprised if anyone outside the current top 8 make it.

 

[mydnyte]

I agree most coaches are able to learn.. Keefe.... stacking lines two rounds in two consecutive seasons tells me Keefe is a slow learner...

right, so Boston stacking their top line for years was a bad idea, and Colorado, and Florida, and TB, and so on and so on.
its common practice to stack the lines, especially when desperate, the main problem was shot selection and lack of quality shots and decision making by the players. shoot when you have no shot, pass when you should shoot, and miss the net when everyone is deep, causing an odd man break the other way. ...thats also on the coaching staff, but, the guys on the ice need to execute better.
the Leafs often make goalies look better than they are because they either try to pick a corner and miss, or hit the goalies crest, or pass when they should shoot, or shoot when they should pass. ...its agonizing to watch, imagine how agonizing it must be to coach.

 

[Mess]

East	NHL Playoff Odds	Jan 28th, 2002
Position	Team	Make Playoffs
1	Florida Panthers	99.97%
2	Tampa Bay Lightning	99.92%
3	Carolina Hurricanes	99.90%
4	Toronto Maple Leafs	99.70%
5	Pittsburgh Penguins	99.60%
6	New York Rangers	97.70%
7	Boston Bruins	95.70%
8	Washington Capitals	88.30%
9	New York Islanders	14.30%
10	Ottawa Senators	2.20%
11	Detroit Red Wings	1.00%
12	Columbus Blue Jackets	1.00%
13	New Jersey Devils	0.50%
14	Philadelphia Flyers	0.10%
15	Buffalo Sabres	0.10%
16	Montreal Canadiens	0.00%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[HoweHullOrr]

I would agree with the premise stated in the title. The top 8 teams have separated themselves from the balance of the Eastern conference teams to a pretty significant extent. This was a subject discussed on NHL network a week or 2 ago as I recall.

 

[barilko05]

While it looks like everything is pretty much settled, all it takes is a coaching change and one hot goaltender to go on a run and things can change quickly. Just ask St. Louis. I believe they were in last place overall at the start of January in 2019. And we all know what happened after that.