2015 NHL Playoff Races [w/ Magic Numbers]

Lunatik · Jan 16, 2015

The second half of the season is upon us and we are still in the playoff race, so I am sure we all care a little more about these races and are doing a little more scoreboard watching than we have the past couple years. So I thought I would make a playoff-centric thread to follow the playoff races and look at the standings, remaining schedules... etc.

I will try to update the standings no less than every few days and will update the schedules (next 10 games) every week or so, I will do this for all teams 6 or less points away from the team that is the highest of the non-playoff teams.

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Central Division

| | DIV | GP | W | L | OT | P | PCT | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | MAGIC # | ELIMINATION # |
1 | :blues

| C | 67 | 43 | 19 | 5 | 91 | 0.679 | 34 | 210 | 167 | 43 | 8 | 21.5 |
2 | :nashville

| C | 69 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 91 | 0.659 | 36 | 199 | 168 | 31 | 8 | 19.5 |
3 | :hawks

| C | 67 | 40 | 21 | 6 | 86 | 0.642 | 31 | 192 | 155 | 37 | 10.5 | 19 |

Pacific Division

| | DIV | GP | W | L | OT | P | PCT | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | MAGIC # | ELIMINATION # |
1 | :ducks2

| P | 69 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 91 | 0.659 | 34 | 202 | 192 | 10 | 8 | 19.5 |
2 | :nucks

| P | 67 | 38 | 25 | 4 | 80 | 0.597 | 34 | 189 | 183 | 6 | 13.5 | 16 |
3 | :flames

| P | 67 | 37 | 25 | 5 | 79 | 0.590 | 33 | 197 | 175 | 22 | 14 | 15.5 |

Wildcard

| | DIV | GP | W | L | OT | P | PCT | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | MAGIC # | ELIMINATION # |
1 | :wild

| C | 67 | 37 | 23 | 7 | 81 | 0.604 | 34 | 192 | 170 | 22 | 13 | 16.5 |
2 | :kings

| P | 67 | 33 | 21 | 13 | 79 | 0.590 | 31 | 184 | 170 | 14 | 14 | 15.5 |
----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
3 | :jets

| C | 68 | 33 | 23 | 12 | 78 | 0.574 | 27 | 189 | 185 | 4 | 14.5 | 14 |
4 | :sharks

| P | 68 | 34 | 26 | 8 | 76 | 0.559 | 31 | 191 | 187 | 4 | 15.5 | 13 |
5 | :avs

| C | 68 | 31 | 26 | 11 | 73 | 0.537 | 22 | 181 | 191 | -10 | 17 | 11.5 |
6 | :stars

| C | 68 | 31 | 27 | 10 | 72 | 0.529 | 28 | 214 | 224 | -10 | 17.5 | 11 |
7 | :coyotes

| P | 68 | 21 | 39 | 8 | 50 | 0.368 | 16 | 144 | 226 | -82 | Eliminated | Eliminated |
8 | :edmonton

| P | 68 | 18 | 39 | 11 | 47 | 0.346 | 13 | 156 | 233 | -77 | Eliminated | Eliminated |

SAN JOSE SHARKS
SCHEDULE

VANCOUVER CANUCKS SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE

WINNIPEG JETS SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE

CALGARY FLAMES SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE

MINNESOTA WILD SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE

LOS ANGELES KINGS SCHEDULE
SCHEDULE

Lunatik · Jan 16, 2015

EASTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Atlantic Division

| | DIV | GP | W | L | OT | P | PCT | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | MAGIC # | ELIMINATION # |
1 | :habs

| A | 68 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 91 | 0.669 | 36 | 179 | 152 | 27 | 7.5 | 20 |
2 | :bolts

| A | 69 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 91 | 0.659 | 40 | 225 | 180 | 45 | 7.5 | 19 |
3 | :wings

| A | 66 | 37 | 18 | 11 | 85 | 0.644 | 34 | 193 | 175 | 18 | 10.5 | 19 |

Metropolitan Division

| | DIV | GP | W | L | OT | P | PCT | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | MAGIC # | ELIMINATION # |
1 | :rangers

| M | 66 | 42 | 17 | 7 | 91 | 0.689 | 39 | 203 | 157 | 46 | 7.5 | 22 |
2 | :isles

| M | 69 | 43 | 22 | 4 | 90 | 0.652 | 36 | 219 | 194 | 25 | 8 | 18.5 |
3 | :pens

| M | 67 | 39 | 18 | 10 | 88 | 0.657 | 36 | 195 | 166 | 29 | 9 | 19.5 |

Wildcard

| | DIV | GP | W | L | OT | P | PCT | ROW | GF | GA | DIFF | MAGIC # | ELIMINATION # |
1 | :caps

| M | 68 | 36 | 22 | 10 | 82 | 0.603 | 33 | 201 | 168 | 33 | 12 | 15.5 |
2 | :bruins

| A | 67 | 35 | 22 | 10 | 80 | 0.597 | 32 | 182 | 173 | 9 | 13 | 15.5 |
----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- | ----- |
3 | :panthers

| A | 67 | 30 | 23 | 14 | 74 | 0.552 | 23 | 167 | 190 | -23 | 16 | 12.5 |
4 | :sens

| A | 66 | 31 | 24 | 11 | 73 | 0.553 | 27 | 190 | 178 | 12 | 16.5 | 13 |
5 | :flyers

| M | 69 | 28 | 27 | 14 | 70 | 0.507 | 25 | 178 | 198 | -20 | 18 | 8.5 |
6 | :devils

| M | 68 | 28 | 29 | 11 | 67 | 0.493 | 24 | 154 | 178 | -24 | 19.5 | 8 |
7 | :cbj

| M | 67 | 29 | 34 | 4 | 62 | 0.463 | 24 | 173 | 211 | -38 | 22 | 6.5 |
8 | :leafs

| A | 68 | 27 | 35 | 6 | 60 | 0.441 | 23 | 183 | 212 | -29 | 23 | 4.5 |
9 | :canes

| M | 66 | 25 | 33 | 8 | 58 | 0.439 | 21 | 158 | 183 | -25 | 24 | 5.5 |
10 | :sabres

| A | 67 | 19 | 42 | 6 | 44 | 0.328 | 12 | 129 | 228 | -99 | Eliminated | Eliminated |

BOSTON BRUINS
SCHEDULE

FLORIDA PANTHERS
SCHEDULE

FLORIDA PANTHERS
SCHEDULE

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
SCHEDULE

WhereIsIt · Jan 16, 2015

Nice job AF. Scoreboard watching... It's been so long.

Lunatik · Jan 16, 2015

WhereIsIt said:
Nice job AF. Scoreboard watching... It's been so long.

thanks, these past 2 years have felt like forever :laugh:

Sportsnet just had me super confused, they are advertising that Sun is Flames/Jets in the Hometown Hockey game on Sunday, but it is the Coyotes/Jets.

CraigsList · Jan 16, 2015

I think it will come down to the Kings - Sharks - Flames for one of the WC spots. Imo, the Jets are going to make it, they've dealt with some bad injuries on key players and have still played good.

As for the last WC spot, I do feel the Sharks are declining, but not declining enough to miss the playoffs this year. I think we'll barely miss it.

Ace Rimmer · Jan 16, 2015

So much optimism... :sarcasm:

I wouldn't count out Colorado, they're starting to put it together.

Johnny Hoxville · Jan 16, 2015

Awesome thread! Thanks for putting this together.

Vkonroy · Jan 16, 2015

6 four point games in the next 10 against teams we are directly in competition for a spot with, and 3 of the others games vs teams we really should beat if we want to stay in the race. Excellent summary AF, thank you.

It should help us have a solid view of where we are likely heading before the trade deadline, which is better to help make the tougher decisions like trading Glenny or a goalie - if we fail the next month we'll still have half a month to get some trades in motion before things get all deadline crazy.

Skobel24 · Jan 16, 2015

I think the Jets will slip. Colorado will sneak in.

Master Bill · Jan 16, 2015

I actually think we might make it at the expense of the Jets. I see them narrowly missing out because of goaltending - Hutchinson has been excellent but he's surely going to hit some downs and I don't see a rookie goaltender recovering fully from that. Pavelec had a fantastic game recently but he's not going to sustain that for the rest of the season.

Anglesmith · Jan 16, 2015

It's tough because there aren't many teams in the race right now who I want to knock out of the playoffs. But for sure I would take the Flames making it over anyone else. Mostly I want LA and SJ to drop out, but the likelihood of that happening is slim to none. The Avs and Jets are teams I would like to see in the playoffs (sorry AF) but the odds of all three of us making it are slim to none.

The good news is that, based purely on who plays who down the stretch, the Flames have the 8th best chance of making the playoffs out of teams in the Western Conference. Slightly better than LA despite being behind in the standings.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL/Western.html

Lunatik · Jan 16, 2015

Wants Avs and Jets to sneak in, you just broke my heart AS

Anglesmith · Jan 16, 2015

Adirondack Flames said:
Wants Avs and Jets to sneak in, you just broke my heart AS

I like Iggy, and I have always liked the Jets because they were the seventh Canadian team after so much campaigning for seven Canadian teams.

I know how you feel, but my ideal scenario would be for the Ducks, Sharks, Kings, Flames, Hawks, Blues, Jets and Avs to make it.

EDIT: I just realized I don't have the Preds in there. Make that the Preds in, Kings out. I think this is completely impossible though.

Lunatik · Jan 16, 2015

I thought it would be good to mention that this thread isn't intended for GDT talk for the OOT games, I think the around the NHL thread is best for that because it will keep that thread alive too, plus there are more games than those affecting playoff races.

CraigsList · Jan 16, 2015

Adirondack Flames said:
I thought it would be good to mention that this thread isn't intended for GDT talk for the OOT games, I think the around the NHL thread is best for that because it will keep that thread alive too, plus there are more games than those affecting playoff races.

I still appreciate the thread, though! It's much more entertaining to be fighting for a playoff spot than a top 5 pick. Though, you could argue a top 5 pick would have been more beneficial this year than last. Oh well.

Lunatik · Jan 16, 2015

ForeverFlameFan said:
I still appreciate the thread, though! It's much more entertaining to be fighting for a playoff spot than a top 5 pick. Though, you could argue a top 5 pick would have been more beneficial this year than last. Oh well.

I'm not sure what your point is. So the draft is deeper this year, that's the way the cards were dealt.

Anglesmith · Jan 16, 2015

ForeverFlameFan said:
I still appreciate the thread, though! It's much more entertaining to be fighting for a playoff spot than a top 5 pick. Though, you could argue a top 5 pick would have been more beneficial this year than last. Oh well.

Adirondack Flames said:
I'm not sure what your point is. So the draft is deeper this year, that's the way the cards were dealt.

You can see it both ways. A 16th overall pick is better in a deep draft than a 16th overall pick in a shallow one. It's not just the top-end that is effected.

Also I think we got an absolute steal in Bennett because of him playing injured all year. Look at how amazing Ekblad is in the NHL this season. The draft may not have been all that weak after all.

CraigsList · Jan 16, 2015

I agree that 2014 was an underrated draft.

Johnny Hoxville · Jan 16, 2015

I think Nylander and Bennett will be the 2 best forwards from that draft, while Reinhart will be the best all around player, but I don't think he'll be as dynamic. I've seen Ekblad 3 times this year, he does not look like a rookie at all, he's looked very impressive.

Johnny Hoxville · Jan 16, 2015

ForeverFlameFan said:
I agree that 2014 was an underrated draft.

Many analysts said the top end of that draft was excellent, but coming after the 2013 draft, there wasn't that elite franchise talent. But in no way does it look "bad" in comparison to other years. But think of it like this, it's like the act that's supposed to come out following Elvis, you're done before you even start.

I think Bennett, Reinhart, Ekblad, Nylander, and maybe Ehlers, Draisaitl and Pastrnak could all top line, prolific players. It's the 2/3rd rounds of that draft that were considered a crap shoot.

FLAMES666 · Jan 16, 2015

This thread is just making me nervous as I know this race is going to come down to the final few games.

pckstpr31 · Jan 16, 2015

My ideal situation is things stay how they are, with Calgary and Colorado replacing LA and Vancouver. Unfortunately I think LA will find a way to make it.

Lunatik · Jan 17, 2015

Nothing good happened tonight with both Vancouver and Winnipeg winning.

slappipappi · Jan 17, 2015

I always assumed that Calgary, while having a spectacular rebuild, would come back to earth like their advanced stats suggest. They have to some degree, but they continue to give me reasons to 2nd guess myself.

I keep expecting to see the Jets fall like a rock, but I noticed that they have given the Hawks half of their 6 home losses this year. If they continue to get any kind of goaltending this year, they look in.

LA likely gets in, but they aren't any sure bet. Same a Vancouver.

Calgary is in tough to be sure, but the longer they stay close, the better their chances.

Anglesmith · Jan 28, 2015

Time for an update, methinks, after the first busy night back from the All-star break. Last night's action smiled favourably upon the Flames for the most part, as Dallas lost and the Avs lost in OT, meaning we don't really need to concern ourselves with the Central Division, at least for now. In terms of the Pacific, we could realistically see ourselves in second spot tomorrow with a win over Minnesota. Things still balance on a knife's edge, but we're in a great position to get some help from the Hawks tonight as they take on the Kings:

2015 NHL Playoff Races [w/ Magic Numbers]

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