If only we could trade some of these wins against top Western Conference teams for wins against teams we're fighting with in the East.
That's the most frustrating thing for me.
To some extent, but points are points for the most part. Having Ottawa get 2 points is kind of meaningless since they are behind the Canes with more games played. The upcoming head to head ones that truly matter are probably Pens, NJ, Tampa and maybe Islanders as those are the teams in front of the Canes and Philly to a lesser extent because of games in hand. Here's how the Canes have done and what's left:
PENS: 1 OTW, 1W, 1L, 1 OTL: 1 game left
NJ: 1W, 2L: 2 games left
TB: 1L: 2 games left
ISLE: 1 OTW, 1W: 2 games left
PHI: 3 OTL: 1 game left
So against the teams that they are currently battling, the Canes have played 13 games and had: 2 OTW, 3W, 4L, 4 OTL and 8 games left. That means the opposing teams have gotten points in 18 points in those 13 games against the Canes. On the flipside, the Canes have gotten 14 points in those 13 games.
Still though, points are points. If they had beaten Calgary and Edmonton, it wouldn't matter.