Central Division Race [MOD WARNING; POST #697]

[Whileee]

Damnit Winnipeg... why can't you just lose a game for a change?!!??!

...and the Jets are just starting to get their big guns back. Buff last night. Perreault on the weekend. Little next week. They've stayed in the race with some very significant injuries.

 

[JaegerDice]

Not gonna lie.


Kiiiiinda hoping STL wins the division and gets Winnipeg in the first round. Don't care who wins, those teams would annihilate each other. It would look like an on-site military infirmary in the winner's locker-room.

 

[linusandvarlamov]

I'd like St. Louis to face someone other than the Hawks. It was a great series last year, but I think it'd be more entertaining to see them face either Minnesota or Winnipeg in round 1.

 

[Nothingman*]

Hawks are going to slide into 1st Wildcard to head out West

 

[Mubiki]

That's funny. It's what us Jets fans have been saying in regard to Calgary, LA, Vancouver, and Minnesota.

Well Calgary or Minnesota has to lose tonight. You just gotta hope for a two point game.

 

[Mubiki]

Thinking about it though, it's going to be kind of sad that a better team from the central is probably going to be golfing early because of the new format.

 

[YWGF18]

Chicago's last 10 games - 7-2-1 - 15pts
Minnesota's last 10 games - 7-3-0 - 14pts
Winnipeg's last 10 games - 7-3-0 - 14pts
LA's last 10 games - 6-2-2 - 14pts
Calgary's last 10 games - 5-2-3 - 13pts

This playoff race is beyond insane!!!!!

Another way to look at it 8 of 12 regulation losses for these teams was vs central

Chicago 1/2 Losses and 0/1 OTL were to Central
Minnesota 1/3 of losses were to Central
Winnipeg 2/3 of losses were to Central
LA 2/2 of losses and 0/2 OTL were to Central
Calgary 2/2 of losses and 1/3 OTL to Central

 

[ThatGuy22]

Well Calgary or Minnesota has to lose tonight. You just gotta hope for a two point game.

Who does Winnipeg even cheer for in that game?

Calgary to keep Minnesota Close, or Minnesota to keep Calgary down.

 

[Tom ServoMST3K]

How does Winnipeg even cheer for in that game?

Calgary to keep Minnesota Close, or Minnesota to keep Calgary down.

Keep Calgary down.

I just want them to make the dance.

 

[Dbrownss]

I just want my Blues healthy Game 1. Don't care who the opponent is. I'm secretly cheering the Jets and Wild on so their last 2 games against the Blues don't turn into a goon fest.

It was nice to see last Saturday against the wild, even though the Blues were smacked around, there was something like 20 hits in the game.


It looks like we might have our howitzer(Shattenkirk) back tomorrow

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

It was said that Shattenkirk is likely a go for Saturday as long as he passes Friday's physical practice. This just tweeted from the Blues beatwriter Jeremy Rutherford:

#stlblues have moved on from physical part of practice to PP. Shattenkirk made it through fine, according to my medically informed opinion.

So looks like he's finally back. Big boost.

 

[LetsGoBLUES91]

Although I'm sure he'll get 3rd pairing minutes at best the first few games back.

 

[Brominator]

All 7 teams in the division have cracked 80 points now.

Its very likely that every other division will have at least 2 teams not crack 80 points.


Central division is just plain stupid.

Agreed.

Goal differential by division as of today:

Central +151
Metropolitan +23
Atlantic -62
Pacific -112

 

[2 Minute Minor]

I just want my Blues healthy Game 1. Don't care who the opponent is. I'm secretly cheering the Jets and Wild on so their last 2 games against the Blues don't turn into a goon fest.

It was nice to see last Saturday against the wild, even though the Blues were smacked around, there was something like 20 hits in the game.


It looks like we might have our howitzer(Shattenkirk) back tomorrow

I've come to the same place.

I'm really enjoying the race. The Blues will be in the post-season, and I prefer home ice given the option. But I don't see any path out of the West that doesn't involve having to beat some tough opponents. I don't feel too strongly about any potential opponent any more.

I can't remember the last time the playoff race felt this intense.

 

[Spurgeon]

Wild are now 1 point behind the Hawks for 3rd in the Central.

 

[JudgeJimmie]

Minnesota now 1 back from the Hawks for third, could overtake them tomorrow... Granted the Hawks have a game in hand and will have 2 in hand after tomorrow. MN holds a 4 ROW advantage. Peggers 3 points up on the Flames in 9th and 3 behind MN for Wild card number 2.

Crazy if Winnie gets 10 points in their last 7 games and LA gets 12 points in their last 8 games, which seems doable, we could have all 8 teams at 100+ points.

 

[ToewsForDays]

Hawks are going to slide into 1st Wildcard to head out West

There's so many scenarios but I would be fine with this one. Hawks wouldn't be able to face a Central team till the conference final (if they make it)

 

[JudgeJimmie]

There's so many scenarios but I would be fine with this one. Hawks wouldn't be able to face a Central team till the conference final (if they make it)

If the Ducks fall out of the top spot in the conference the Hawks and Wild are going to be tanking for the Pacific Haha. Although I don't think that road will be much easier.. Kings, Ducks... Vancouver is looking strong and going under the radar too I think..

Will be great playoff games this year!

 

[BlueDream]

I'd like St. Louis to face someone other than the Hawks. It was a great series last year, but I think it'd be more entertaining to see them face either Minnesota or Winnipeg in round 1.

Agreed. In all honesty, neither the Blues and 'Hawks should have to lose to the other one in round 1. Both teams are good enough that I'd like to see them in round 2 or 3 instead. It'd be a great matchup.

As a Blues fan, I still want Minnesota. They should be beat, but if they aren't it will say a lot about this Blues club, IMO.

 

[Ace Card Bedard]

Hawks are sucking big time over the last few games.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

Hawks have bowed out of race

 

[rynryn]

Agreed. In all honesty, neither the Blues and 'Hawks should have to lose to the other one in round 1. Both teams are good enough that I'd like to see them in round 2 or 3 instead. It'd be a great matchup.

As a Blues fan, I still want Minnesota. They should be beat, but if they aren't it will say a lot about this Blues club, IMO.

Yes, it will say the same thing it says about any other team losing a series: they're not as good as the team they were beat by.

 

[hisgirlfriday]

Hawks have bowed out of race

Hawks do way better against the Pacific teams anyway, rooting for that wild card scenario to play out now.

 

[MK9]

Agreed. In all honesty, neither the Blues and 'Hawks should have to lose to the other one in round 1. Both teams are good enough that I'd like to see them in round 2 or 3 instead. It'd be a great matchup.

As a Blues fan, I still want Minnesota. They should be beat, but if they aren't it will say a lot about this Blues club, IMO.

Not sure why would that be. Guess I don't see any reason to believe what you wrote there to be true. I'll give you the Blues have had the Wild's # in the past, but how's that been relevant since the AS break? I'll also give you they stole one the game before last against the Blues, but the current roll, the depth, confidence, etc. I don't see much that would indicate a lopsided matchup (size perhaps) or make the Wild underdogs in a possible series. I think the days of the Wild playing scared against the Blues or being outmatched by them are over.

 

[Taze em]

I want to be Pacific division champs. I want LA opening night 2015/16 while we raise our SC and Pacific division banners.