- Feb 24, 2012
- 63,181
- 47,641
Last night was huge for the odds against Vegas. If the Avs lost... 4 points in 6 games is hard to pick up, even with a game in hand. 2 in 6 with a game in hand is easily possible. Probably down to the May 10th game.
The Avs really need St Louis to be competent and win at least one of their back-to-back games with Vegas over the weekend. That Vegas regulation loss combined with the Avs comeback win opened the door a bit more.
I'm not really rooting for the Avs first round opponent, I'm rooting for Vegas to get the Wild whom they seem to have a problem with.
Not only points but the tie breaker is on the line against Vegas in the final game with them as well. 3-3-1 for the Avs 4-3-0 for the Knights. If they Avs can win that one in regulation I believe they clinch the head-to-head tie breaker thanks to that OT loss.
Though I'm not sure the order of tie breakers in the shortened season.
If Minnesota beat Vegas again in regulation tomorrow night, and Colorado win against San Jose, the standings would be:The more I watch Minny... the more I want to avoid them in the first. That team is really coming together, and they likely won't win against Vegas or the Avs... but they are going to make that series hell.
Funny, I came to the exact opposite conclusion as I really thought about it last night. Wild or Blues will both be hard, so knowing there is no easy opponent would you rather play a bigger, stronger, more physical team like the Blues? Or a smaller faster team like the Wild? Especially factoring in we may be banged up. I like the matchup against the wild. They are similar to us, just not as good at it. As long as we get from Grubauer what we have all year we would be fine against them. Probably against the blues tooThe more I watch Minny... the more I want to avoid them in the first. That team is really coming together, and they likely won't win against Vegas or the Avs... but they are going to make that series hell.
Having home ice in the 2nd round would be important, especially if Vegas have fans back by then, and Minnesota seems to play Vegas well, So I'll go with the Blues in round 1 even though I don't really have a preference between Wild or Blues.Funny, I came to the exact opposite conclusion as I really thought about it last night. Wild or Blues will both be hard, so knowing there is no easy opponent would you rather play a bigger, stronger, more physical team like the Blues? Or a smaller faster team like the Wild? Especially factoring in we may be banged up. I like the matchup against the wild. They are similar to us, just not as good at it. As long as we get from Grubauer what we have all year we would be fine against them. Probably against the blues too
Downside to getting the wild is it means we won't have home ice against Vegas if we get there though.
Funny, I came to the exact opposite conclusion as I really thought about it last night. Wild or Blues will both be hard, so knowing there is no easy opponent would you rather play a bigger, stronger, more physical team like the Blues? Or a smaller faster team like the Wild? Especially factoring in we may be banged up. I like the matchup against the wild. They are similar to us, just not as good at it. As long as we get from Grubauer what we have all year we would be fine against them. Probably against the blues too
Downside to getting the wild is it means we won't have home ice against Vegas if we get there though.
If Avs and Vegas tie at 82 points Avs would have the tie-breaker based on more regulation wins, assuming that Vegas don't win in regulation more than one time more than the Avs do in the remaining games.I can't help but look at that strength of schedule down the remaining stretch.
Vegas: MIN, STL, STL, COL, SJ
Minnesota: VGK, ANA, ANA, STL, STL
Then Colorado: SJ, LA, LA, VGK, LA, LA
The Avs just need to win the games they're supposed to win, 5 more games against bottom feeders.If they do that it puts them at 82 points, which forces Vegas to win 4 of their last 5 to tie at 82.
I can't help but look at that strength of schedule down the remaining stretch.
Vegas: MIN, STL, STL, COL, SJ
Minnesota: VGK, ANA, ANA, STL, STL
Then Colorado: SJ, LA, LA, VGK, LA, LA
The Avs just need to win the games they're supposed to win, 5 more games against bottom feeders.If they do that it puts them at 82 points, which forces Vegas to win 4 of their last 5 to tie at 82.
It’s shaping up decently well. They need to win that Vegas game. That’s the big one obviously.
It’s too bad four of the six games are on the road. That could make for a loss, or two against those weaker teams. Colorado is a decent road team as far as the playoff teams go, but they’re a monster at home.
Don't worry, Minnesota will give Vegas a good test... in round 2...If I had to choose between Minnesota and St. Louis for the Avs first round matchup I’d probably choose Minnesota but damn I wanted to throw them at Vegas who seems to have a real problem with them.
Stl needs 1 more win and 1 more LA loss to clench. After that, they can't catch anyone ahead of them, so they'll be resting guys for Game 1, and they finish with B2B with Minny. That's not good for Colorado.
Minny gets B2B vs last place Anaheim, 3 days off, and then B2B vs a Stl. team that, like I said, will likely be resting guys and not really giving a shit if they win either of those. Again, not good for Colorado.
LA is gonna give the Avs all they can handle as long as they're still alive. They've won 4 of their last 6, albeit vs. Anaheim and Arizona.
Avs really put themselves behind the 8-ball in the last week. You can pretty much forget about 1st place right now, unless Vegas loses 2 out of their last 4... yeah, probably not happening, although Stl. will be desperate for at least 1 win (possibly 2 if LA can beat Colorado in their 1st game), and the Avs need to beat them for any chance at 1st place.
Basically, they gotta win out just to keep home ice, and hope Minny loses a game. Plus, the Avs have two sets of B2B, with JoJo likely starting 2 of those games, and a game vs. Vegas left. They could easily finish 5-7 to end the year and flop down 3rd place, giving Minny home ice. Further, it sounds like Game 1 would be on the 16th, giving the Avs just 2 days rest after the regular season ends.
Avs desperately need to get some guys back. Especially, G, Bo, Saad, EJ, LOC, and/or Calvert. Of those 5, only Saad and G sound like they have any chance to be back for Game 1.
The 2nd COVID pause really killed their momentum. They were rolling before that.Cup contenders to (possibly) 3rd in the division. Pretty impressive fall since the deadline.
Cup contenders to (possibly) 3rd in the division. Pretty impressive fall since the deadline.
Im in the boat of I dont care who they play. I would rather the Avs have home ice because they dominate at home but as far as matchups you are going to get a hard out in that first round regardless. Its also going to be even harder in the second round. If the Avs dont make it to the the third round its a failed season imo. I say this with the hopes that they will be fully healthy by the playoffs.Nothing to read into. The COVID pause throwing off their mojo, injuries to multiple defenseman, and losing their only true NHL goaltender is a lot to ask of any team.
This is a weird season. Everything will reset once the playoffs start. They do every year anyway, but they will this year especially. All that matters is the Avs get in and they did that.