Speculation: The race for 97 points AKA the playoff push thread.

[islesfan186]

It’s gonna be an interesting final game of the season if we are fighting for 2 and 3 with Pittsburgh or Carolina and Washington is up more than 2 on us. Do they stick it to Trotz and play Holtby and Ovie or do they pretty much sit 1/3rd of the roster and possibly hand us home ice while those other two teams play 10 and 11 seeds who will likely be trying to spoil things for them

Could you imagine if the final game of the season comes down to who finishes 1st in the division...us vs the caps?

 

[19 in a row]

Watching Caps Pens.. Also noticed Pens/Caps/CBJ/Carolina/Philly playing each other or other good competition next few games.. Still on us to string some wins together to cement a home ice playoff spot.


Pulling for the Pens who are down 1-0 would love to get 1st still but as long as no OT.. smarter move might be to root for Caps to give us more breathing room for 2nd but not feeling it.

Bruins down 2-1 to Jackets.. need the Bs to stay hot..

ahhh been awhile since I was scoreboard watching with hopes of anything other than a WC

 

[BMOK33]

Bruins are cooling off. They were on a tear but haven’t looked very good now their last three games

 

[Zeeker]

Pitt looked dead against Washington and then scored 3 quick goals to take the lead.

 

[PK Cronin]

Bruins are cooling off. They were on a tear but haven’t looked very good now their last three games

They're now down just one heading into the third.

 

[Lame Lambert]

Watching Caps Pens.. Also noticed Pens/Caps/CBJ/Carolina/Philly playing each other or other good competition next few games.. Still on us to string some wins together to cement a home ice playoff spot.


Pulling for the Pens who are down 1-0 would love to get 1st still but as long as no OT.. smarter move might be to root for Caps to give us more breathing room for 2nd but not feeling it.

Bruins down 2-1 to Jackets.. need the Bs to stay hot..

ahhh been awhile since I was scoreboard watching with hopes of anything other than a WC

I want 1st.

 

[BMOK33]

If Columbus somehow manages to lose this game in regulation that might be the beginning of the end for them. I’m not sure how you come back from that considering the media and fans are already all over them

 

[Kevin27NYI]

I want 1st.

Same. Rooting for Pens!

 

[BrockLobster]

Does anyone ever lose? Habs up. Jackets up. Pens up.

 

[13th Floor]

Same. Rooting for Pens!

To start yes, def. But then at some point you just gotta start rooting for whoever is winning. 3 point games for two competing teams are doodie.

 

[19 in a row]

Pitts with the empty netter and the Metro gets tighter.. We are going to have to play at a high level these last few weeks.

 

[Uncle Duke]

Not a good night. Reduced to rooting for the Red Wings over Habs.

 

[doublechili]

I like this thread, however I don't want to be WC1 or WC2. I'd like to be 1st in the Metro or at worst 2nd (for home ice at NVMC). Winning a round would be nice, y'know.

 

[WangMustGo]

I like this thread, however I don't want to be WC1 or WC2. I'd like to be 1st in the Metro or at worst 2nd (for home ice at NVMC). Winning a round would be nice, y'know.

Agreed, forget just making the playoffs. Win the division. 2 less points with a game in hand. No reason we cant do it. Let the penguins and caps beat the crap out of each other in the first round.

 

[boredmale]

I want 1st.

I want 2nd where Carolina finishes 3rd.

 

[Uncle Duke]

I want 1st.

I want 2nd where Carolina finishes 3rd.

Sure I'd love first or second, but ultimately, I'll take a playoff appearance however we can get it. Make no mistake, it's going to be a dogfight just to get in.

 

[boredmale]

Sure I'd love first or second, but ultimately, I'll take a playoff appearance however we can get it. Make no mistake, it's going to be a dogfight just to get in.

In all honesty we need about 5 wins in 13 games to make it. It will be a dogfight trying to keep home ice advantage, I would say the same to just make the playoffs.

 

[Uncle Duke]

In all honesty we need about 5 wins in 13 games to make it. It will be a dogfight trying to keep home ice advantage, I would say the same to just make the playoffs.

I assume you meant to write "wouldn't" where it says would. I wish I could agree with that but with the other teams as hot as they are and when our O struggles as much as it does and our PP is non-existent, every game we play, no matter the opponent or what their record, is a nailbiter. I guess what I am saying is our margin for error is very slim in both the macro and the micro; the macro of the closeness of the race as a whole and the micro given the closeness of virtually all our games.

 

[boredmale]

I assume you meant to write "wouldn't" where it says would. I wish I could agree with that but with the other teams as hot as they are and when our O struggles as much as it does and our PP is non-existent, every game we play, no matter the opponent or what their record, is a nailbiter. I guess what I am saying is our margin for error is very slim in both the macro and the micro; the macro of the closeness of the race as a whole and the micro given the closeness of virtually all our games.

You are correct, I ment wouldn't.

As for us making the playoffs

National Hockey League Playoff Chances - Sports Club Stats

Has us at 99.5%. I believe they use a system that every team has an equal 50-50 shot of winning a game

 

[BelovedIsles]

Agreed, forget just making the playoffs. Win the division. 2 less points with a game in hand. No reason we cant do it. Let the penguins and caps beat the crap out of each other in the first round.

Get real here. Sorry to piss in people’s corn flakes (or Frosted Flakes, whatever your preference); this team is trending downward. I, personally, don’t see that changing. Does that mean they lose out and acquire the 2nd WC, no. That said, they’ve been showing very bad signs and I see a team that’s burned out. Sadly.

Let’s be satisfied w the 3rd spot and a mtg. w/ the Pens or CBJ. JMHO.

 

[ndgolden]

Get real here. Sorry to piss in people’s corn flakes (or Frosted Flakes, whatever your preference); this team is trending downward. I, personally, don’t see that changing. Does that mean they lose out and acquire the 2nd WC, no. That said, they’ve been showing very bad signs and I see a team that’s burned out. Sadly.

Let’s be satisfied w the 3rd spot and a mtg. w/ the Pens or CBJ. JMHO.

No apologies needed, You missed my cornflakes. No need to doubt a team many thought were bottom five and now a win from 1st place nearly 70 games in. Bravo Isles!

 

[kmo429]

I believe the magic number is 18. CBJ and MTL are tied for last spot and play each other head on. Someone mathematically must miss at least one point

True. Never took that into consideration, but I think given that they're only in a virtual tie and one ha sa tiebreaker, I think the magic number only takes into consideration the team that is currently in 9th. Either way, could be wrong, but Isles win 9 of their last 13 and no scoreboard watching needed.

 

[kmo429]

Get real here. Sorry to piss in people’s corn flakes (or Frosted Flakes, whatever your preference); this team is trending downward. I, personally, don’t see that changing. Does that mean they lose out and acquire the 2nd WC, no. That said, they’ve been showing very bad signs and I see a team that’s burned out. Sadly.

Let’s be satisfied w the 3rd spot and a mtg. w/ the Pens or CBJ. JMHO.

Burned out? The only reason that is your observation is because of the timing. Every single team not named the Lightning have gone through a rough patch (or 5) during the course of the season. I personally feel the exact opposite. I think this rough stretch came at the right time. They have some time now to course correct and regain focus for the final push.

You definitely could be right but I think it is unlikely the team is burnt out after 69 games when Cup winning teams regularly play somewhere between 96 and 108 games. If by burnt out you are referring to mental over physical, you may be on to something, but I think mental energy and focus is easier to regroup and regain at this time of the season than physical would be

 

[kmo429]

Also, 15 points in our last 13 games will give us our best regular season since 1983-84.

 

[WangMustGo]

Get real here. Sorry to piss in people’s corn flakes (or Frosted Flakes, whatever your preference); this team is trending downward. I, personally, don’t see that changing. Does that mean they lose out and acquire the 2nd WC, no. That said, they’ve been showing very bad signs and I see a team that’s burned out. Sadly.

Let’s be satisfied w the 3rd spot and a mtg. w/ the Pens or CBJ. JMHO.

We are 2 points out of first place with a game in hand. Sure they have been struggling lately, but every team goes on hot and cold streaks. For a team that has sucked lately, they have still managed to win 3 of their last 4 games. Washington has a tough schedule the rest of the way, if the isles play like they have most of the season, they will have a shot at stealing the division.