Speculation: Who DO you want the caps to play in round 1?

[Bladerunner]

Right now odds are we face Philly, Cbus, NJ in that order. NJ might be the best of the three to face, but the least likely. Pitt and Fla remain in play.
Will change with every game that can affect the probabilities until the match ups are set.

Another key question is who do we want Pitt to face in round 1?

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Right now odds are we face Philly, Cbus, NJ in that order. NJ might be the best of the three to face, but the least likely. Pitt and Fla remain in play.
Will change with every game that can affect the probabilities until the match ups are set.

Another key question is who do we want Pitt to face in round 1?

They'll beat whoever they face. Honestly I would be really surprised if they lost before the ECF. They can beat any team in the Metro division in a playoff series.

 

[Bladerunner]

They'll beat whoever they face. Honestly I would be really surprised if they lost before the ECF. They can beat any team in the Metro division in a playoff series.

A reasonable conclusion given recent history.
However it would be better if some opponent would make them struggle, than to see Pitt win a r1 series in 4-5 games.

 

[StrikingDistance]

Optimal: See the very beatable Debbies in the 1st round and win in 5, and gain more confidence.

I don't want them to play Filthy in the 1st. They dominated us in the reg season.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Depending on how things go over the next six days, the Caps may be in a position to determine their R1 opponent.

Pens' last game is Friday. If things play out correctly (the simplest being Caps win tonight), Caps can have 1st in Metro wrapped up.

By the time the puck drops for the Caps on Saturday (7p), teams in 6-7-8 positions for Conference will be close to finalized. FL is likely to be out of contention by then. PHI match will be over (they host Rags @ 3pm). Cbus @ Nash begins an hour after Caps. It's possible that a Devils win against the Caps will put them in 7th place for the Conference - the Caps' R1 opponents. Or a Devs win would put them in 6th, leaving Cbus as the Caps' opponent.

Do the Caps lay down (or ice an inferior line-up) to help set up R1 adversary?

 

[bur and 666 others]

Depending on how things go over the next six days, the Caps may be in a position to determine their R1 opponent.

Pens' last game is Friday. If things play out correctly (the simplest being Caps win tonight), Caps can have 1st in Metro wrapped up.

By the time the puck drops for the Caps on Saturday (7p), teams in 6-7-8 positions for Conference will be close to finalized. FL is likely to be out of contention by then. PHI match will be over (they host Rags @ 3pm). Cbus @ Nash begins an hour after Caps. It's possible that a Devils win against the Caps will put them in 7th place for the Conference - the Caps' R1 opponents. Or a Devs win would put them in 6th, leaving Cbus as the Caps' opponent.

Do the Caps lay down (or ice an inferior line-up) to help set up R1 adversary?

imho, they should ice inferior line-up in any case, no need to sustain any injury before the playoffs.

 

[OVrocks]

The Predators

 

[Bladerunner]

Before tonight's games sportsclubstats sims has Caps facing (probability in pct):
Philly (36.7), NJ (29.7), CBJ (20.6) with Pitt at 10.8% and Florida a remote 2.3%. Philly has dropped some while NJ has increased.

Anyway this forms a good baseline. Don't think the sites method takes into account resting or tanking for a better position strategies.

 

[ALLCAPSALLTHETIME]

The team that everyone wanted the least is, of course, what we got. Just figures. Lol.