Will the Wild make the Playoffs?

[TaLoN]

Ummmmm, if we stay ahead of any of the other four teams we're in.

Well duh, I was just pointing out that to make the playoffs at minimum, only one of either LA or Anaheim need to stay behind us, even if all the others pass us up. Both central teams could pass us, and we still wouldn't be eliminated, both central and 1 Pacific could pass us, and that one Pacific wouldn't have ANY affect on our position at all.

 

[2Pair]

Well duh, I was just pointing out that to make the playoffs at minimum, only one of either LA or Anaheim need to stay behind us, even if all the others pass us up. Both central teams could pass us, and we still wouldn't be eliminated, both central and 1 Pacific could pass us, and that one Pacific wouldn't have ANY affect on our position at all.

So, to summarize, would you say "if we stay ahead of any of the other four teams, we're in"?

 

[TaLoN]

Looking at how said teams are playing, pretty sure the central teams are going to get in. I'm assuming they do, looking at the other two, my gut says LA is in. I think Anaheim is going to miss out.

Overall, it's not a race of 5 teams for 4 spots, it's 2 teams for 1 spot, 4 teams for 3 spots. We're in that 4 team race, not a 5 team race.

 

[Wabit]

Gut feeling is the Ducks miss out too, they lose the ROW tiebreaker to everyone. STL is the weird team, they looked out of it, and then got really hot again.

But with the Wild having back-to-backs against the Ducks/Kings still to play they could determine who gets in between the two teams. It could be a 4p swing in either team's favor depending on the outcomes.

 

[BagHead]

Gut feeling is the Ducks miss out too, they lose the ROW tiebreaker to everyone. STL is the weird team, they looked out of it, and then got really hot again.

But with the Wild having back-to-backs against the Ducks/Kings still to play they could determine who gets in between the two teams. It could be a 4p swing in either team's favor depending on the outcomes.

So a Mike Yeo team started really hot, then got inexplicably cold, and in the last weeks of a season become extremely hot again as they got desperate to make the post-season? This sounds very familiar. I can't help but wonder if it's safe to say that they'll also make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs, and no further. I feel bad for the Preds or Knights. They never had a chance!

 

[Wabit]

So a Mike Yeo team started really hot, then got inexplicably cold, and in the last weeks of a season become extremely hot again as they got desperate to make the post-season? This sounds very familiar. I can't help but wonder if it's safe to say that they'll also make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs, and no further. I feel bad for the Preds or Knights. They never had a chance!

They did have one really bad stretch (lost 7 straight), and did start off really hot, but for the most part they played .500 hockey. Being really good (10-5) in OT/SO is what's kept them in the running. The OT success is a new thing for Yeo.

 

[BagHead]

They did have one really bad stretch (lost 7 straight), and did start off really hot, but for the most part they played .500 hockey. Being really good (10-5) in OT/SO is what's kept them in the running. The OT success is a new thing for Yeo.

Well that doesn't fit my narrative at all. Nobody read this!

 

[Wabit]

Well that doesn't fit my narrative at all. Nobody read this!

I should really make that a "spoiler" shouldn't I?

 

[W75]

I Dunno. Wild have a brutal schedule. And the"easy" ones are Dallas (traditionally struggled against them) and Eddy McDavids (to whom we lost too recently).

So while we think about of odds and probabilities, the cold fact is that Minnesota need to earn their own points. The other teams have been reluctant to lose too. For some reason.

 

[kfan22]

Im still worried, odds are likely we get in, but I dont like the schedule, I could see us blowing one of the 2 home games left that would mean you may need to win 2-3 of the road games left. The one good thing the Wild have going for them is that many of the teams still have to play each other still. I know Colorado has the same West coast trip and also play St.Louis. West coast trip for the Wild I think the first game against Anaheim is the best chance at a win unless San Jose has clinched 2nd place then maybe they rest guys in season finale. Hopefully Dallas has mailed it in

 

[Dee Oh Cee]

The way they played Saturday and Sunday against those two really good teams made me much less worried.

 

[57special]

Most teams are better after extra rest. The Wild even more so. I think it's because their best players are getting on, and some of their younger players are hurting.

 

[Wild11MN]

Two win wins probably gets us in at this point, but that's not guaranteed. Get to 98 or 99 points and we're in IMO.

 

[ThatGuy22]

The Wild are in, it's just a matter of who they play at this point.

 

[57special]

The Wild are in, it's just a matter of who they play at this point.

Bold statement.

I'm all about us getting the 1st WC spot and playing in the West. Delicate thing to arrange. I don't see us beating the Preds and the Jets...tough enough to beat just one of 'em.

 

[Drewcifer]

I hope Dallas wins tonight. I'm not crazy about the idea of playing important games against a team riding a nine game losing streak.

 

[ThatGuy22]

Bold statement.

I'm all about us getting the 1st WC spot and playing in the West. Delicate thing to arrange. I don't see us beating the Preds and the Jets...tough enough to beat just one of 'em.

That's my preferred spot to play. I'd love if Colorado or St. Louis got past us a seed.

 

[Bazeek]

Bold statement.

I'm all about us getting the 1st WC spot and playing in the West. Delicate thing to arrange. I don't see us beating the Preds and the Jets...tough enough to beat just one of 'em.

I don't think it's something the Wild can really arrange, at least not as it stands right now. The wildcard race is tight enough that falling back into WC1 brings is very close to being out of the playoffs entirely, and we have one of the tougher schedules remaining. Like you said, delicate.

On the other hand, our schedule is tough enough relative to the Blues (and to a lesser extent, the Avs) that they might well finish strong and push us down. That's probably the best case scenario, though I think a series against the Jets would be fun too.

 

[Uberdachen]

f*** a wild card. Balls ablazin' into the dragon's mouth.

 

[Drewcifer]

**** a wild card. Balls ablazin' into the dragon's mouth.

Exactly. The whole point is to win the cup. If you can't beat teams like Winnipeg and Nashville you don't deserve the cup.

 

[57special]

I don't think it's something the Wild can really arrange, at least not as it stands right now. The wildcard race is tight enough that falling back into WC1 brings is very close to being out of the playoffs entirely, and we have one of the tougher schedules remaining. Like you said, delicate.

On the other hand, our schedule is tough enough relative to the Blues (and to a lesser extent, the Avs) that they might well finish strong and push us down. That's probably the best case scenario, though I think a series against the Jets would be fun too.

I disagree. Just bench Staal, Suter,and Koivu in the final couple of games. Play Ennis, Greenway, and Olofsson in their spots.
Old guys get rested for the playoffs. It's a win, win...or maybe a lose,win.

What's the big deal if the Wild end up getting the final WC spot instead the 1st? Still the same teams, and near impossible task.

All this assumes that they actually do well before the final few games, and secure a PO spot.

 

[57special]

Exactly. The whole point is to win the cup. If you can't beat teams like Winnipeg and Nashville you don't deserve the cup.

**** a wild card. Balls ablazin' into the dragon's mouth.

I don't think he was talking about hockey... Dragon porn, maybe?

Screw this "deserving" bit. Let's just finagle our way to the Cup. Nobody will remember the difference years from now, just the glory.

 

[Drewcifer]

I don't think he was talking about hockey... Dragon porn, maybe?

Are they really that different?

 

[57special]

That's my preferred spot to play. I'd love if Colorado or St. Louis got past us a seed.

 

[57special]

Are they really that different?

touche.