East Playoff Questions

[elocomotive]

The West has been incredibly tight for weeks, but the last two playoff spots in the East are starting to get interesting. Here is the current situation:

Here are the questions:

-Do you think the Devils will make the playoffs, or is it too little too late?
-What 3 teams snag those final 3 spots? (the rest look pretty sewed up right now)
-If you are the Flyers fan, how bad are you hoping the Devils don't slide into that #8 spot?

 

[IPostedWhat]

Perhaps

2 teams can't snag 3 spots

Doesn't matter, Talent Takes Over!

 

[BlueandWhiteForever]

I actually do think the Devils will get in amazingly. They have a span of games coming up after they play the Lightning and Pens at home. After that, they play the Isles, Sens and Thrashers twice in six straight games. That's 12 potential points

 

[elocomotive]

Perhaps

2 teams can't snag 3 spots

Doesn't matter, Talent Takes Over!

LOL - fixed.

 

[elocomotive]

Personally, I think Montreal holds their spot and I'd peg the other team's chances at...
-NY Rangers 70%
-Carolina 40%
-New Jersey 40%
-Buffalo 40%
-Atlanta 5%
-Toronto 5%
-Florida 0%

 

[IPostedWhat]

LOL - fixed.

Damn, I thought it was a trick question you were hoping to get away with.

 

[elocomotive]

Damn, I thought it was a trick question you were hoping to get away with.

You caught me. I was trying to lure people into a trap to expose how stupid the NHL points system is and how the standings are improperly presented during the season.

 

[IPostedWhat]

Personally, I think Montreal holds their spot and I'd peg the other team's chances at...
-NY Rangers 70%
-Carolina 40%
-New Jersey 40%
-Buffalo 40%
-Atlanta 5%
-Toronto 5%
-Florida 0%

I would put the Sabres down to 20%. They don't seem to be consistent enough to get the wins that will help them get ahead.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I think the Devils can catch Carolina. They've knocked it too single digits now.

 

[elocomotive]

I think the Devils can catch Carolina. They've knocked it too single digits now.

I think they can too, but the big issue is the Canes are one of FIVE teams between the Devils and the final spot right now. If they were just behind one team, I'd give them really good odds. But say Buffalo or Atlanta gets hot. It only takes one of those teams to go on a run to shut the door on them. It also means they can't hit a 3- or 4-game skid, because if they do, you know somebody in that pack will gobble up 5, 6, or 7 points over that same span.

They are undeniably the best team not in playoff position right now - but they have a big hole to dig out of. Gonna be good drama down the stretch.

 

[puckhead]

If I were to randomly assign percentages right now...

- Montreal 91.2%
-NY Rangers 87.2%
-Carolina 58.5%
-New Jersey 1.2%
-Buffalo 35.7%
-Atlanta 10.4%
-Toronto 4.2%
-Florida 12.2%

NHL Playoff Chances - Sports Club Stats

 

[ritari330]

No, the Devs fall 1 point short

6. MTL 7. CAR 8. BUF

Not a flyers fan, but LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO

 

[Ties5o11]

The Devils will not make the playoffs. Honestly I think the Thrashers will finish above them. 40% is way to high for a team that is 9 points out- I think you are overreacting to their winning streak at the moment.

 

[elocomotive]

The Devils will not make the playoffs. Honestly I think the Thrashers will finish above them. 40% is way to high for a team that is 9 points out- I think you are overreacting to their winning streak at the moment.

So...you think the Devils will miss the playoffs. And me thinking they are likely to miss the playoffs is overreacting? I don't follow.

 

[Ties5o11]

So...you think the Devils will miss the playoffs. And me thinking they are likely to miss the playoffs is overreacting? I don't follow.

40% is too high IMO for a team 9 points out. Id say around 10-15%, 25% at best.

 

[TheRobotDevil]

From a devils perspective allot of things are going to factor in allot of these teams will be playing each other over the next month.the devils also have games left vs some of these teams as well.there may also be some 3 point games as well.At the moment unless they pass some of the teams ahead of them I'm not going to consider it a serious possibility.But if they can keep up the momentum I'm not counting them out either.However whether they make the playoffs or not the fact that they didn't fold for a draft pick and have fought as hard as they have they have reinforced the respect I have had for this team for years. I'm very proud of the heart they have shown.

 

[Vadered]

-Do you think the Devils will make the playoffs, or is it too little too late?
-What 3 teams snag those final 3 spots? (the rest look pretty sewed up right now)
-If you are the Flyers fan, how bad are you hoping the Devils don't slide into that #8 spot?

1: While I don't think the Devils will make the playoffs, I don't think you can call 34 of the last possible 38 points too little. Too late, sure, but too little, not so much.

2: Habs, Sabres, Rangers, in that order.

3: I'm torn. On the one hand, no way can they keep up that level of play through the rest of the season and the playoffs. On the other hand, I'd rather not risk them burning out the series AFTER they play us.

 

[Bizzle McDizzle]

They are undeniably the best team not in playoff position right now - but they have a big hole to dig out of. Gonna be good drama down the stretch.

Deja-Vu, Carolina, Feb/March 2010. All it took was a loss, or team above to get a tie or win, a 3 point game, to deflate the momentum and make the 8 spot that much farther away. Was a painful thing (from my perspective) to watch. To be so far back, to get super hot late, to get so close, then could never get past those last 3-4 points, just wasn't enough time, not enough games.

NJ's done this before though.. didn't they win 15 straight going into the playoffs in 2006, or 2007, something like that? Then lost in the first round?
Big difference was they weren't 20 points out when they started that run.

I think they'll get up to within 3-4 points, as 'Canes did last year, but those last 3 or 4 points are by far the hardest, late in the year when they teams in front of them are also desperate.... gonna be too much. Won't get closer than that.

 

[elocomotive]

1: While I don't think the Devils will make the playoffs, I don't think you can call 34 of the last possible 38 points too little. Too late, sure, but too little, not so much.

2: Habs, Sabres, Rangers, in that order.

3: I'm torn. On the one hand, no way can they keep up that level of play through the rest of the season and the playoffs. On the other hand, I'd rather not risk them burning out the series AFTER they play us.

Hahaha, true! I just have never heard or used "too much, too late" as an expression.

Good post!

Oh, and your #3 reminds me of the Caps 3 years ago. We worked so hard just to make the playoffs, we were pretty burned out when we played you guys in round 1.

 

[TOX1]

No

They stay like they are

Come playoff time....I'm not in the least bit worried about any team in the East except for TB or Boston.


My .02