Teams out of the playoffs and their chances

[BOSSMANPC]

Pick a team(s) that are currently out of the playoffs at this time that you feel may have a shot at getting in. Or a team falling out.

Three point games don't help and if you need to leap frog more than one team it obviously makes it harder.

Calgary is currently 12 in the west but only 2 points out of the number 8 spot but are 7-1-2 in their last ten so they are playing well. They have played 24 home games and 28 on the road. The Flames are 14-9-1 at home this year. Maybe, but they have Three teams to jump over to get there. The teams a head of of them are all playing around .500 hockey and some below.

Colorado is in the 10 spot but only 4-5-1 in their last ten. They have four more home games than road games where they are 14-11-3.

Phoenix In the 6 spot but has four more road games than at home plus the teams below them all have games in hand. Could they drop out?

The West is very tight and a winning or losing streak can make a difference
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There is more separation in the east but what are the possibilities here?

Atlanta is 2-5-3 in their last ten and seem to be fading.

Carolina is only one point behind with two games in hand and three more home games than road game remaining. The Canes are 5-5-0 in their last ten.

Buffalo is in the 10 spot and have one game in hand over Carolina and four over Atlanta. They are 7-3-0 in their last ten game. Gerbe and Ennis have been on fire as of late and they will get Connolly back and Vanek healthy when they resume playing Friday. The Sabres and Canes play each other three more time.

Florida 7 points out of a playoff spot and are 4-2-4 in their last ten. They have one more road game than home games left. They have a few teams to leap frog and it will be tough for the Panthers.

Some interesting possibilities to be played out.

Let's hear your thought's and possible scenarios.

 

[sabresfaninthesouth]

I would go with LA. Only two points back of the 8th spot in the West, equal games played.

Not so good over their last 10 at 4-5-1, but still sitting on the 4th best goal differential in the West and 3rd best in the West in goals against.

Not scoring much lately, but also not getting scored on. I see them potentially being active at the deadline to try to bring in a goal scorer and make a run at the POs.

 

[dash]

Great recap Boss...Flames have played their way back into contention and all of a sudden they have some secondary scoring (Matt Stajan and Cory freakin' Sarich with the goals last night for Calgary). After a bad patch, Kipper has righted the ship and is playin' lights out between the pipes. It's still going to be tough to get in, and since the Flames have quite a few wins via the shootout, they could lose out on the new tiebreaker rule if they are tied in points with another club.

Still, it makes things damn interesting.

 

[TOX1]

Sabres and Avalanche

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Great recap Boss...Flames have played their way back into contention and all of a sudden they have some secondary scoring (Matt Stajan and Cory freakin' Sarich with the goals last night for Calgary). After a bad patch, Kipper has righted the ship and is playin' lights out between the pipes. It's still going to be tough to get in, and since the Flames have quite a few wins via the shootout, they could lose out on the new tiebreaker rule if they are tied in points with another club.

Still, it makes things damn interesting.

Thanks dash. I wanted to get into the details a bit more and be more analytical but as slow as I type it would have taken me until the semi finals to finish.

Obviously there are a few more teams in the mix but looking at the schedule and standings I picked out what I thought were the biggest possibilities.

I am very interested to hear what others think. We have some great posters here and would love to hear their thought's.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

Sabres and Avalanche

I like the way you think brother and I hope you're right.

Edit, For the Cup? This would make this old boy happy for sure, Well i should say if the Sabres win.

 

[TOX1]

I like the way you think brother and I hope you're right.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Buffalo in the East.

They have 2 games in hand on Atlanta. The Thrashers are in nosedive mode. They lost to a 20 year old rookie last night.

I do think Buffalo may need to acquire a goal scorer or play making center if they feel that's what Vanek needs.

In the West it's wide open. Last night Phoenix blew a 3-0 lead in just over 5 minutes.

The Kings are the obvious choice here, but I'm not sold. They're having a problem scoring. Something I didn't really expect. The Kings schedule is a factor. They play in a building that always has something going on.

I'm not sold on Colorado. They have issues on the blueline. If they can correct them through a trade or two they could be dangerous.

What's going on in Calgary? I really don't know to be honest. However they're playing well right now. They have the goaltending. The defense is solid. Iggy is lighting the lamp. Everything is going like they hoped it would in the beginning of the year.

I don't know how Phoenix does it. Bryzgalov is an outstanding goalie. Their defense is good. Their offense doesn't scare anybody.

I think both LA & Calgary could definately make it. I think the Kings will make a trade or two. Calgary is simply playing lights out hockey right now. I'm not saying they're going to play this way for the remainder of the season. However with Kipper & a solid blueline they will be in every game they play.

The West is going to come down to the final game of the season. It's going to be fun to watch.

 

[mattola]

Great recap Boss...Flames have played their way back into contention and all of a sudden they have some secondary scoring (Matt Stajan and Cory freakin' Sarich with the goals last night for Calgary). After a bad patch, Kipper has righted the ship and is playin' lights out between the pipes. It's still going to be tough to get in, and since the Flames have quite a few wins via the shootout, they could lose out on the new tiebreaker rule if they are tied in points with another club.

Still, it makes things damn interesting.

I think 7 and 8 have 1 game in hand on Calgary so if I was Calgary Id be thinking Im 4 points out and try even harder. I think Calgary makes it unless Kipper collapses but I dont see that happening hes more a finish strong goalie and Calgary's backup can play so I see Kipper not getting burnt out this year

 

[Ho_Brah]

I would go with LA. Only two points back of the 8th spot in the West, equal games played.

Not so good over their last 10 at 4-5-1, but still sitting on the 4th best goal differential in the West and 3rd best in the West in goals against.

Not scoring much lately, but also not getting scored on. I see them potentially being active at the deadline to try to bring in a goal scorer and make a run at the POs.

The Kings need to get to at least 68 pts to be safe come Trade deadline. 68 points the magic number as far as their chances of getting any where near making into the playoffs. They are almost at the same spot in standings as they were last year, they had about 62 pts at trade deadline.

Reason I'm so focused on trade deadline, is we'll see if they will be sellers or buyers at that point.

What Kings need:
A scoring LW (the juggling of line combinations with the 1st line definitely has been annoying all season)
2nd Line Center (Stoll/Handzus not really consistent nor true 2nd line centerman IMO.)

I really don't know how this will play out. Lombardi won't make 2 big roster moves, that would require letting go some good prospects/picks.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

The Kings need to get to at least 68 pts to be safe come Trade deadline. 68 points the magic number as far as their chances of getting any where near making into the playoffs. They are almost at the same spot in standings as they were last year, they had about 62 pts at trade deadline.

Reason I'm so focused on trade deadline, is we'll see if they will be sellers or buyers at that point.

What Kings need:
A scoring LW (the juggling of line combinations with the 1st line definitely has been annoying all season)
2nd Line Center (Stoll/Handzus not really consistent nor true 2nd line centerman IMO.)

I really don't know how this will play out. Lombardi won't make 2 big roster moves, that would require letting go some good prospects/picks.

How patient can Lombardi afford to be? Much was expected from this team. I'd like to think ownership would allow the team to grow together. However for some reason they have a problem putting the puck in the net.

 

[Ho_Brah]

How patient can Lombardi afford to be? Much was expected from this team. I'd like to think ownership would allow the team to grow together. However for some reason they have a problem putting the puck in the net.

I think Lombardi can be very, very patient at this point. Who is out there in LW that would be worth giving up prospects/Vet foward for that are UFA and could stay within the Kings salary cap. Not much really.

Hopefully the Kings can get Sturm back soon, and Parse. Loktionov is improving game by game, but he is a true centerman and I think next season, he may well fill the C2 slot. Which means, its quite possible that either Stoll/Handzus might be worth teams looking at if the Kings want to sell. Handzus should stay, he plays very well defensively & can win face offs. Also, I think next season we will see Schenn in the lineup as well. He could fill the C2/C3 slot.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I think Lombardi can be very, very patient at this point. Who is out there in LW that would be worth giving up prospects/Vet foward for that are UFA and could stay within the Kings salary cap. Not much really.

Hopefully the Kings can get Sturm back soon, and Parse. Loktionov is improving game by game, but he is a true centerman and I think next season, he may well fill the C2 slot. Which means, its quite possible that either Stoll/Handzus might be worth teams looking at if the Kings want to sell. Handzus should stay, he plays very well defensively & can win face offs. Also, I think next season we will see Schenn in the lineup as well. He could fill the C2/C3 slot.

Smyth is the guy teams are going to want if the Kings become sellers. He's an UFA as well I think.

 

[BOSSMANPC]

I did overlook the Kings and shouldn't have. They are in a similar spot as Calgary. They have a shot as well, But I have not looked at their schedule,

I knew one or two would slip between the cracks and there may be one or two more.

 

[Ho_Brah]

Smyth is the guy teams are going to want if the Kings become sellers. He's an UFA as well I think.

Smyth has one year left on his contract. Smyth has been terrific as a 2nd line winger. He's a great veteran presence for this team, something they need on the ice and in the locker room. I would be shocked to see him leave before Stoll.

They're already hurting in the LW department, getting rid of Smyth would only add to their problem.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

Smyth has one year left on his contract. Smyth has been terrific as a 2nd line winger. He's a great veteran presence for this team, something they need on the ice and in the locker room. I would be shocked to see him leave before Stoll.

They're already hurting in the LW department, getting rid of Smyth would only add to their problem.

His contract will make him difficult to trade if he still has another year left. You were right a week or so ago when you said they never should have let Boyle & Moulson go.

 

[Ho_Brah]

His contract will make him difficult to trade if he still has another year left. You were right a week or so ago when you said they never should have let Boyle & Moulson go.

i'm still lost as to why they gave up Boyle for a 3rd round pick from the Rangers. Which they drafted another centerman, Jordan Weal. I think Weal is great, but might see a future as a C4.

And we lost Moulson out to arbitration, a waste.

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

i'm still lost as to why they gave up Boyle for a 3rd round pick from the Rangers. Which they drafted another centerman, Jordan Weal. I think Weal is great, but might see a future as a C4.

And we lost Moulson out to arbitration, a waste.

What's the deal with Moller? They talked him up during the offseason.

 

[Ho_Brah]

Moller is an awesome winger, I reallly like his style of play for a guy his size. At this point if the Kings are really trying to push towards the playoffs, they may keep him in the minors and run with what they got. There's not much room for another RW like Moller at this stage of the game. I think in the beginning it was a battle between Simmonds & Moller to fill that 3rd line winger position. Moller deserves more ice time than being put on the 4th line. Lombardi was smart to keep him in Manchester where is playing very well as a center, but in the Kings org he would be a better winger.

I think if the Kings come out of these next 12 games under .500, I say start selling. It would be a miracle for the Kings to get back in the hunt after the deadline, with the rest of the league playing full throttle the remainder of the reg. season.

Sell Stoll/Handzus, Sturm, Ponikarovsky, Drewiske, Harrold & Richardson. We got Lewis, Martinez & Muzzin. Get some draft picks, which is always good. Add Moller to the lineup and at least let them game some ice time for the rest of the year.

This 10 game road trip is the tell tale sign. so far they are 0-0-1. 68 pts is the magic number!