| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 02/17/2011 : 14:20:14
LOL, there is a 5-way tie for 4th place right now - NSH, SJ, ANA, CGY, DAL all have 68 points. 12th place is only 6pts out of a spot, and really the only team that is for sure out of it is EDM - everyone else has at least an outside chance.
Its been close in the west for a few years now, but this is ridiculous.
Also interesting - the western conference 9-12 teams would be in the playoffs in the eastern conference, with CBJ holding on by wins over CAR. |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 04/10/2011 : 10:17:57
yes, I was reading this morning that the tiebreaker goes to ANA no matter what happens. I don't know who wins 5th/6th/7th though, in the event that CHI get 2 points.
And if they do get at least 1 point, 8th will go to LA, which I think is a very favourable matchup for VAN - especially considering they've been limping since they lost Kopitar, they're not the same team they were 2 weeks ago. |
| ryan93 |
Posted - 04/10/2011 : 07:18:13
And if Chicago wins today in regulation or overtime, then it would set up a Anaheim/Chicago 1st round matchup. As much as i'd like to see that series, i hope it doesn't happen. C'mon Dallas!! |
| ryan93 |
Posted - 04/10/2011 : 07:15:40
Anaheim have clinched the 4th seed as well nuxfan. How crazy is it that just 2 days ago, the Ducks still hadn't clinched a playoff spot & were one of only 2 teams the Stars still had a chance of catching...and now they're going to have home ice advantage!
It looks like the the Canucks fans on here who were worried about facing either the Hawks or Ducks will be happy. If Chicago so much as picks up 1 point this afternoon, then they'll be the #7 seed (or higher), with Los Angeles 8th. Or if Chicago loses in regulation today, and Dallas wins tonight, then Dallas will be the 8 seed. So it's either LA or Dallas in round 1 for the Canucks. |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 04/10/2011 : 00:58:00
so here we are, last day of the season, and the only things decided in the west are the top 3. I don't recall the last time the playoff positions were this close.
Every first round matchup is currently undecided, and hinge on 2 games tomorrow - CHI/DET and DAL/MIN. 4th-8th are spread by 2 points - if CHI wins tomorrow, there will be a 4-way tie for 4th to 7th (LA would finish 8th by one point). I believe ANA has the tiebreaker, but I'm not sure (Beans you could still win our bet!). If CHI loses in regulation and DAL wins, DAL is in and CHI is out. Crazy stuff!
Also, I heard on HNIC last night that the west will break a record this year for most points by a team that failed to make the playoffs. Current record is 95 (can't remember who holds it). DAL will finish with at least that, and if they win and CHI falls out, CHI would miss the postseason with 97 points.
To qualify Bean's comments - this has been a very exciting past 2-3 weeks in the west. |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 22:17:04
Beans - don't get me wrong, it's gonna be a wild finish, and of course, all hockey fans propser at a finish like that.
I still remember Philly getting in as the last team . . . hey, you get in, and anything could happen.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 20:21:18
quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
That is, everywhere but Edmonton. But even with that, teams like Edmonton, CBJ, and STL(ha, ha, ha, who called that one) can seriously play spoilers just about every night.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, i'm not email transferring your beer money till it's official!!!!! 
nuxfan....still say Henrik's deflection/pass on the goal was better than the goal itself!!! |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 09:39:23
Slozo, 2-3 is 2-3 more than we normally get in a season. There will be a number of games with playoff implications but rarely do you see a game where it's a one or the other kind of thing. To have 2-3 in a week end should be a fans dream, no?? |
| nuxfan |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 08:59:02
I remember that game well, it produced the prettiest goal of the year, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=me3GPkF7m5s. Good times.
Perhaps not win and go home, but most of them (probably all of the western ones) will have positioning ramifications. I agree with Beans, the last few years its felt like playoff hockey by mid-March in Vancouver, every game means something. This year looks to be no different |
| Guest5094 |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 08:21:04
Remember the Vancouver Calgary game last year where neither team needed a win? |
| n/a |
Posted - 02/18/2011 : 05:09:29
Truthfully, only two, maybe three of those match-ups Beans have the possibility of win or go home.
Anaheim at Los Angeles
Phoenix at San Jose
Dallas at Minnesota
But that is just looking at it from a perspective where BOTH teams have getting in the playoffs, or playoff position, at stake.
Vancouver at Calgary will be huge, I think. With all of those hurt D-men, and with the big three perhaps wanting to rest up . . . it could be a very controversial game if Vancouver mails it in.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 02/17/2011 : 17:00:42
This really is a good thing for the NHL. Honestly, this has been a pretty boring season on and off the ice. Hopefully this tight race in the West can mean a nearly playoff atmosphere for the last 20ish games.
That is, everywhere but Edmonton. But even with that, teams like Edmonton, CBJ, and STL(ha, ha, ha, who called that one) can seriously play spoilers just about every night.
Take a look at these match ups for the last week end of the year. How many of these games are going to be legitimate, "winners go to the playoffs, loosers go home":
Saturday, April 9th
New Jersey at NY Rangers
Ottawa at Boston
Montreal at Toronto
NY Islanders at Philadelphia
Tampa Bay at Carolina
Washington at Florida
Buffalo at Columbus
Nashville at St. Louis
Vancouver at Calgary
Anaheim at Los Angeles
Phoenix at San Jose
Sunday, April 10th
Boston at New Jersey
Pittsburgh at Atlanta
Edmonton at Colorado
Detroit at Chicago
Dallas at Minnesota
|
| Leafs81 |
Posted - 02/17/2011 : 16:16:22
I know it's crazy. And if the salary cap and having 30 teams in the NHL brings one thing exciting to the game, it's the playoff race near the end.
I find, since the lockout, the playoff race are way better, and this means that all 82 games of the regular season are really important. Some people only watch the playoffs, but this is a proof that the NHL is exciting all year round.
I wish i'd live out west so I could watch those games more closely. |
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