one week to go - who gets in?

[The Napkin]

So basically nothing was decided in the last week. Minny is still pretty much in. The east is a Clutterbuck.
 
So who you got?
 
We're limited to only 3 questions so I included both in the west. PLEASE PICK 2 AND ONLY 2 SO THE VOTE TOTALS MATCH
 
EAST

 
Games left:
 
Wings (4): @BUF, @PIT, CAR, @STL
Jackets (4): PHO, @DAL, @TPA, @FLA
Devils (4): CGY, @OTT, NYI, BOS
Leafs (3): @TPA, @FLA, @OTT
Caps (4): @STL, @CAR, CHI, TPA
 
 
WEST

 
Games left:
 
Minny (4): @WPG, BOS, STL, NSH
Dallas (4): NSH, CBJ, STL, @PHO
Coyotes (4): @CBJ, @NSH, SJS, DAL
Preds (4): @DAL, PHO, CHI, @MIN
Vancouver (4): ANA, COL, @EDM, CGY

 

[TSC]

I'm sticking with my prior prediction: DET/CBJ and MIN/DAL.
 
Toronto is done with Bernier going down. I'd love for them to sneak in, but the only way they'd do that is with hot goaltending. That is not likely to happen now. NJ is playing some "nothing to lose" teams (CGY/NYI/OTT) who will probably play hard against them. They may get a Chad Johnson/Jordan Caron lead Bruins for their other game - but that probably won't be enough to get them in.
 
The Wild would have to lose their next 4, with Phoenix running the table to get knocked out. That's not happening. I think Phoenix's schedule is too hard coming up, and the standings stay the same.

 

[cshea]

One thing to note that affects both conferences- the Dallas/Columbus game is a makeup of the Peverley game and it'll start with the score 1-0 Columbus.

I went with Detroit/CBJ and Minny/Phoenix. I'm rooting for Dallas, though.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Detroit is pretty much in already. if Columbus goes 2-2 in the their last 2 games they're in - if they go 1-3, NJ would need to go 3-1. I think the East is pretty much set, I think the question is if Columbus can pass Detroit, which I don't think the will.
 
I think Dallas squeaks by Phoenix.

 

[The Napkin]

Technically the Sens are still alive. But...
 
I assume the Stars don't get to replace Pevs for that game, right? What a strange question to ask.

 

[cshea]

I think they can replace him.

Edit: my understanding is they're essentially starting fresh and playing 60, but letting the Jackets keep the goal they scored in that game. Logistically it'd be hard to make the teams bring the same rosters to the game. It was several weeks ago and I'm sure other injuries and AHL call ups/demotions have happened for both teams between now and then.

 

[The Napkin]

Looks like you're right about playing the full 60
 
The NHL said the game will be replayed in its entirety with Columbus holding the 1-0 lead it had at the time of Peverley's first-period incident.

 

[McDrew]

I don't think that either NJD or TOR will be able to overtake CLB or DET, but I do think that Detroit's harder schedule, combined with Columbus' easier schedule, 1-0 start in the game vs DAL, and ROW tiebreaker means that Detroit will be the 8 and get the B's in the first round.  They're getting healthy at the right time, and I'd much rather play Columbus than Detroit now. 
 
I think Minnesota gets in, and I think that the other spot goes down to the DAL/PHX game at the end of the season.  Both teams play Nashville, Columbus, one other game, and then each other.  PHX gets a StL team that is going to be resting players, while DAL gets a SJS team that is going to be playing to potentially have the #1 seed in the Pacific, since ANA has been not as good recently and is only up 1 point(but has a game in hand).  PHX has the ROW tiebreaker clinched over DAL, but are a point back.   I think its conceivable that either team is up 1 going into the final game, and with PHX having the ROW tiebreaker, it'll be winner take all in all cases but PHX being up 1 (in which case, DAL has to win in regulation.  (I'm guessing PHX, but without any confidence).  

 

[Greg29fan]

Columbus passing Philadelphia and putting the Flyers in a wild card spot is still a possibility too (89-87).  Flyers have a Florida trip, a game in Pittsburgh and close with a home game against Carolina.

 

[MiracleOfO2704]

I don't think that either NJD or TOR will be able to overtake CLB or DET, but I do think that Detroit's harder schedule, combined with Columbus' easier schedule, 1-0 start in the game vs DAL, and ROW tiebreaker means that Detroit will be the 8 and get the B's in the first round.  They're getting healthy at the right time, and I'd much rather play Columbus than Detroit now. 

 
I don't see that schedule as all that hard, really. In a vacuum, @BUF/@PIT/CAR/@STL is a tough week, but the hardest opponents in the last week of the season aren't going to be the top teams (Blues) nor good teams locked into an exact seeding (Penguins). It's teams that still have something to play for that will present the toughest challenges, such as Columbus' PHX/@DAL(1-0)/@TB/@FLA, which features three teams that can either make the playoffs or change their seeding.
 
I think the West's #2 comes down to the last game of the year, which is Dallas at Phoenix, with a young Dallas team needing a win out of the night to get in, facing a tough, veteran Coyotes team.

 

[MoGator71]

Columbus passing Philadelphia and putting the Flyers in a wild card spot is still a possibility too (89-87).  Flyers have a Florida trip, a game in Pittsburgh and close with a home game against Carolina.

 
I'm definitely sweating it out, but really if the Flyers just do what they're supposed to they'll get 4 more points, which means Columbus needs to go 3-0-1 since the Flyers have the tiebreaker. Technically it's a bit more likely the Flyers catch NYR, since they have a game in hand there. But realistically they probably need to win 2 down in Florida to have a good shot at it.

 

[The Napkin]

Brutal loss by the Devils to the Flames

 

[ForceAtHome]

NHL.com's standings and the post-game write up for the Wild game don't want to agree with me, but I believe Minnesota has actually clinched a playoff spot. (The write up says the Wild need another point to officially clinch.) Dallas could still theoretically pass Minnesota for the 7 seed with a maximum of 95 points, but Phoenix can only amass 94 points with a 4-0 finish. In a best case scenario for the Coyotes, all four remaining games are regulation/OT wins, giving them 94 points and 34 ROW. Minnesota already has 94 points and 34 ROW. The next tie breaker after that is head-to-head record, and Minnesota already won the season series against Phoenix.
 
I don't see how Minnesota isn't already in the playoffs. Another win will clinch them the 7 seed though.

 

[DJnVa]

 
NHL.com's standings and the post-game write up for the Wild game don't want to agree with me, but I believe Minnesota has actually clinched a playoff spot. (The write up says the Wild need another point to officially clinch.) Dallas could still theoretically pass Minnesota for the 7 seed with a maximum of 95 points, but Phoenix can only amass 94 points with a 4-0 finish. In a best case scenario for the Coyotes, all four remaining games are regulation/OT wins, giving them 94 points and 34 ROW. Minnesota already has 94 points and 34 ROW. The next tie breaker after that is head-to-head record, and Minnesota already won the season series against Phoenix.
 
I don't see how Minnesota isn't already in the playoffs. Another win will clinch them the 7 seed though.
 

 
Because 2 of the 3 Minnesota-Phoenix games were played in Phoenix, the first one doesn't count as a tiebreaker even though Minnesota won. Essentially they went 1-1 against each other H2H for 2 points each (all games in series were won by road team).
 
So, the tiebreaker would become goal differential--Minnesota has a pretty safe edge there (-12 to +2) but since that's not 100% until all games are played, Minnesota can negate that by gaining one more point.

 

[The Napkin]

With a loss last night Vancouver has been eliminated. (They can get to 87 pts - since DAL and PHO play the last game either one (or both) are guaranteed 88 points.) How sad.

 

[SidelineCameras]

I thought I smelled smoke.

 

[DJnVa]

Man, I really cannot wait for the playoffs to start. Best in any sport, bar none. I love this time of year.
 
Gotta gin up some hatred for Columbus.

 

[pedro1918]

Gotta gin up some hatred for Columbus.

 
This really is an issue.  I have no ill will toward Columbus at all. But I'm sure I can whip some up pretty quickly.

 

[McDrew]

The Hater's guide to Columbus, Ohio (and surrounding areas)

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Holy shit that article is spot on. Hilarious.

DJ: We move on, this time to Hilliard. Oh, Hilliard I have never seen the Rivers Hades, but when God inevitably casts me there, I assume the on-ramp will look a lot like Hillard Rome Road and 70 West. I had to help my girlfriend drop some things off in Hilliard, AND HOLY S***; thirty minutes driving through some random doctor's park off Fishinger Road and taking the easy way out seemed favorable. We were able to find some BS physician's office that was "across from the Movie Tavern" as were the only directions that the secretary could give.

I also went there to watch a Browns game once, some random crappy corporate bar you tend to find in 21st century strip malls, and it was just a collective of tools wearing BEN ROETHLISBERGER and SUPER BOWL #7 jerseys.

I live just off the overpass for Hilliard Rome Rd and 70, so yeah I can attest to this. Hilliard is FULL of dbag Steelers fans and all of these people are native to Ohio. I understand your teams suck, but how do you grow up in a state with two football teams and end up rooting for a team in a worse state than yours?

All-in-all, Columbus is actually a pretty cool city with a good music/arts scene and good food and entertainment choices. But overall, I agree, the city feels a little generic.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

My roommate freshman year was from CB. He was a cool dude and shared his pot.

Smoked too much and dropped out sophomore year, though. Left me to find my own dealer.

Asshole.

Fuck Columbus.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

You don't smoke the pot. Liar.

 

[The Napkin]

 I understand your teams suck, but how do you grow up in a state with two football teams and end up rooting for a team in a worse state than yours?
 

 
Oh it's on now.
You know why Ohio exists? So people from West Virginia have a place they can make fun of.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Not Toronto

 

[The Napkin]

 

[MoGator71]

Gutsy win in St. Louis by the Caps but with the Wings and Jackets winning I think they're done.

 

[The Napkin]

Stars and Preds tied with 2 minutes left. Not a must win for Dallas but would be a pretty big one. A Preds loss eliminates them.
 
annnnnd we're going to OT.  Dallas will be at least 1 up on the Coyotes with 3 to go.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

You don't smoke the pot. Liar.

ok, but I smoked A pot. Does that count?

I think it was glazed.

 

[The Napkin]

annnnnd a shoot out.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Gutsy win in St. Louis by the Caps but with the Wings and Jackets winning I think they're done.

 
Backstrom was great. The Caps beat the Blues in both meetings this season, 4-1 each time. Too bad they couldn't always play like that.
 
Washington needs to go 3-0 the rest of the way with Detroit going 0-3 or Columbus 0-2-1. Washington could in theory reach with a 2-0-1 finish if Columbus goes 0-3.
 
If New Jersey drops another point, they're out. They can only get in by going 3-0, having Columbus go 0-3, and Washington not go 3-0.

 

[The Napkin]

lol. Fiddler just fell on the way in for his shot, recovered, and scored. Awesome.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Roman Josi with a trickler to slip through Lehtonen's pads. Barely had enough to squeeze though.
 
Fiddler with a first as far as I've seen... he fell coming in, recovered, and scored. Going to extra shots.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

And Seguin wins it

 

[The Napkin]

Seguin wins it in the 4th round. See ya, Preds. Stars up on the Coyotes by 2 with 3 to play.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Seguin wins it for Dallas. Huge for them.
 
Dallas now has a 2 point lead over Phoenix with 3 games to go. Dallas also has the tie breaker. Dallas and Phoenix play each other in the final game of the season, so Phoenix can make up two of those points, but they'll need to pick up at least 1 more point than Dallas in the next two games.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Dallas will start their game tomorrow down a goal to Columbus, so that could be the break Phoenix needs. If that early lead (has any team ever started a game with a lead?) holds, it'll open the final spot in the west right back up while it will close up the east.

 

[cshea]

Dallas will start their game tomorrow down a goal to Columbus, so that could be the break Phoenix needs. If that early lead (has any team ever started a game with a lead?) holds, it'll open the final spot in the west right back up while it will close up the east.

Kind of along those lines, Nathan Horton scored the goal for Columbus that is being carried over to tomorrow's game. He's been banged up recently, missing 4 games before returning tonight. His return only lasted a period before being shut down, so I would think he's questionable for tomorrow's game. I'd imagine he'd then be the only person in history to score a goal in a game that he never really played in. 

 

[Dim13]

There's a really good chance that Columbus passes Detroit and takes the 7 spot. 
 
Detroit is at Pittsburgh tonight (second night of a back-to-back, having played the Sabres last night.) Then, they have Carolina at home and then are at St. Louis.
 
Columbus has the make up game at Dallas (with the 1-0 lead), at Tampa (with Bishop hurt), and at Florida.

 

[MoGator71]

That's true, and Columbus has the tiebreaker. 
 
You'd think the Wings would catch somewhat of a break since the Pens (and likely the Blues) will have nothing to play for and be resting guys, but I wonder if Pittsburgh in particular would play their "A" guys since I assume they'd prefer facing the Jackets to the Wings in the first round.

 

[cshea]

St. Louis has to keep going hard. Colorado is on their heels and only 2 points back, plus the Avs hold the ROW tiebreaker. Anaheim is also only 1 point behind St. Louis for the top seed. It's in St. Louis' best interests to try and wrap up the division. Win the division play Minny/Dallas/Phoenix. Lose and it's a date with the Blackhawks.

As for the Pens, rumor is Letang is back tonight.

 

[FL4WL3SS]

God damnit Columbus do what you're supposed to and finish 8th.

 

[MoGator71]

They're probably gonna finish 3rd and play the Rangers.

 

[Greg29fan]

As for the Pens, rumor is Letang is back tonight.

 
now a fact

 

[The Napkin]

Wings headed to OT giving them at least 91
Jackets up 3 in the third which would give them 91
I believe that'll eliminate the Caps since they can only tie at 91 and can't match the ROW of those 2?
It would also eliminate the Devils who can only get to 90

 

[The Napkin]

Ruff just pulled his goalie with 11 minutes left. Awesome.

 

[The Napkin]

that was probably the strangest shootout I've seen.
 
Looks like we're going to have a tie for WC1 and WC2 with 2 games to play.
 
Wings (2): CAR, @STL
Jackets (2): @TPA, @FLA

 

[Greg29fan]

Columbus has a pretty sizeable ROW lead on Detroit if they remain even

 

[The Napkin]

yep. So they in effect have a 1 point lead

 

[mikeford]

NJD eliminated
 
2 years in a row with no playoffs and somehow this JACKASS Lead DeBlower keeps his job. Lou must be dead or in a home for Alzheimer's patients. 

 

[URI]

 
Babcock showing a surprising amount of emotion.