Tampa lost that game, 3-2. It's flown a bit under the radear but they have kind of sucked for a while. They are 13-10-5 in their last 28 games.
March NHL Game Thread
- Thread starter cshea
- Start date
Equally under the radar in their meh-ness is the Leafs. They’re 4-3-1 since the deadline, including taking a 7-2 beating in Long Island last night.
What am I missing why is Pitt ahead of Florida? The panthers have more RW wins.
I am aware this does not matter at all at this moment.
I was doing some poking on NHL leaders for the season, and saw that Erik Karlsson has the lead in total goals against while on the ice.
He’s been on ice for 114 total goals against this year, which leads #2 by 7.
I was thinking it was because he plays a lot in all situations and found this:
Through 71 games this season, Karlsson has been in the ice for under 20 minutes short-handed (19.7). Out of more than 1800 total minutes.
Less than a period in a whole season. That seems nuts and makes me question how defensively deficient he must be to make that sensible?
Not the fact of it, but the degree of it, you know?
He’s been on ice for 114 total goals against this year, which leads #2 by 7.
I was thinking it was because he plays a lot in all situations and found this:
Through 71 games this season, Karlsson has been in the ice for under 20 minutes short-handed (19.7). Out of more than 1800 total minutes.
Less than a period in a whole season. That seems nuts and makes me question how defensively deficient he must be to make that sensible?
Not the fact of it, but the degree of it, you know?
You're going to be hard pressed to find three better passes from the same guy in the same game within about a six minute span (start at 6:00 mark of video).
I find it kind of remarkable that this is the first year McDavid has been over 50 goals. I know he had a couple seasons cut short that he would have been close, but since I don't watch him much, I figured he was basically early-career Ovie throwing up 50 a year every season. But he's basically been 41-44 every year aside from this one. Still nothing to sneeze at, but just surprised me.
Jack went on the Karlsson rant the other day. "How can a defenseman who doesn't kill penalties win the award for best defenseman!"
Karlsson's impact on the Sharks is incredible. He is their team, especially now with Meier gone. In all situations, when Karlsson is on the ice the Sharks are up 131-114. +17. When he is not on the ice, they are down 160-73, -87. I haven't checked but I doubt there's a bigger on ice impact relative to the rest of their team for anyone else in the league. The Sharks are 104 goals worse when he is off the ice.
Additionally, for a really bad team, the Sharks have a good penalty kill. They are 10th by xGA/60 when shorthanded. They don't seem to need him to kill penalties.
Karlsson's impact on the Sharks is incredible. He is their team, especially now with Meier gone. In all situations, when Karlsson is on the ice the Sharks are up 131-114. +17. When he is not on the ice, they are down 160-73, -87. I haven't checked but I doubt there's a bigger on ice impact relative to the rest of their team for anyone else in the league. The Sharks are 104 goals worse when he is off the ice.
Additionally, for a really bad team, the Sharks have a good penalty kill. They are 10th by xGA/60 when shorthanded. They don't seem to need him to kill penalties.
Toronto won 6-2 in Florida, but I gotta think Michael Bunting is developing a rep that could really hurt them in the playoffs. He was incorrectly called for a high stick on Nick Cousins (it was Radko Gudas’ stick), and in the box he throws another nutty. The refs eventually got the call right, but Leafs Twitter was confused when Cuthbert and Simpson implied that he might be in the box after that anyway. If a book offers odds on him picking up an unsportsmanlike in the first round, I’d be all over that.
Also, TIL that Sidney Crosby had never scored a goal in Dallas…until tonight.
Also, TIL that Sidney Crosby had never scored a goal in Dallas…until tonight.
10 games to go for the top three Wild Card contenders: Isles, Pens, and Panthers. Pens lost a close one (3-2 Stars), 2nd night of a tough back-to-back for them. Panthers got their doors blown off by the Leafs, which bodes ill for them as they play again two more times down the stretch. Isles were idle tonight.
Remaining schedule for each three, playoff teams bolded:
NY Islanders (5 home, 5 road): @CBJ, BUF, NJD, @WSH, @TBL, @CAR, TBL, PHI, @WSH, MTL
Pittsburgh (6 home, 4 road): WSH, @DET, NSH, BOS, PHI, @NJD, MIN, @DET, CHI, @CBJ
Florida (5 home, 5 road): NYR, @OTT, @TOR, @MTL, @CBJ, BUF, OTT, @WSH, TOR, CAR
The Pens have what appears to be the easiest schedule. Kinda a tossup between the Isles and the Cats, though the last couple games for Florida are hard to predict: will Toronto and Carolina replace as many of their regulars with AHLers as they can, or will they be doing dress rehearsals for the playoffs?
Panthers are undone yet again by their 24th overall GA/GP, losing to Ottawa 5-2 for their fourth loss in a row. Islanders meanwhile fortified their WC1 position with a 5-1 win (2 ENGs) over the Devils. Pittsburgh was idle.
Games through Sunday:
Islanders: @WSH, @TBL, @CAR
Penguins: @DET, NSH, BOS, PHI
Panthers: @TOR, @ MTL, @CBJ
Isles have the toughest sledding, with the Lightning and Canes back-to-back this weekend.
Games through Sunday:
Islanders: @WSH, @TBL, @CAR
Penguins: @DET, NSH, BOS, PHI
Panthers: @TOR, @ MTL, @CBJ
Isles have the toughest sledding, with the Lightning and Canes back-to-back this weekend.
Eh, Tampa's dangerously close to getting locked into A3. They're seven points behind Toronto with 8 to play (Toronto's at 9), and haven't looked great lately. I'd say the only thing that mitigates Pittsburgh's tough road head is that a lot of it's at home, but they're still playing a desperate Nashville sides that needs points at all costs, the Bruins, and their intrastate rival. I can almost see the Islanders gaining important ground in locking up WC1.
Florida, OTOH, needs to right their ship fast.
Florida, OTOH, needs to right their ship fast.
Florida's primary issue appears to be penalty killing. Their 5v5 goals (53.44%) are practically right in line with their 4th overall xGF of 54%. But they're 28th in PK%.
All the more reason why I want Pittsburgh as WC2. They're underwater on 5v5 goals (49.03%) despite a 9th overall xGF of 53%.
All the more reason why I want Pittsburgh as WC2. They're underwater on 5v5 goals (49.03%) despite a 9th overall xGF of 53%.
All of the sudden I'm pulling pretty hard for Buffalo to slip in.
They are 4 points behind the pace but they also have played two fewer games and they have a head to head this week vs. Florida. If they were to slip in, they'd start a playoff series having played four games in five days and a back to back to finish the season.
They are 4 points behind the pace but they also have played two fewer games and they have a head to head this week vs. Florida. If they were to slip in, they'd start a playoff series having played four games in five days and a back to back to finish the season.
Heading into the final week and a half:
WC1: Islanders 39-30-9 87 points 4 games remaining (Tampa, Philly, @ Washington, Montreal)
WC2: Penguins 38-29-10 86 points 5 games remaining (@ NJD, Minnesota, @ Detroit, Chicago, @ Columbus)
9. Floida 39-31-7 85 points 5 games remaining (Buffalo, Ottawa, @ Washington, Toronto, Carolina
10. Buffalo 37-31-7 81 points 7 games remaining (@ Florida, @ Detroit, Carolina, @ NYR, @ NJD, Ottawa, @ Columbus)
The Isles lost their last 2 in regulation to drop back to unsafe territory. Pittsburgh split the weekend, losing to the Bruins in regulation then beating the Flyers in regulation last night. Florida has won 3 straight to put the heat on NYI and PIT. They also have a lot of home cooking down the stretch. The Sabres have won two straight as well and given their games in hand felt they were a worthy inclusion. Tomorrow night is probably their season, but a win tomorrow in regulation would bring them 2 points back of Florida with 2 games in hand and get them closer to NYI and PIT with games in hand on each. Dom's model at the Athletic has them at 8% which is an extreme long shot, but they are up from about 2% prior to this past weekend's games. My armchair guess is they probably need to win 6 of 7 to get in. That's 93 points. Means the Isles would need to go 3-1-0 or better, the Penguins 3-1-1 or better and Florida 4-1-0 or better. The Sabres top goalie prospect, Devon Levi from Northeastern, made his NHL debut on Friday stopping 31 of 33 shots against in a 3-2 OT victory against the Rangers. Maybe having a lving human being as a goalie goalie gives them a late season boost though the path is a difficult one.
WC1: Islanders 39-30-9 87 points 4 games remaining (Tampa, Philly, @ Washington, Montreal)
WC2: Penguins 38-29-10 86 points 5 games remaining (@ NJD, Minnesota, @ Detroit, Chicago, @ Columbus)
9. Floida 39-31-7 85 points 5 games remaining (Buffalo, Ottawa, @ Washington, Toronto, Carolina
10. Buffalo 37-31-7 81 points 7 games remaining (@ Florida, @ Detroit, Carolina, @ NYR, @ NJD, Ottawa, @ Columbus)
The Isles lost their last 2 in regulation to drop back to unsafe territory. Pittsburgh split the weekend, losing to the Bruins in regulation then beating the Flyers in regulation last night. Florida has won 3 straight to put the heat on NYI and PIT. They also have a lot of home cooking down the stretch. The Sabres have won two straight as well and given their games in hand felt they were a worthy inclusion. Tomorrow night is probably their season, but a win tomorrow in regulation would bring them 2 points back of Florida with 2 games in hand and get them closer to NYI and PIT with games in hand on each. Dom's model at the Athletic has them at 8% which is an extreme long shot, but they are up from about 2% prior to this past weekend's games. My armchair guess is they probably need to win 6 of 7 to get in. That's 93 points. Means the Isles would need to go 3-1-0 or better, the Penguins 3-1-1 or better and Florida 4-1-0 or better. The Sabres top goalie prospect, Devon Levi from Northeastern, made his NHL debut on Friday stopping 31 of 33 shots against in a 3-2 OT victory against the Rangers. Maybe having a lving human being as a goalie goalie gives them a late season boost though the path is a difficult one.
I wonder if the NYI are regretting the Horvat trade/extension yet?
Last 15 games:
1 goal (ENG), 2 assists, -10.
Last 15 games:
1 goal (ENG), 2 assists, -10.
No score change in Florida through 2. In stark contrast, the Pens are getting exposed, down 4-0 now.
I think Buffalo would now have to win out -- get to 93 points. But it is also not crazy to think that 93 would be enough.
The Wild Card shuffle may resume tonight:
Wild @ Penguins 7:00PM
Senators @ Panthers 7:00PM
Sabres @ Red Wing 7:00PM
Lightning @ Islanders 7:30PM
Buffalo's window is closing quickly, they practically need to win out the rest of the way and get some help. Panthers have the easiest game tonight, at least on paper. Pens and Isles may be hoping that their opponents may be taking it easy as both have clinched playoff spots, though the Wild can take the lead in the Central and may want to avoid a tough first round match against either Dallas or Colorado. The only thing the Bolts could potential play for at this point is home ice in the first round, but Toronto has a decent advantage there.
No shuffle tonight: all three of PIT, FLA, and NYI won pretty handily. Three games left for each of them, Pittsburgh still on the outside looking in.
Buffalo managed to hold on in the shootout, though Devon Levi gave up 6 goals on 32 shots against Detroit—not exactly "messiah" numbers there. If the Panthers and Islanders both get 4 out of their 6 remaining points they will be eliminated.
Buffalo managed to hold on in the shootout, though Devon Levi gave up 6 goals on 32 shots against Detroit—not exactly "messiah" numbers there. If the Panthers and Islanders both get 4 out of their 6 remaining points they will be eliminated.