Speculation: Are we still in a playoff spot on January 8th

[PlayOn]

Of the next 9 games, the middle 5 are what you could call "murderers row", but the 1st 2 and last 2 are winnable.

Calgary is actually a better home team than Vancouver. Their record is 11-4-1, they’re just really bad on the road. Vancouver for whatever reason is much better on the road (10-2-1) than they are at home (5-7-4). I haven’t looked into any context on this, just throwing it out there.

Winnipeg and Dallas rarely lose at home. Edmonton and Minnesota will be tough. If we can win against Seattle, St.Louis and Detroit, which feel like the most “winnable” games, it’ll go a long way in getting us at least a .500 record.

Thinking Merilainen will play vs Vancouver and Minnesota (assuming Forsberg isn’t back). If we get some good starts that will help, Ullmark basically gives us a chance to win any game.

 

[OD99]

It is a very off road trip for sure, but the guys will get the Xmas break in between to get some rest and be with family.

They will fly home on Sunday the 22nd, right after the Oilers game, and then fly out to Winnipeg (I expect) on Friday, the 27th.

It's really 2 different road trips, which gives a bit of a breather to the guys.

Tough road either way, but they are tougher mentally this year.

 

[JD1]

After this trip, 22 of 39 games will have been away games. We'll have a home heavy, favorable schedule.

We need 9 points imo. Anything more than that is gravy. If we get 9, we're probably 2-3 points out of the playoffs and ready for a second half surge

But who knows, the way Ullmark is playing, anything is possible

It is a very off road trip for sure, but the guys will get the Xmas break in between to get some rest and be with family.

They will fly home on Sunday the 22nd, right after the Oilers game, and then fly out to Winnipeg (I expect) on Friday, the 27th.

It's really 2 different road trips, which gives a bit of a breather to the guys.

Tough road either way, but they are tougher mentally this year.

It might even be 3 trips. They may come home between Minnesota and Dallas

 

[starling]

Back-to-backs are concerning. The way their wheels fell off in the third period yesterday wasn't pretty.

 

[OD99]

After this trip, 22 of 39 games will have been away games. We'll have a home heavy, favorable schedule.

We need 9 points imo. Anything more than that is gravy. If we get 9, we're probably 2-3 points out of the playoffs and ready for a second half surge

But who knows, the way Ullmark is playing, anything is possible


It might even be 3 trips. They may come home between Minnesota and Dallas

Good point. Short flight back, a few more days at home...

 

[JD1]

Back-to-backs are concerning. The way their wheels fell off in the third period yesterday wasn't pretty.

They got 2 points.

Teams playing b2b against rested teams historically don't do well. We got 2. We don't need a masterpiece, we got our 2 and on to the next one.

The fact they didn't collapse is what should excite us

 

[Golden_Jet]

After this trip, 22 of 39 games will have been away games. We'll have a home heavy, favorable schedule.

We need 9 points imo. Anything more than that is gravy. If we get 9, we're probably 2-3 points out of the playoffs and ready for a second half surge

But who knows, the way Ullmark is playing, anything is possible


It might even be 3 trips. They may come home between Minnesota and Dallas

So that’s leaves 19 road games and 24 home games, after trip.

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

Check out their schedule for March and April.
Mostly winnable games:
~ 10 out of 15 in March
~ 6 out of 9 in April.