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.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

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

Stay in the hunt with these away games and seal the deal to close it out

 

[bicboi64]

Hope we're firmly in a wild card spot and never fall below that after Jan

 

[darude]

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.

I hope not. Given the days between, especially the first B2B, I think they just go with Ullmark the whole way and Merilainen is up just to back up.

 

[PlayOn]

I hope not. Given the days between, especially the first B2B, I think they just go with Ullmark the whole way and Merilainen is up just to back up.

First B2B would be 3 games in 4 nights for Ullmark so I think Merilainen almost certainly gets one of them.

The Edmonton/Minnesota games could both be Ullmark though, might depend on how Merilainen plays. Also if Forsberg is back they’ll probably want to get him in a game. Since they’re travelling I’m not sure they’d want to start Ullmark in both if they can help it.

At some point we just need our backups to be reliable enough though, can’t lean on Ullmark everytime.

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

Another piece of good news is that only the Preds and Hawks will left for a western road trip after
Jan.7.

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

First B2B would be 3 games in 4 nights for Ullmark so I think Merilainen almost certainly gets one of them.

The Edmonton/Minnesota games could both be Ullmark though, might depend on how Merilainen plays. Also if Forsberg is back they’ll probably want to get him in a game. Since they’re travelling I’m not sure they’d want to start Ullmark in both if they can help it.

At some point we just need our backups to be reliable enough though, can’t lean on Ullmark everytime.

We need him to be rested for (dare I say) the playoffs.