Eastern Conference Wild Card Watch

[Beezeral]

I'm sure the NHL is hoping the Rangers don't fumble, because Washington-New York is looking like the only 1st round potential marquee matchup for U.S. TV, maybe Dallas-Colorado across both U.S/Canadian networks.

Wat? Florida v. Tampa part 4 would be an excellent round 1 matchup.

 

[SensFactor]

Incredible, i think it comes down to the final 2 games

 

[Golden_Jet]

I'm sure the NHL is hoping the Rangers don't fumble, because Washington-New York is looking like the only 1st round potential marquee matchup for U.S. TV, maybe Dallas-Colorado across both U.S/Canadian networks.

Rangers wouldn’t be as good as Battle of Florida.

 

[Nineteen67]

In the right the scenario, there’s a decent chance that both wild card teams advance to the 2nd round.

 

[TGWL]

Rangers have the easiest path though.

But they blew too many games and don't have as many remaining as some of these teams. It's possible not getting both points after blowing the game against the Ducks will cost them.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Rangers have the easiest path though.

How’s that, they have the hardest strength of schedule left, and 2 less games than anyone challenging them.

 

[zenator]

They should let Calgary or Vancouver cross over and have the 2nd Eastern wild card.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

They should let Calgary or Vancouver cross over and have the 2nd Eastern wild card.

We all suck nobody wants it just void the spot and give a bye

 

[Clint Eastwood]

With how close this race is and everyone playing below .500 hockey in their last 10, it just makes me wonder how the Sabres aren't in this race after all their years of tanking.

 

[CupofOil]

It's going to be the Rangers despite half their team looking like they'd rather be anywhere else but playing NHL hockey, they're essentially 3 points up on everybody else because they win the main tiebreaker. It would be nice if a new team emerged but they're all shitting the bed simultaneously at the wrong time and are giving it to the Rangers by default.

 

[WarriorofTime]

With how close this race is and everyone playing below .500 hockey in their last 10, it just makes me wonder how the Sabres aren't in this race after all their years of tanking.

Buffalo had 91 points a couple years ago which would have easily made it this year.

 

[The Last Red]

Buffalo had 91 points a couple years ago which would have easily made it this year.

The Habs had 96 points in 2018 and didn’t get in.

 

[WarriorofTime]

The Habs had 96 points in 2018 and didn’t get in.

Yeah this is a really soft WC2.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

The Capitals are loving this, and are just salivating at this heap of ineptness.

and just last year they were one of the inept wild card teams.

 

[The Last Red]

Yeah this is a really soft WC2.

It is what it is. Nobody will care once the playoffs start and I’m not totally sold on the Caps yet. We’ll see.

 

[WarriorofTime]

It is what it is. Nobody will care once the playoffs start and I’m not totally sold on the Caps yet. We’ll see.

Don’t need to be sold too highly on the caps to see they get a nice matchup either way. Rangers are the one “potentially dangerous” team just based on their roster talent and having been there before.

 

[The Last Red]

Far from au revoir. Still very much in this race. Super exciting race to the playoffs in the East, so many teams still in it.

If they can pull out a win today I think it will be them or CBJ in WC2. 6 of their last 8 games are at home, including against Boston, Chicago, Detroit and Philly. But they have to win today. NYR have played too many games. They’re probably the least likely to get in after Detroit.

 

[Romang67]

and just last year they were one of the inept wild card teams.

Not this inept they weren't. The 91 point, -37 Capitals from last year would be cruising to the playoffs this year.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

It's pretty crazy a team could qualify for the playoffs with 85 points. Normal cutoff is usually in the 95 range.

 

[Golden_Jet]

It's pretty crazy a team could qualify for the playoffs with 85 points. Normal cutoff is usually in the 95 range.

It is a little crazy, but not surprised, as I thought 1st in Atlantic would be closer to 8th in points differential this year, than previous years. Which is now bearing out.

 

[Karl Eriksson]

What a race of flawed teams. This is like the tallest dwarf contest. Columbus was a hungry team last night. The way they're playing tells me they want it more than the other mid teams. Caps licking their lips

 

[Random Comment]

If there is more parity, the points required to qualify will be lower. I don’t necessarily see this as a race of losers. Just a bunch of close teams.

 

[CupofOil]

It's pretty crazy a team could qualify for the playoffs with 85 points. Normal cutoff is usually in the 95 range.

St. Louis already has 87 points and they're WC2 in the west. Wild stuff

 

[voyageur]

Wat? Florida v. Tampa part 4 would be an excellent round 1 matchup.

TV audiences, Florida teams don't reflect what New York does nationally, not really close. New York-Washington brings in at least 2 of the top metropolises in the U.S. to the tv/screen.

It's good that St. Louis will be in, but having Boston, Philly, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Chicago on the outside could have a downturn in viewership this playoff, competing with the NBA. Philly fans well they have the Super Bowl at least. Out West 4 markets will be competing with NBA in their arenas and on TV.

If Ottawa or Winnipeg make the Cup, Gary is going to have to expand the league to decrease the odds of that ever happening again.

 

[Golden_Jet]

TV audiences, Florida teams don't reflect what New York does nationally, not really close. New York-Washington brings in at least 2 of the top metropolises in the U.S. to the tv/screen.

It's good that St. Louis will be in, but having Boston, Philly, Detroit, Pittsburgh and Chicago on the outside could have a downturn in viewership this playoff, competing with the NBA. Philly fans well they have the Super Bowl at least. Out West 4 markets will be competing with NBA in their arenas and on TV.

If Ottawa or Winnipeg make the Cup, Gary is going to have to expand the league to decrease the odds of that ever happening again.

I’m interested in best matchups, don’t care about TV numbers. Battle of Florida and Ontario provides that.

You still haven’t answered the question why NYR have the easiest path.

Rangers have the easiest path though.