Games tonight affecting Sens

[Xspyrit]

I think we can forget following what Tampa is doing, they made a statement this week. It would take a major rise from Ottawa or a major fall from them to see us finishing above them

IMO we are clearly not in the same tier yet, there was some encouraging signs that we were approaching to that territory but in the end, our best players are not at the level of these teams best players.

Tampa has the best differential in the Atlantic, 2nd best in the East. They have a close to generational forward in Kucherov. They have many difference makers in Point, Hagel, Guentzel, Cirelli, Hedman... great support players like Paul, McDonagh, Cernak, etc and a reliable goalie like Vasilevskiy. They are going after Toronto and Florida.

 

[albator71]

I think we can forget following what Tampa is doing, they made a statement this week. It would take a major rise from Ottawa or a major fall from them to see us finishing above them

IMO we are clearly not in the same tier yet, there was some encouraging signs that we were approaching to that territory but in the end, our best players are not at the level of these teams best players.

Tampa has the best differential in the Atlantic, 2nd best in the East. They have a close to generational forward in Kucherov. They have many difference makers in Point, Hagel, Guentzel, Cirelli, Hedman... great support players like Paul, McDonagh, Cernak, etc and a reliable goalie like Vasilevskiy. They are going after Toronto and Florida.

I agree with you we are not catching Florida, Toronto and Tampa so we need to focus on one of the wild card, the month of March will be key for us because in April we finished the season playing 8 of the last 9 at home.

Doubt it really affects us, but glad Utah is exposing the Caps.

Yeah Utah really exposed the Caps

 

[Xspyrit]

I agree with you we are not catching Florida, Toronto and Tampa so we need to focus on one of the wild card, the month of March will be key for us because in April we finished the season playing 8 of the last 9 at home.

The Sens destiny is still in their hands, they even have a favorable schedule to finish off the season.

 

[DrEasy]

Beating Montreal when we're back from the break is imperative. Turn them into sellers at the deadline so we can beat up on them again down the stretch.

 

[mianjo]

Utah 5 Washington 4 FINAL OT
Tampa 5 Montreal 3 FINAL

 

[GCK]

If we don’t get Norris and Pinto back we are screwed.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

If we go 16-8-2 in our remaining games we should make the playoffs, no?

 

[Stylizer1]

If we go 16-8-2 in our remaining games we should make the playoffs, no?

Probably not.

8 out of their last 10 games are at home so it will be up to them in the end but I think they are going to have to go on a hell of a run.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Probably not.

8 out of their last 10 games are at home so it will be up to them in the end but I think they are going to have to go on a hell of a run.

That record leads us with 96 points. Even if one of Detroit, CBJ, Rangers, or Bruins surpasses us, I think we'll be fine.

 

[CanadianHockey]

Injuries will have nothing with this??

Every team goes through injury woes. Gotta play through it. Columbus, Boston are both in the race still despite significant injuries. We are where we are despite losing Ullmark for a stretch.

 

[darude]

As we sit before the break, I'm having a hard time seeing us cracking the top 3 by the end of the season unless the Leafs go on a slide. Tampa seems to have found their game and the Panthers are the Panthers. We do have a very favourable schedule the rest of the way but injuries are really hurting us.

The good news is that I think so far this season we've been the best of the rest between both the Atlantic and the Metro. I'd guess we're gonna slot in as a #7 in the playoffs when all is said and done, barring any more longer-term injuries to key guys.

 

[Larionov]

In news from down river today, it turns out that Jakub Dobes was a mirage for the Habs. He has been sub .900 in four of his last five starts, and got shelled again today. Fair to say that he is not the guy who is going on a Hamburglar run for them...

 

[Boud]

As we sit before the break, I'm having a hard time seeing us cracking the top 3 by the end of the season unless the Leafs go on a slide. Tampa seems to have found their game and the Panthers are the Panthers. We do have a very favourable schedule the rest of the way but injuries are really hurting us.

The good news is that I think so far this season we've been the best of the rest between both the Atlantic and the Metro. I'd guess we're gonna slot in as a #7 in the playoffs when all is said and done, barring any more longer-term injuries to key guys.

Agreed. I don’t see us taking a top 3 spot. Look at Tampa’s goal differential. They are clearly a better team than we are. That said, I do think we have the best roster out of the other teams in wildcard race.

 

[Micklebot]

Agreed. I don’t see us taking a top 3 spot. Look at Tampa’s goal differential. They are clearly a better team than we are. That said, I do think we have the best roster out of the other teams in wildcard race.

We, at least in theory, have the more favorable remaining schedule, with an average opponent pts % of .530 vs .548 for Tbay, We also have a more favorable split of home vs road games to finish the season.

I'd also argue their goal differential is a bit misleading, they are definitely a good team (and likely better than us), but they are not the 3rd best team in the league as their goal differential would suggest.

Losing both games against them on the road trip really hurts our chances though, the injuries to Norris and Pinto came at a really unfortunate time.