Play off just about set ?

[Divine]

If the playoffs started today, based on points percentage:

Caps vs Flyers
Leafs vs Rangers
Florida vs Tampa
Carolina vs NJ

There's only one series in the first round that would be a repeat of last year (FL vs TB).

 

[SeaChaser]

Is the season over already? Bring on 25-26......

 

[Golden_Jet]

weird thread about a 1/3 into season in December

 

[blankall]

It's December. There are 7 points that separate last place Montreal from the Wild Card teams in the East (Montreal has a game in hand btw). A couple of small skids could see Toronto (who is first in their division) fall out of first place in the metro and out of a playoff spot behind the Rangers for that last wild card spot.

Hold your horses son.

 

[jbeck5]

Boston is in 3rd place in the Atlantic with a -23 diff. The team below them has a +26 diff. A 49 pt difference. Can't ever recall seeing something like that in December. The 4th-7th place teams all have a better diff than the 3rd place team. No way that holds through the rest of the season in terms of standings.

Came to say this exactly.

Boston is on pace for like -50 lol no way they make the playoffs with a -50

Things will change. Either they start playing better hockey in terms of goal differential or they'll fall out of the playoffs.

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

Bruins need to fight tooth and nail and get strong goaltending in their wins which have been extremely close. They're getting slaughtered in their losses. Rangers are terrible outside of stellar goaltending and special teams. I can actually see Ottawa and low-key the Blue Jackets take their spots in the WC.

 

[SensFactor]

Nope...

 

[MK9]

If play offs started tomorrow it lines up


14 of the 16 teams from last season are back in.

6 of the 8 first round matches are repeaters.

 

[scoopscj]

A lot of the playoff teams from last year will be in of course, but they’re still some variance. The Rangers have a very difficult schedule moving forward. So does Boston. The Senators are playing much better lately. I think it’s safe to say that Buffalo and Detroit are not doing anything this year. Montreal plays OK at times but really they are not ready for prime time. Philly is up and down. Columbus is also the same. I think in the east it comes down to Ottawa Philadelphia, and the New York Rangers for the final wildcard spot. The Islanders look completely lost again and mid.

The way too early take is the Rangers probably pull it together. Boston does enough with the talent that they have to get a playoff spot. Ottawa challenges for that last wildcard. That’s my way too early take.

 

[DarrylshutzSydor]

??????

Not even being close to being set. There is a dog fight for the last spot in the Pacific and centrel divisions with an equal dog fight for the two wild card positions in the west. In the east there is an equal dog fight amongst ten teams for the two wild card spots.

I have the 5 pt rule. If you are with 5 pts of the last playoff spot? You are within striking distance.

There are only 5 teams that you can say are already booking their T times.

Ducks, Preds, Hawks, and sharks. But the Preds could be the oilers of this year if they can every find the proper gear

You bought the Gary Butthead narrative.

 

[PaulD]

A lot of the playoff teams from last year will be in of course, but they’re still some variance. The Rangers have a very difficult schedule moving forward. So does Boston. The Senators are playing much better lately. I think it’s safe to say that Buffalo and Detroit are not doing anything this year. Montreal plays OK at times but really they are not ready for prime time. Philly is up and down. Columbus is also the same. I think in the east it comes down to Ottawa Philadelphia, and the New York Rangers for the final wildcard spot. The Islanders look completely lost again and mid.

The way too early take is the Rangers probably pull it together. Boston does enough with the talent that they have to get a playoff spot. Ottawa challenges for that last wildcard. That’s my way too early take.

It way too early takes for the play offs 2024, 2023 and 2022 were all pretty well bang on.
Even the casual fan can pick 14 play off teams on Christmas morning.
Avid fans can usually pick all 16.

 

[PaulD]

Bruins need to fight tooth and nail and get strong goaltending in their wins which have been extremely close. They're getting slaughtered in their losses. Rangers are terrible outside of stellar goaltending and special teams. I can actually see Ottawa and low-key the Blue Jackets take their spots in the WC.

Of these 4 teams Sens look the most likely to get stronger as season goes on.
Hypothetically I would pick them right now to beat Rangers, Bruins, or Jackets in a seven game series.

 

[VaporTrail]

That's it ? Regular season's over ?? Lol

 

[Jumptheshark]

I love these kind of the threads.

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I'm coming at you. Swinging hard punches. This is why this thread is good, and the topic is sound:

Yes. The playoffs are pretty much set. Yes, I know it's Dec. From now until April there will be very little variation in the standings. There might be 1 or 2 surprises. I can say this with every confidence because of the point system. It is extremely difficult to come from the bottom and get to a playoff spot. The same goes for the winning teams. They will likely not lose ground on where they stand right now.

 

[PaulD]

top 4 teams in Atlantic......how long have they been the same ? since 2018?

 

[PaulD]

That's it ? Regular season's over ?? Lol

no.....
but we could start picking our play off pool rosters over the holidays

 

[Ianturnedbull]

I realize you have to finish the season strong. Every team should know by now that winning in Oct, Nov. and part way through Dec. sets the table for the playoffs.

 

[Golden_Jet]

There’s a few in here that think the 16 teams are already set lol.

 

[PaulD]

Habs, Hawks, Sharks , Ducks, Wings, Jackets, Islanders, Flames, Kraken, Utah, Sabres, Preds , Jackets, Blues, Pens,

15 teams absolute no one will pick to make the play offs ...... other than to say "hey it's possible"

"Hope is not a tactic"

 

[PaulD]

There’s a few in here that think the 16 teams are already set lol.

nah. I can only name 15 that won't make play offs .

 

[Ianturnedbull]

Habs, Hawks, Sharks , Ducks, Wings, Jackets, Islanders, Flames, Kraken, Utah, Sabres, Preds , Jackets, Blues, Pens,

15 teams absolute no one will pick to make the play offs ...... other than to say "hey it's possible"

"Hope is not a tactic"

This is it!

 

[Regal]

Add Habs , Pens, Jackets, Flames, Wings

Every year teams look closer than they really are. 3 pts games.
I can pick 14 teams and bet they will be in play offs.
Just like every year.
Last season their was one surprise. The Caps. 6 teams were with in reach all season but never got in.

6 teams are within reach every season for months...and in Aoril they are still within reach......but out of runway.

East
Panthers
Leafs
Bruins
Bolts
Canes
Rangers
Devils
All will be in - One spot up for grabs.

West
Jets
Knights
Aves
Stars
Kings
Oilers
Wild
All will be in - One spot up for grabs.

Book it.


no ..... but I we could pick our play off pools teams next week.

I actually agree with this for the most part, though Washington should be added to the East and I think Boston is among the “up for grabs” spots. Possibly the Ranger but I doubt it. I’d take it a step further in the West and say Vancouver makes a clear top 8. There’s a very defined boundary in terms of regulation results in the West other than Colorado (who aren’t going to keep getting terrible goaltending), and teams like Calgary are hanging in with OT wins. Barring significant injuries, I don’t see a lot of changes to who is in and who is out the rest of the year.

 

[aceofpace]

I'm not sure about the East but the West is definitely set.

 

[PaulD]

I'm not sure about the East but the West is definitely set.

East
Caps
Panthers
Bolts
Leafs
Canes
Devils
Rags
8th - up for grabs. Bruins or Sens