Playoff Push

[BigRig4]

How will resting our players work for us given our cap situation? Can we call up more players from Belleville? Assuming we can't, with a fully healthy roster we are currently carrying the following extra players: Hamonic, Gilbert and Crookshank.

So if we want, we could sit Jensen for Hamonic. We are currently "resting" Brady by playing Crookshank, so if/when Brady comes back we could rest another forward instead. I'm thinking the following forwards seem to need a rest: Stutzle (can't shoot), Pinto (had an injury pre-4 Nations and seem to be a bit slow right now), Cozens (some people here said that as the adrenaline of the trade settled he has slowed down maybe due to being out of shape).

If we want to rest two forwards and one defenseman, we could go 11/7 and play all of Hamonic, Gilbert and Crookshank. I don't know how we could rest more than that, unless we rotate between the players we give a rest to, or we simply reduce and re-distribute ice time.

As for our goalies, I imagine we just keep alternating Ullmark and Forsberg now. If we want to give Ullmark more rest than that, we just play Forsberg more. It would be nice to give Merilainen a couple more starts, but I imagine for that we may need to send Crookshank down?

In theory, we could possibly paper a few guys who don’t need waivers down to Belleville for a few days. Not sure if that ever actually happens in practice though.

 

[DrEasy]

In theory, we could possibly paper a few guys who don’t need waivers down to Belleville for a few days. Not sure if that ever actually happens in practice though.

Good point; who would that be, maybe Kleven? Matinpalo? Highmore? Gaudette? Greig?

 

[Stylizer1]

And even if you take Sens-Devils (right now) and Blues-Oilers (very possible) out of the Wildcard vs. weaker division spots out of the equation, not all divisional qualifiers are created equal.

As I said Dallas is pretty obviously the 2nd best team in the West and the points bear that out. And they will be facing the team with the 4th most points.

Based on pure points earned the West bracket will likely start with:

1-8
2-4
3-7
5-6

That is pretty dodgy, IMO.

its dumb.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

for the east moneypuck has
montreal at 84.2%
NYR at 8.4%
wings at 4.6%
isles at 2.6%

and cbj is basically done

so that last spot is really down to two teams (montreal and rangers) especially since the wings have a hard schedule to end the season

Wings have a head to head against Montreal and a game in hand against Florida who are jobbing to everybody right now. If they win both of those in regulation, they only need two points more than Montreal with 3 games remaining since Detroit would likely have the RW.

It's probably not going to happen but if they beat MTL, it's at least interesting.

 

[Senscore]

Looking back, the four nations break may have saved our season

 

[Alf Silfversson]

UPDATE

Our magic number (in points) for the teams that could still catch us are as follows:

MTL - 5 points
DET - 2 points

One win or Detroit loss and we are officially in.

Are we catching Florida? I'd probably prefer not. Might be time to get some rest for guys here and there.

GSG!

 

[Golden_Jet]

UPDATE

Our magic number (in points) for the teams that could still catch us are as follows:

MTL - 5 points
DET - 2 points

One win or Detroit loss and we are officially in.

Are we catching Florida? I'd probably prefer not. Might be time to get some rest for guys here and there.

GSG!

It will be hard to rest many guys with the cap situation, but it would be nice.

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

It would take a small huge miracle for the Wings to win all their remaining games.

Their opponents:
- Habs
- Cats
- Bolts
- Stars
- Devils
- Leafs

 

[BigRig4]

UPDATE

Our magic number (in points) for the teams that could still catch us are as follows:

MTL - 5 points
DET - 2 points

One win or Detroit loss and we are officially in.

Are we catching Florida? I'd probably prefer not. Might be time to get some rest for guys here and there.

GSG!

The Detroit number is kind of weird (by my math) because of the tiebreaker. I think there’s a scenario where 1 point could do it, because if they lose in OT they’d only be able to tie us in points/RW (90 points/33 RW) - but unable to match us in ROW (we’re 8 ahead). Either way, let’s just win tonight and not even need to worry about it

 

[LuckyPierre]

Looking back, the four nations break may have saved our season

To add to that, I'd also argue that Four Nations served Ottawa better than any other team. No players on Canada who won and felt like they achieved the ultimate objective.

Rostered the only two gold medal game goal scorers for USA. Brady's stock has never been higher, and Sandy realized he was the best of the best after being left off the roster initially. Ullmark got to shape up against top talent after a long layoff, and didn't pull a Hasek and over exert himself. And Matinpalo discovered that he's very much an NHL regular.

Really couldn't have worked out better. 13-6-2 since. Brady able to rest up. Lets go.

Now, if only we could get Timmy rolling.

 

[BigRig4]

I was crunching the numbers, and if Ottawa gets to overtime tonight, the wings would actually have to win in regulation. Even a win in overtime would eliminate them I believe on tiebreaker. We could see that crazy scenario (I think Minnesota did it last year) where they pull the goalie in the third in a tie game.

 

[Golden_Jet]

.

 

[Golden_Jet]

I was crunching the numbers, and if Ottawa gets to overtime tonight, the wings would actually have to win in regulation. Even a win in overtime would eliminate them I believe on tiebreaker. We could see that crazy scenario (I think Minnesota did it last year) where they pull the goalie in the third in a tie game.

A win in OT, eliminates wings without a tiebreaker.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

A win in OT, eliminates wings without a tiebreaker.

Eliminates the Wings from catching us. If the Wings win in regulation tonight it is definitely game on between them and the Habs for the final spot.

The Wings would be 4 back with a game in hand. If they lose they are pretty much eliminated from the post season though.

Fun times!!

 

[Alf Silfversson]

The Detroit number is kind of weird (by my math) because of the tiebreaker. I think there’s a scenario where 1 point could do it, because if they lose in OT they’d only be able to tie us in points/RW (90 points/33 RW) - but unable to match us in ROW (we’re 8 ahead). Either way, let’s just win tonight and not even need to worry about it

I noticed that too. But for absolute certainty we need two points gained (or lost by them).

It's a done deal. I'd like to see the Wings beat the Scabs tonight. Otherwise the Habs are virtually a lock.

 

[BigRig4]

A win in OT, eliminates wings without a tiebreaker.

Yeah I’m saying if we get a point, wings not only need to win but it needs to be in regulation.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Eliminates the Wings from catching us. If the Wings win in regulation tonight it is definitely game on between them and the Habs for the final spot.

The Wings would be 4 back with a game in hand. If they lose they are pretty much eliminated from the post season though.

Fun times!!

Ya I worded that not the best, but the poster I was responding to, was talking about what was needed for the Sens to clinch tbf.

 

[Burrowsaurus]

Been a while since this board has experienced playoff Burrowsaurus. Worse than regular season Burrowsaurus

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

Been a while since this board has experienced playoff Burrowsaurus. Worse than regular season Burrowsaurus

I would have expected you to stay as even keel as usual.. you are not the king of emo on the board though... you have to go some to capture that

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Ya I worded that not the best, but the poster I was responding to, was talking about what was needed for the Sens to clinch tbf.

Oh yeah. I figured that was what you meant.. I was just clarifying/adding to the discourse.

 

[StoicSensFan]

It would take a small huge miracle for the Wings to win all their remaining games.

Their opponents:
- Habs
- Cats
- Bolts
- Stars
- Devils
- Leafs

I don't think so.. all those teams minus the Habs are clinched and will start resting more key players

 

[Icelevel]

Wondering if Guenette would look better next to Kleven now.

Don’t hate Matinpalo there but I’d like to be able to compare against
Kleven-Guenette
Or even
Kleven-Yakemchuk

 

[Nova Stutzlia]

Removed

 

[PlayOn]

Wondering if Guenette would look better next to Kleven now.

Don’t hate Matinpalo there but I’d like to be able to compare against
Kleven-Guenette
Or even
Kleven-Yakemchuk

Numbers wise Kleven hasn’t really been good with any partner this year so I don’t think Guenette is the answer.

We probably just have to live with the growing pains and hope it helps him develop for next year. And try to find him a good vet RD to play with next season.

 

[Alf Silfversson]

Numbers wise Kleven hasn’t really been good with any partner this year so I don’t think Guenette is the answer.

We probably just have to live with the growing pains and hope it helps him develop for next year. And try to find him a good vet RD to play with next season.

Agreed. Kleven has shown he's a rookie in that 30 games or so. IMO Matinpalo has looked like the better of the two. Not by much but more steady.

Think they're both still growing and are a decent 3rd pair moving forward.