Playoffs Positivity Thread .......... Re-Poll, option to change your vote is open as of Jan 7

[Milhouse40]

The race look crazy right now, because many teams were at ~.500 not that long ago. But there are teams that have slowed down or haven't taken a step forward from .500.

Last week, teams wanting to grab a WC in the East (~90 pts) had to be a ~.600 team for the rest of the season. If teams haven't taken a step forward already, that .600 is just increasing higher.

The race is really between Ottawa, Columbus, Habs and Detroit.

It could change quickly.
A good or a bad streak of 5-6 games can still change the whole picture....

 

[Redux91]

Columbus starting to piss me off man lol

 

[Hacketts]

this boards layout needs to go back asap, it's terrible.

 

[vokiel]

What are you willing to offer?

TabarDach, Lunetterie Newlook and a 2nd.

 

[Bigtrout]

Unless Pittsburgh go on a big win streak they should be out of the race for a while

 

[FLHabs]

I know it sucks that Ottawa beat Dallas, but maybe the type of game we played against them was a factor in that loss. If they can keep up that type of physical, fast, and relentless style of play, it might be even more effective in the playoffs.

 

[JianYang]

I know it sucks that Ottawa beat Dallas, but maybe the type of game we played against them was a factor in that loss. If they can keep up that type of physical, fast, and relentless style of play, it might be even more effective in the playoffs.

That was my concern immediately after the game ended, and I voiced it in the pgt.

Dallas played fairly disciplined game, took some licks, and were trying to up the tempo themselves to take advantage of the Habs back to back.

I wasn't expecting them to have the same energy for this one.

 

[JustAHabFan]

The Stars spent all their energy in last night game against us and have nothing left against the Sens. This suck.

 

[Sorinth]

I wouldn't focus too much on the Sens, at the end of the day we have 3 games against them, those 3 games more then anything else will probably determine who finishes ahead of who.

 

[morhilane]

I’d add Boston to that list, and I wouldn’t count out the New York Rangers just yet.

Boston have been a 0.278 team since the Christmas break and were a 0.475 team before the new coach bump. Bigger chance that they will continue to float down then turn into a >.550 team for 37 games to reach 90 pts.

I don't see the Rangers turning their 5 games good stretch into a solid trend so they can outpace teams to a WC.

It could change quickly.
A good or a bad streak of 5-6 games can still change the whole picture....

With 40 games left what matters are trends and win rate pace. For example, Detroit is on a 7 wins streak, but in the last 10 they are 7-3-0, while the Habs are 7-2-1...

 

[tooji]

Reading the post dallas press conference you can tell that the whole club has bought into playing a much more “calculated” brand of hockey, less giveaways and needless turn overs due to forced plays.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Boston have been a 0.278 team since the Christmas break and were a 0.475 team before the new coach bump. Bigger chance that they will continue to float down then turn into a >.550 team for 37 games to reach 90 pts.

I don't see the Rangers turning their 5 games good stretch into a solid trend so they can outpace teams to a WC.


With 40 games left what matters are trends and win rate pace. For example, Detroit is on a 7 wins streak, but in the last 10 they are 7-3-0, while the Habs are 7-2-1...

Detroit is in a soft part of their schedule. There next game is against San Jose. After that it's Florida, TBL & Dallas.

Their schedule gets significantly harder in February/March after the 4Nations.

 

[JianYang]

Of course....we have to pick on a rested Dallas on a back to back.....and now they lose on their back to back to Ottawa. The schedule sucks.

Columbus is leading 2-1
NYi is also leading 2-1

View attachment 960201

And the blue jackets get to play Philly on Tuesday on Philly's back to back, lol

 

[ReHabs]

Reading the post dallas press conference you can tell that the whole club has bought into playing a much more “calculated” brand of hockey, less giveaways and needless turn overs due to forced plays.

It’s a sight for sore eyes.

Serious, competitive, top-tier hockey.

 

[FLHabs]

Reading the post dallas press conference you can tell that the whole club has bought into playing a much more “calculated” brand of hockey, less giveaways and needless turn overs due to forced plays.

I think Matheson is the one that has benefited the most by this change of mentality. He's pretty effective when he keeps his game simple.

 

[Habssince89]

I think Matheson is the one that has benefited the most by this change of mentality. He's pretty effective when he keeps his game simple.

Matheson has unreal mobility and that allows him to play risky because he can get away with it .... most of the time. The simpler his game the better he controls the ice overall despite less points

 

[Habs Halifax]

Habs need to get in the playoffs at the cost of the Bruins not making it. Bruins are desperate and their looming rebuild or retool is catching up to them now (finally).

 

[morhilane]

Detroit is in a soft part of their schedule. There next game is against San Jose. After that it's Florida, TBL & Dallas.

Their schedule gets significantly harder in February/March after the 4Nations.

And they have a new coach bump buff that will expire soon. Detroit's win rate should fall down, but they will remain close since they were never far from a WC since the season started, they just never could outpace the teams above them to take one.

Also, if the Habs keep their crazy 0.773 pace since the Carrier trade (I really doubt it) until the end of the season, they will finish with 105pts...and that means not even talking about the WC race a month from now.

 

[BLONG7]

The Stars spent all their energy in last night game against us and have nothing left against the Sens. This suck.

And played the back up DeSmith....

Habs need to get in the playoffs at the cost of the Bruins not making it. Bruins are desperate and their looming rebuild or retool is catching up to them now (finally).

It will be a great site, to see all their players jumping off their ship wanting nothing to do with a rebuild..........

 

[BergevinBurner]

Detroit is in a soft part of their schedule. There next game is against San Jose. After that it's Florida, TBL & Dallas.

Their schedule gets significantly harder in February/March after the 4Nations.

The Wings have the strongest strength of schedule remaining in the league as it stands.

We're at 23nd and the Sens are at 23rd. Our 3 remaining games against them are going to be massive. If we miss out by a point or 2 it'll be brutal knowing it was because we lost the season series vs them, or if Pittsburgh gets in because the swept us.

 

[Rapala]

Strength of schedule and games in hand mean absolutely nothing.
Game at hand is the only thing that matters and the only thing Marty stresses.
The new found belief that we can play with anyone is the most important factor and still it could easily not be enough. The 4 point games will probably decide where we end up.
I like the fact that we do have some proven clutch players in our group.

 

[the valiant effort]

Nightly scoreboard watching in January is a mug's game.

 

[GrandBison]

It's basically a fresh season start for the WC spots. The only thing that will lead the two teams in is winning games. Let's enjoy hockey!

 

[Trabdy2]

With so many teams in the fight for those eastern wildcard spots, there are going to be a lot of "4 point" games between now and the end of the year. We just gotta keep winning!

Buy hey, even if we start falling a bit by the TDL, at least we should have a couple months of watching meaningful games being played before turning attention more to the draft and how we're using those two 1st's. Also, Reinbacher should be back in March/April, which is another thing to look forward to.

 

[Rapala]

Nightly scoreboard watching in January is a mug's game.

True but you have to admit it's novel feeling when looking at it from a completely different perspective.