Playoffs Positivity Thread

[MarkovsKnee]

Gotta think that's it for Detroit and the Islanders?

Islanders definitely. We play Detroit next week (Tuesday in Montreal). We'll see where things stand by then.

We have Boston, Philadelphia & Nashville before then. All games we should win. Frankly, we should be on a 5 game winning streak by the time we meet Detroit. The Philadelphia/Nashville game is a back-to-back. We'll see if MSL trusts Dobes enough to play it.

Detroit only plays twice. Both home games. Carolina on Friday then Florida on Sunday. Two tough games.

 

[JianYang]

Islanders definitely. We play Detroit next week (Tuesday in Montreal). We'll see where things stand by then.

We have Boston, Philadelphia & Nashville before then. All games we should win. Frankly, we should be on a 5 game winning streak by the time we meet Detroit. The Philadelphia/Nashville game is a back-to-back. We'll see if MSL trusts Dobes enough to play it.

Detroit only plays twice. Both home games. Carolina on Friday then Florida on Sunday. Two tough games.

I fully expect Montreal to struggle. I'm more comfortable when they play better teams, but I'm comforted that most games left are at home, at least.

Next is Boston, and you can throw all conventional analysis out the window for those games.

 

[BergevinBurner]

Vibes/60 are through the roof after the last 2 wins.

 

[Jaaanosik]

Vibes/60 are through the roof after the last 2 wins.
View attachment 1004403

"All together now!"
Those were the days...
Wooow, I am old.

 

[Paradoxe]

"All together now!"
Those were the days...
Wooow, I am old.

Oh mem'ber that time when we were all signing this .... well, I guess it's time to clap our hands and sing: Lane is LIFE!

 

[Chili]

Apoligies if someone has posted these already but the tiebreaker rules from NHL.com:

PLAYOFF TIE-BREAKING PROCEDURE

Tie-Breaking Procedure​

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:

1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).

2. The greater number of games won, excluding games won in Overtime or by Shootout (i.e., 'Regulation Wins'). This figure is reflected in the RW column.

3. The greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout. This figure is reflected in the ROW column.

4. The greater number of games won by the Club in any manner (i.e., 'Total Wins'). This figure is reflected in the W column.

5. The greater number of points earned in games against each other among two or more tied clubs.

• For the purpose of determining standing for two or more Clubs that have not played an even number of games with one or more of the other tied Clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game (the 'odd game') shall not be included.
• When more than two Clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any 'odd games') shall be used to determine standing.

6. The greater differential between goals for and against (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the DIFF column.

7. The greater number of goals scored (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the GF column.

NOTE: In standings, a victory in a shootout counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.

If Columbus was to win their game in hand, they would have the same record as the Habs
35-30-9

As per #2 Habs have 25 regulation wins to Columbus' 24 (Rangers have 32 RWs)

If it ended up at #3 Habs have a bigger advantage over Columbus 33 to 28 as of now

Could be something to follow in the last game or two.

 

[BergevinBurner]

It's crazy to think in just 2 weeks the regular season is over for us. It should be a fun and stressful next 14 days.

 

[Kennerback]

Apoligies if someone has posted these already but the tiebreaker rules from NHL.com:

​

If Columbus was to win their game in hand, they would have the same record as the Habs
35-30-9

As per #2 Habs have 25 regulation wins to Columbus' 24 (Rangers have 32 RWs)

If it ended up at #3 Habs have a bigger advantage over Columbus 33 to 28 as of now

Could be something to follow in the last game or two.

Columbus is the one team we’re favored against in an end of the season tie-breaker

 

[Rapala]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I think this is the first time we broke the 50% probability level. Every other time we had a chance to do it we lost.

 

[Scintillating10]

I fully expect Montreal to struggle. I'm more comfortable when they play better teams, but I'm comforted that most games left are at home, at least.

Next is Boston, and you can throw all conventional analysis out the window for those games.

Same here, Habs don't seem to play well against bad teams in crucial games. Game preparation or something. I don't know what it is? Young team?

 

[GrandBison]

Will 8 pts be enough?

 

[Tuggy]

Will 8 pts be enough?

I think that's right on the edge.

Going 4-4 might be enough but it would be close.

5-3 * should* be good enough. Anything more than 10 points they are in for sure.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

Only one game of significance tonight, but it has potential for a 2 for 1 special.

7 PM: Minnesota @ NYR - A Minnesota win helps Montreal out with their play-off race against NYR, but it would also finally kill Calgary's playoff chances.

Calgary lost last night & are 6 points back of Minnesota, so chances are high they're already out. Still, after tonight, Calgary will hold 2 games in hand on Minnesota, while still having a game to play against them - a potential 6 point swing.

Minnesota can move 8 points up on Calgary with a win & take out NYR for us. Great deal!

 

[ahmedou]

No. No jinx threads allowed. When we clinch only.

Bet. Tag me when you give me the ok.

Ahmedou's blessing doude tho. Since I restart watching Habs games since December 2024. The team is winning. And during Ramadan I prayed for the Habs. We good inchallah.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Really no reason not to finish the season in a playoff spot.

The teams competing with us all have difficult schedules left

And we have an easy schedule remaining

 

[WeThreeKings]

Really no reason not to finish the season in a playoff spot.

The teams competing with us all have difficult schedules left
View attachment 1004626

And we have an easy schedule remaining

View attachment 1004627

The problem with this is that the bad teams play without any pressure and the good teams usually have nothing to play for. It's not as simple when it gets to the end of the year.

Habs just need to win the games in front of them.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

The problem with this is that the bad teams play without any pressure and the good teams usually have nothing to play for. It's not as simple when it gets to the end of the year.

Habs just need to win the games in front of them.

It's still way harder to win against a good team that plays for nothing than a bad team that plays freely

 

[WeThreeKings]

It's still way harder to win against a good team that plays for nothing than a bad team that plays freely

You'd be surprised. Especially when good teams start resting their best players and using their back-up goalies.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

You'd be surprised. Especially when good teams start resting their best players and using their back-up goalies.

Teams only do that in the last 1-2 games.
Most good teams also still have things to fight for in the remaining games. For example, getting home-ice advantage or winning the division.
The playoff Metropolitan division teams (caps, canes, devils) are the only teams who are unlikely to change in the standings from now till the end.

 

[ahmedou]

Game 1 to Game 24 (31th): 8-13-3

Game 25 to Game 47 (#2): 16-6-1

Game 48 to Game 56 (31th): 1-7-1

Game 57 to Game 67 (2th): 8-1-2

Game 68 to Game 72 (31th): 0-2-3

 

[WeThreeKings]

Teams only do that in the last 1-2 games.
Most good teams also still have things to fight for in the remaining games. For example, getting home-ice advantage or winning the division.
The playoff Metropolitan division teams (caps, canes, devils) are the only teams who are unlikely to change in the standings from now till the end.

I'm just saying, strength of schedule gets less reliable the later into the season you get. Great teams aren't always fighting for things that matter so the motivation is lower, while the eliminated teams play 'free' and often that leads to upsets.

 

[Tuggy]

The good news is Tampa, Toronto and Florida are all within 2 points of each other for the division lead. They all play the teams we're fighting against and they will all want first in the Atlantic instead of playing the A2/A3 first round.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I'm just saying, strength of schedule gets less reliable the later into the season you get. Great teams aren't always fighting for things that matter so the motivation is lower, while the eliminated teams play 'free' and often that leads to upsets.

That has minor importance. It's not something that changes the scales.

You look at the last 10 games of the top/worst 10 teams last season:

From 2 seasons ago:

Not a single top 10 team played below .500 hockey to finish the season. Most of them had great records in the L10 to finish the season.

Out of the 20 teams that finish bottom 10 in the last 2 years, only 3 of them had a .500 record or better in the L10.

 

[WeThreeKings]

That has minor importance. It's not something that changes the scales.

You look at the last 10 games of the top/worst 10 teams last season:

View attachment 1004654

View attachment 1004656

From 2 seasons ago:

View attachment 1004658

View attachment 1004659

Not a single top 10 team played below .500 hockey to finish the season. Most of them had great records in the L10 to finish the season.

Out of the 20 teams that finish bottom 10 in the last 2 years, only 3 of them had a .500 record or better in the L10.

Fair enough, thanks for checking in on the data for that. I'll concede the point to you on this one. Great discussion!

 

[rik schau]

Yall can thank that Huston lad for even making it remotely possible to be in such a position,thank your lucky stars.