Predict the Atlantic Standings

[DrMartinVanNostrand]

13 points in 29 games is a massive ask when chasing another top team.

It's also not worth it. Not worth the energy spent chasing them down for what would amount to one extra home game in a potential playoff series.

Shit, in the last five seasons, the Lightning have two division championships and three SCF appearances. There's zero overlap between the former and latter. I don't think they could care less about winning the division, nor should they.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Neither team is going to make it. Neither is a contender. Why get all worked up about it?

That's your opinion, backed by fairy dust.
I agree both aren't contenders but I hope our younger players like Lundell, Knight, Luostarinen, Mahura and Denisenko get valuable experience in the playoffs even if it's a 4 or 5 game blowout from Boston.
We have beat Boston twice this year, FWIW.

Not worked up at all. Lowshelf here keeps predicting horrible things for Florida and its fun to point out all the gaffs.

Iam not Bareezel...

You definitely aren't, @Beezeral knows the game of hockey and usually backs his opinion with facts, analytics or sample sizes.

 

[b in vancouver]

It's also not worth it. Not worth the energy spent chasing them down for what would amount to one extra home game in a potential playoff series.

Shit, in the last five seasons, the Lightning have two division championships and three SCF appearances. There's zero overlap between the former and latter. I don't think they could care less about winning the division, nor should they.

I agree. Tampa knows their route. Why burn themselves out. Same goes with Boston chasing the record - although that became less likely after their last half dozen games. The rest of The Bruins season is essentially whether they get home ice if they meet Carolina in the Conference Finals. That's it. The Atlantic has been decided since the beginning of December.

Just to the other poster. The difference between Tampa and Boston is the difference between Tampa and Buffalo/Detroit (if they win their game in hand) and no one would propose that one of those teams could kick Tampa down to a wild card spot.

 

[wintersej]

Tampa could very well catch the Bruins

Bruins have been in their worst stretch of the season and are at 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Tampa has been able to gain ONE point on them over those 10 games. Making up another 12 points in the next 28/29 games seems like a lot.

 

[Gary Nylund]

A question for leaf fans...I keep reading/hearing the leafs are looking to add a forward with the possibility of adding a D.

Reading this thread it's apparent most fans see an extreme weakness the goalie and D positions. Especially come playoff time.

Any concerns going into the playoffs with the D and goalies in place?

I like our D a lot and so far Samsonov has been great in net so not terribly concerned there either. I see our weak spot as the bottom 6 and I think we should be able to upgrade there without paying too much.

One of the big drawbacks of the current playoff format is how predictable everything is. At this point, I'd say its pretty much set in stone that the Atlantic playoffs will be:

Boston vs wildcard #2
Tampa vs Toronto

With the previous 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc. playoff format, Tampa and Toronto would still be a likely but definitely not certain 1st round matchup. But more importantly, both teams would be trying to get as many points as possible to avoid Boston in Round 2. As it is, there's not much they can do, Boston will be their unavoidable Round 2 opponent no matter how well they do.

Granted, that Tampa-Toronto series is going to be really good.

Agree with all this. And yes, the Tampa-Toronto series should be awesome!

It's also not worth it. Not worth the energy spent chasing them down for what would amount to one extra home game in a potential playoff series.

Shit, in the last five seasons, the Lightning have two division championships and three SCF appearances. There's zero overlap between the former and latter. I don't think they could care less about winning the division, nor should they.

Agreed. I don't think there's a team in the league that cares less about where they finish than TB.

Bruins have been in their worst stretch of the season and are at 6-3-1 in their last 10 games. Tampa has been able to gain ONE point on them over those 10 games. Making up another 12 points in the next 28/29 games seems like a lot.

Yup, don't see it happening.

 

[swiftwin]

Looking back, it certainly seems like the Bruins defied all expectations.

But every other team in the division is roughly where most predicted.

 

[bert]

That's your opinion, backed by fairy dust.
I agree both aren't contenders but I hope our younger players like Lundell, Knight, Luostarinen, Mahura and Denisenko get valuable experience in the playoffs even if it's a 4 or 5 game blowout from Boston.
We have beat Boston twice this year, FWIW.

Not worked up at all. Lowshelf here keeps predicting horrible things for Florida and its fun to point out all the gaffs.



You definitely aren't, @Beezeral knows the game of hockey and usually backs his opinion with facts, analytics or sample sizes.

Just a true expedition of being completely lost in the entire thread. Wtf are you talking about 'fairy dust'.

Sens have beat Boston twice too in the regular season. Doesn't matter. Neither teams are contenders.

Maybe FLA sneaks in maybe not won't matter.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Just a true expedition of being completely lost in the entire thread. Wtf are you talking about 'fairy dust'.

Sens have beat Boston twice too in the regular season. Doesn't matter. Neither teams are contenders.

Maybe FLA sneaks in maybe not won't matter.

I'm lost? Aren't you a Canucks fan?
You gave us your opinion, it's backed by nothing and you keep repeating it as if it means anything.

I told you why it matters but you're incapable of understanding it I guess.

 

[Whitesnake]

Joke of a league that at game 50, you already know a playoff matchup between To and Tampa. Bring back 1-8. Geez, I'd welcome even more 1-16.

 

[bert]

I'm lost? Aren't you a Canucks fan?
You gave us your opinion, it's backed by nothing and you keep repeating it as if it means anything.

I told you why it matters but you're incapable of understanding it I guess.

What does it matter which team I am a fan of? Its backed by nothing? You clearly cant be impartial or are probably just new to the sport in general. Florida is not a contender. It doesnt matter if they beat Boston twice in the regular season. They are a bubble team just like Pitt, Washington, Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo, NYI etc.

 

[topshelf15]

That's your opinion, backed by fairy dust.
I agree both aren't contenders but I hope our younger players like Lundell, Knight, Luostarinen, Mahura and Denisenko get valuable experience in the playoffs even if it's a 4 or 5 game blowout from Boston.
We have beat Boston twice this year, FWIW.

Not worked up at all. Lowshelf here keeps predicting horrible things for Florida and its fun to point out all the gaffs.



You definitely aren't, @Beezeral knows the game of hockey and usually backs his opinion with facts, analytics or sample sizes.

Lol ....Fact FLD is a fringe playoff team ...As is Ottawa...Ottawa has the pieces to get better FLD has to hope they can buy their way to success

 

[topshelf15]

Games played isnt exactly in FLD favor here, both Buffalo and Ottawa have 5 games in hand on them while Detroit has 4...

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Joke of a league that at game 50, you already know a playoff matchup between To and Tampa. Bring back 1-8. Geez, I'd welcome even more 1-16.

agree 1-8 was always the best the new one is horrible

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

What does it matter which team I am a fan of? Its backed by nothing? You clearly cant be impartial or are probably just new to the sport in general. Florida is not a contender. It doesnt matter if they beat Boston twice in the regular season. They are a bubble team just like Pitt, Washington, Detroit, Ottawa, Buffalo, NYI etc.

Yes I'm asking what your opinion is backed by for Florida not making playoffs?

My opinion is the teams that have games in hand on Florida have some of the toughest schedules ahead.

Florida plays the next 8 of 9 at home with only road game being in Tampa.
They've been one of the best teams at home for 3 years now.

Duclair is coming back which only helps the top 10 ranked offense.

Bobrovsky is playing some incredible hockey the last 16-17 games.



Let's see your formula for concluding contenders?
Were the 2012 Kings, 2018 Capitals or 2019 Lightning contenders?

Lol ....Fact FLD is a fringe playoff team ...As is Ottawa...Ottawa has the pieces to get better FLD has to hope they can buy their way to success

Well the fact is free agents are now more eager to sign in Florida.
Youre acting like Florida's core is old?
Oldest core player is Barkov at 27?

In another year or two, a lot of dead weight cap will be gone.
Zito will have 1sts he can deal.

Fact is Florida has been one of the better offensive teams in the league the last 5 years, so the focus should be on defense which they can afford to upgrade in free agency.

Goaltending for any team outside 4-5 teams who have true elite #1G are always praying for consistency in net.

 

[Rants Mulliniks]

A question for leaf fans...I keep reading/hearing the leafs are looking to add a forward with the possibility of adding a D.

Reading this thread it's apparent most fans see an extreme weakness the goalie and D positions. Especially come playoff time.

Any concerns going into the playoffs with the D and goalies in place?

Most fans think Toronto "plays run and gun, try to outscore your opponents" hockey, which is fairly indicative of how little most fans actually watch. Not worried about their D at all (unless your complaint is you want more snarl?). Goalie I wouldn't call a "weakness" so much as a question mark. If it continues as is, not worried. Question is whether it will falter.

 

[wintersej]

Most fans think Toronto "plays run and gun, try to outscore your opponents" hockey, which is fairly indicative of how little most fans actually watch. Not worried about their D at all (unless your complaint is you want more snarl?). Goalie I wouldn't call a "weakness" so much as a question mark. If it continues as is, not worried. Question is whether it will falter.

The team structure is so so so so so much better in Toronto. The talent on the blue line when you get to later rounds in the playoffs and everyone is good defensively is still at least a question mark.

 

[TheImpatientPanther]

Games played isnt exactly in FLD favor here, both Buffalo and Ottawa have 5 games in hand on them while Detroit has 4...

 

[devbouz12]

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Holy f*** what's with your hard-on hate for the Sens? Give it a rest chum

 

[Blowfish]

Sabres with games in hand and now sitting in a playoff spot. Will they upgrade? Most likely.

 

[Dirty Dog]

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Damn, sucks your boy had an awful showing in a big game tonight.

He’s a beast and one of the best forwards in the league…but doesn’t exactly shine on the big stage.

 

[Mattilaus]

Sabres with games in hand and now sitting in a playoff spot. Will they upgrade? Most likely.

Most of us actually think it is unlikely Buffalo does anything meaningful tradewise until the off season.

 

[Eat The Rich]

I just want to say how much I hate this division.

Since 2017-18 the top 3 teams in the entire NHL by pts % are Tampa, Boston, Toronto.

The Leafs put up 115 points last season and still couldn't clinch the division because the Panthers went f***ing Super Saiyan. They're on pace to put up 111 points this season and still wont win the division because the Bruins went f***ing Super Saiyan.

f*** the Atlantic Division.

 

[Super Hans]

I said it before the Bergeron and Krejci signings and I'll stick with this prediction.

1 - Boston
2 to 8 -

 

[Ace]

Most of us actually think it is unlikely Buffalo does anything meaningful tradewise until the off season.

Some of us don’t think they’ll do anything meaningful in the off-season either

 

[Mattilaus]

Some of us don’t think they’ll do anything meaningful in the off-season either

Some of us yes. A good example of a fan-base not being a monolith. We have all sorts.