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The Playoff Push, Tanking and Scoreboard Watching Thread

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Meatball said:
about that contending window...... :popcorn:
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Reminds me a bit of that 08-09 team. Young core coming into their own, buoyed by the vestiges of the old one, plus a few older guys brought in to fill the gap. We went on a run and snuck into the playoffs. Exciting season that turned out to be fool’s gold (for two more seasons at least).

I think this team is much better than that one was, so hopefully the false hope part isn’t true this time around
 
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MortiestOfMortys said:
Reminds me a bit of that 08-09 team. Young core coming into their own, buoyed by the vestiges of the old one, plus a few older guys brought in to fill the gap. We went on a run and snuck into the playoffs. Exciting season that turned out to be fool’s gold (for two more seasons at least).

I think this team is much better than that one was, so hopefully the false hope part isn’t true this time around
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There's a numbers argument that this run is closer to 19, but 'vibe' wise, I agree. A lot of it, for me, has to do with the team recapturing the fanbase/city's excitement the way they did that year.

There's a comfort settling in with this core. Lots of very fresh, barely washed Thomas, Kyrou, Neighbors and Holloway merch floating around the building and city right now.

The D-core -which is currently playing as a strength- still feels a little high risk for my taste, but the offensive core and ceiling of this team is trending higher than I can ever remember.
 
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MortiestOfMortys said:
Reminds me a bit of that 08-09 team. Young core coming into their own, buoyed by the vestiges of the old one, plus a few older guys brought in to fill the gap. We went on a run and snuck into the playoffs. Exciting season that turned out to be fool’s gold (for two more seasons at least).

I think this team is much better than that one was, so hopefully the false hope part isn’t true this time around
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Ya, this team is 50x better than that 2008-09 team and this group of young players are way further along in their careers than that team...though I remember watching Perron in the playoffs in 2009 when he was still 19 and thinking this kid is going to be a stud.
 
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taylord22 said:
There's a numbers argument that this run is closer to 19, but 'vibe' wise, I agree. A lot of it, for me, has to do with the team recapturing the fanbase/city's excitement the way they did that year.

There's a comfort settling in with this core. Lots of very fresh, barely washed Thomas, Kyrou, Neighbors and Holloway merch floating around the building and city right now.

The D-core -which is currently playing as a strength- still feels a little high risk for my taste, but the offensive core and ceiling of this team is trending higher than I can ever remember.
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The most important thing to happen to this team this year, more than potentially making the playoffs, is the culture shift. I feel like by adding Holloway and Broberg, you added two players who, despite their youth, learned how hard you have to work to get the the Stanley Cup Final. Suter brought that expertise too and immediately became a stabilizer. Then you bring in Monty who is well-respected and knows what it takes to win in this league and you have a group that has a swagger that we haven't seen in awhile.

This team expects to win every night. They don't fold when they get down in a game, they carry on with the gameplan and know that if they execute, they'll eventually start getting results.

If you told me we'd make the playoffs at the beginning of this season and bow out in the first round, I would've said our roster would've been happy with that. I don't think it's the same anymore. I think this team truly believes and expects to accomplish more. They're playing like a confident bunch, and I love seeing it, because I wasn't sure if we'd ever get that from this core.
 
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Snubbed4Vezina said:
The most important thing to happen to this team this year, more than potentially making the playoffs, is the culture shift. I feel like by adding Holloway and Broberg, you added two players who, despite their youth, learned how hard you have to work to get the the Stanley Cup Final. Suter brought that expertise too and immediately became a stabilizer. Then you bring in Monty who is well-respected and knows what it takes to win in this league and you have a group that has a swagger that we haven't seen in awhile.

This team expects to win every night. They don't fold when they get down in a game, they carry on with the gameplan and know that if they execute, they'll eventually start getting results.

If you told me we'd make the playoffs at the beginning of this season and bow out in the first round, I would've said our roster would've been happy with that. I don't think it's the same anymore. I think this team truly believes and expects to accomplish more. They're playing like a confident bunch, and I love seeing it, because I wasn't sure if we'd ever get that from this core.
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I agree wholeheartedly. Assuming the 2nd WC, if you are able to win that series…why can’t you win 4? I think the team is eyeing fighting for the Cup NOW. There were Hitchcock teams that would win a lot down the stretch, but it felt like it was maxed out and winning by making the game low-event hockey. This team is fun to watch and capable of real excitement. They are ascendant.

For me Binnington is the wildcard. He’s capable of getting into a groove where this team could challenge anyone.

I’m just grateful to be watching good hockey and seeing a team on the rise with a bright future.
 
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Here is the updated strength of schedule for the Blues and the other three relevant wild card teams. Minnesota's schedule looks like a cake walk. Their only good opponent is the Stars who despite winning four straight haven't looked world-ending recently in their games. I don't love Calgary having 4 games against the Sharks and Ducks either but their schedule is a bit more difficult. I don't really hate our schedule too much despite being ranked 10th hardest. The two games against the Avs are obviously scary but I don't think beating them is out of the question at all. We'll still be in a great spot if we go 1-1 against them.

Strength of Schedule.png
 
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ToastedRavioli said:
Here is the updated strength of schedule for the Blues and the other three relevant wild card teams. Minnesota's schedule looks like a cake walk. Their only good opponent is the Stars who despite winning four straight haven't looked world-ending recently in their games. I don't love Calgary having 4 games against the Sharks and Ducks either but their schedule is a bit more difficult. I don't really hate our schedule too much despite being ranked 10th hardest. The two games against the Avs are obviously scary but I don't think beating them is out of the question at all. We'll still be in a great spot if we go 1-1 against them.

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If we can get 10 out of 16 remaining points, it forces both VAN and CGY to play at around an .800 clip the rest of the way out. While I’d hope for more points than that and to close it out on our own, I think that’s realistic looking at our schedule. And I think 95 points squeaks us in.
 
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Blue Jackets are not going to help tonight. Onto Saturday.
 
Minnesota faces the Devils tomorrow who are playing awful. Calgary plays Edmonton who are currently without McDavid and Draisaitl. Upsetting the Avs would go a long way as we likely wont get much help tomorrow.
 
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don't give up on the CBJ game just yet. 3 -2 now, and two Canuck goals came on the PP, so Columbus might get a chance or two from the refs.
 
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