The Stretch Drive

[Dumais]

If Bob is on top of his game, there's no reason this club can't make the playoffs AND do some damage THIS year.

The challenge will be this: with that schedule, they have a built-in excuse to fail. Will they allow failure or be stubborn enough to refuse to lose?

THIS is all that matters, its embarrassing to not make the playoffs,
Half the teams in the league does!

P.L.A.Y.O.F.F.S

It sucks watching other teams play!

 

[Bobcat110]

Head to head points is only the second tiebreaker after ROW but it could come into play. Updated

PIT 0-4-0 1gm remaining
BOS 0-2-1
TOR 3-0-0
MTL 1-1-1
TBL 2-0-0 1gm remaining
NYR 2-1-0 1gm remaining
PHI 2-1-0 1gm remaining
DET 1-1-0 1gm remaining
WSH 2-1-1
NJD 3-1-0
OTT 1-2-0
CAR 2-2-0 1gm remaining
NYI 2-0-0 2gm remaining
FLA 2-0-0 1gm remaining
BUF 2-1-0

Seems like there's some separation now with ROW, so head-to-head seeming more unlikely needed. However, when teams play an odd number of games vs. each other, the team that had the extra home game does not count the first game in the tie-breaker.

For example, our first loss at Montreal on Oct 17th doesn't count in tiebreaker.

Current points head-to-head tiebreaker

vs. MON - 1-0-1 - so we win 3 points to 2
vs. TBL - 1-0-0 - have 2 points to 0 lead with 1 game remaining
Vs. DET - 0-1-0 - Detroit has 2 points to 0 lead with Tuesday game remaining
vs. OTT - 1-1-0 - Tied at 2 points each
vs. CAR - 1-2-0 - Carolina has 4 points to 2 lead

 

[EspenK]

It's going to be close.

Rangers have the easiest schedule I'll say 14 points for a total of 94

Philly has a tough road to hoe but they are playing well 12 pts - 93

Toronto- not playing well & a tough stretch - 10 pts -90

Detroit tough road but they are the freakin' Wings 13 pts for a total 0f 90

Washington I believe is toast. Tough schedule 11 pts for 88

That leaves the Jackets needing 12 if all above plays out, to get a wild card assuming ROW's stay in the same order.

I see 4 definitely "should" wins - Isles (2x), Florida & Carolina (rut-roh)

I see 2 "should lose" against Chi & Pitt

I see 3 very tough we're the dog games -Colorado, Flyers & TB

I see 3 tossups- Detroit, Phoenix & Dallas

So if all plays out as above we need to win all of the first 4 and get 4 pts in the other 8.
If we can't do that we don't deserve to be in.

If Detroit & Toronto go bonkers and earn 20 pts then all bets are off but we have to take care of the business we should.

And then face either Boston or Pittsburgh. Ugh.

 

[pete goegan]

It's going to be close.

Rangers have the easiest schedule I'll say 14 points for a total of 94

Philly has a tough road to hoe but they are playing well 12 pts - 93

Toronto- not playing well & a tough stretch - 10 pts -90

Detroit tough road but they are the freakin' Wings 13 pts for a total 0f 90

Washington I believe is toast. Tough schedule 11 pts for 88

That leaves the Jackets needing 12 if all above plays out, to get a wild card assuming ROW's stay in the same order.

I see 4 definitely "should" wins - Isles (2x), Florida & Carolina (rut-roh)

I see 2 "should lose" against Chi & Pitt

I see 3 very tough we're the dog games -Colorado, Flyers & TB

I see 3 tossups- Detroit, Phoenix & Dallas

So if all plays out as above we need to win all of the first 4 and get 4 pts in the other 8.
If we can't do that we don't deserve to be in.

If Detroit & Toronto go bonkers and earn 20 pts then all bets are off but we have to take care of the business we should.

And then face either Boston or Pittsburgh. Ugh.

Bottom line is bolded.

 

[major major]

It's going to be close.

Rangers have the easiest schedule I'll say 14 points for a total of 94

Philly has a tough road to hoe but they are playing well 12 pts - 93

Toronto- not playing well & a tough stretch - 10 pts -90

Detroit tough road but they are the freakin' Wings 13 pts for a total 0f 90

Washington I believe is toast. Tough schedule 11 pts for 88

I might be missing something here, but if the Flyers have 13 games left and they've been on fire beating everybody, isn't the best assumption that they'll get more than 12 points? I also think the Rangers can squeeze out more points.

 

[CBJRzeznik]

No help from STL or MIN this afternoon Come on NJ and SJ!

 

[EspenK]

I might be missing something here, but if the Flyers have 13 games left and they've been on fire beating everybody, isn't the best assumption that they'll get more than 12 points? I also think the Rangers can squeeze out more points.

Feel free to criticize/second guess. Love to see your projection. Mine could be high or low, most likely not right. It's obviously all conjecture here and btw I agree the Flyers are on fire and could easily win out.

 

[Robert]

Philly is probably going to take the second seed in the metro, and the way the Rangers are playing my money is on them for the third regardless of our games in hand...

The only hope is for Detroit or Toronto and perhaps Washington to tank... and, the Jackets need to take 13 of the remaining 24 points... 91 points could grab a wild card because we own the ROW with 31 on these teams...

 

[SuperGenius]

Philly is probably going to take the second seed in the metro, and the way the Rangers are playing my money is on them for the third regardless of our games in hand...

The only hope is for Detroit or Toronto and perhaps Washington to tank... and, the Jackets need to take 21 of the remaining 24 points... 91 points could grab a wild card because we own the ROW with 31 on these teams...

I think you're mathing wrong.

21 out of 24 remaining points + 78 current points = 99 points.

 

[Derby]

I think you're mathing wrong.

21 out of 24 remaining points + 78 current points = 99 points.

Look, since when do does math, spelling or random punctuation matter here?

 

[Robert]

I think you're mathing wrong.

21 out of 24 remaining points + 78 current points = 99 points.

Yes.... I did mess that up... I was trying to get to 91 points and started from 70 in error (that's the number of games they have played)...

 

[SuperGenius]

Look, since when do does math, spelling or random punctuation matter here?

I was hoping I'd get a rise out of you for turning math into a verb.

One thing's for sure, they need to win more than they lose. The targets will probably change and CBJ can't control that anyway. Just win, baby.

 

[EspenK]

I was hoping I'd get a rise out of you for turning math into a verb.

One thing's for sure, they need to win more than they lose. The targets will probably change and CBJ can't control that anyway. Just win, baby.

OT: Great cartoon; among my 1149 pet peeves are verbing, forgetting that adverbs exist, good on(as opposed to good for) and the infamous "it needs XXXXing as opposed "it to needs to be xxxxed.

Back to the stretch drive it continues today. This game is beyond critical. It needs winning. I hope no one plays poor today. I will hate on them for losing. We need to come out and establish dominance quick. That's all.

 

[blahblah]

I've officially checked out of this stretch drive. Maybe I'll check in again if the Jackets charge me for some tickets in mid-April. Most likely I'll start to check in again around July and start this cycle over again.

 

[jacketman10]

Too many starts in a row for Bob. Needs a rest. Are you really going to have him play the last 32 games in a row? This isn't the first time Richards has done this. Sadly, I think we will miss the postseason again.

 

[Mayor Bee]

Too many starts in a row for Bob. Needs a rest. Are you really going to have him play the last 32 games in a row? This isn't the first time Richards has done this. Sadly, I think we will miss the postseason again.

Consider the alternative options.

 

[blahblah]

Consider the alternative options.

I'm not afraid to put McBackup in. I don't necessarily agree with his assessment; but I'm not afraid of McBackup playing.

 

[Mayor Bee]

I'm not afraid to put McBackup in. I don't necessarily agree with his assessment; but I'm not afraid of McBackup playing.

Neither am I, but only because it's now possible for any team that finishes out of the playoffs to get the #1 overall pick.

 

[pete goegan]

I'm not afraid to put McBackup in. I don't necessarily agree with his assessment; but I'm not afraid of McBackup playing.

Nor am I, but Bob was the least of their problems, today. Neither he nor Curtis could change that zero next to "Columbus" on the scoreboard.

 

[blahblah]

Neither am I, but only because it's now possible for any team that finishes out of the playoffs to get the #1 overall pick.

Meh. Lame. Heh.

 

[Iron Balls McGinty]

11 games to go. 78 points. I say a minimum of 14 points from here on out, if not 16, to get in.

We are talking 7-4-0 or 6-2-3 pace or better must happen. I don't think they have the legs to pull it off. The last 2 weeks have been grasping at straws.

 

[dnmccoy]

Does it really matter if Bob or Mcbackup starts when we can't generate any offense?

 

[Robert]

11 games to go. 78 points. I say a minimum of 14 points from here on out, if not 16, to get in.

We are talking 7-4-0 or 6-2-3 pace or better must happen. I don't think they have the legs to pull it off. The last 2 weeks have been grasping at straws.

91 points might do it with our ROW advantage but bottom line, they can’t lose more than 4 of 11 in regulation.. It’s not looking good after the loss today, Horton is my biggest concern right now.. He just isn’t getting it done.

 

[nhldiedinthe90s*]

If Detroit snags the 8 spot ahead of us, I think it's fair to say Richards got out-coached by a level of 9000.

 

[CBJWerenski8]

Tuesday is the season. They cannot afford to get nothing. If they lose in OT or a shootout fine, but regulation is an absolute no no.