In all reality NYI might have just clinched their playoff spot with a OT loss.
They are 3 points ahead with 2 games left. Pretty hard for anyone under them to make that up.
NJ and PIT left. NJ has nothing to play for, PIT might not either by the time the game starts.
Either way, it takes NYI collapsing for them not to get in. They could very well be out at 90 points to DET/WSH at 91 and PIT at 90 with the tie breaker. Their odds have to be the highest almost a lock at this point, but not yet.
DET: They beat TOR, and now have 2 games against MTL left.
They are tied at 87 points for the final spot but lose the RW tie breaker in every scenario but 1 (NYI). They need a little help but their path remains the easiest to get into the playoffs.
If they drop games against MTL, heads should role. They are the only team that can look at their last 2 games and say for sure, they are the better team.
The help they need, the remaining 4 teams losing. Even if they win out.
WSH: They won, and PIT lost. That puts them in the last playoff spot currently. The problem is... they have to play BOS next and then PHL. They obviously control their own fate they don't need anyone else to drop a game to get in if they can win. The only other team that can say that is NYI. If they win out they get in at 91 points and own the tie breaker against DET.
But that as PIT found out, is harder to do than say. Their final 2 games are clearly harder to win than DETs. Which gives them a harder road. Will BOS spoil their run too and Help out DET?
PIT: Down but not out ....yet. They are 1 point down, but win the tie breaker currently. Much like DET they need help to win with 2 games left. But they need to get at least 3 points combined at NSH and NYI in the best case situation (89 point max on other 3 teams). In the worse case they need to win both games to get in (90 point max other teams.) If any team gets to 91 points PIT is out. AKA DET or WSH win both games. It's not a given PIT can get 3 points in 2 games vs NYI and NSH. Even getting 1 point against BOS would have been a huge improvement on their odds. But they didn't.
Has their luck run out? There is only so much gas in the tank. The BOS game might be the breaking point. Seems their odds are much lower to get in now. The games left are not easy.
PHL: they are out for the 3 seed in the Metro. They are tied for the final WC spot at 87 points. But they only have 1 game left against WSH.
It's really could be a pretty big game. If PHL wins, it is possible that it could be PHL vs WSH in the final spot. As both teams would be 89 points in the only scenario they can get in, and down to the 5th tie breaker. My under standing is , because it's an odd game aka 3rd one... the 1st game is dropped. Which is huge. As it robs PHL of 2 points. Lets break it down.
If PHL wins out right it's 2-2 and we go to the 6th tie breaker.
If it goes to a PHL OT victory, it's 2-3 WSH and WSH wins the tie breaker. Not that it would matter as they would also be at 90 points due to the OT point, but if WSH only gets 1 point in their other game.... it would be tied in points again but they would win the tie breaker.
If that were the care, and the 1st game counted it would be 4-3 and PHL would have won..... ouch.
If you go to the 6th level - It's the DIFF, and it's -25 PHL to -40 WSH and PHL get to move on. Given WSH doesn't somehow manage to flip their DIF by 15 goals in 2 games while taking a loss to PHL.
They would both need PIT and DET to drop at least 1 more game for this to happen.
They have the hardest road to get in and can have one of the craziest scenarios to actually get in. But it's still possible.
My thinking is DET is going to be the final one in. Mainly because the roads for WSH and PIT are so much harder at the end of the year. It's not hard to see either team dropping games. But DET has no excuses.
As for the West, all the teams are set. The only battle is LA vs VGK for the 3rd spot vs last wild card.
LA holds a 1 point edge with 3 games left.
The difference is COL vs MIN in games left to be played, otherwise they play the same teams.
I still think VGK finishes ahead here as they are the better team. But anything can happen.
SEA may the schwartz be with you and actually play wright for once. Talk about giving your fan base nothing.... can even leave him on the team for the fan base to watch... sent him back to the AHL for what????? He should ask for a trade from that cheap as hell front office.
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