Saturday, April 11, 2015

WHAT EACH GAME MEANS IN THE FINAL DAY OF THE NHL SEASON

WHAT EACH GAME MEANS IN THE FINAL DAY OF THE NHL SEASON


Senators at Flyers
The Senators sit in the first wild card spot, 1 point ahead of Pittsburgh (@BUF) and 2 points ahead of Boston (@TBL). They would clinch a playoff spot with at least one point against the Flyers. They would also clinch if the Bruins fail to get two points, or if the Bruins get two and the Penguins lose in regulation. They are also only one point behind Detroit @CRL) for 3rd in the Atlantic. Possible playoff opponents are the Lightning, the Canadiens, and the Rangers, all of whom would host. If the Sens miss the playoffs, they are guaranteed the 14th draft position.
The Flyers are guaranteed the 7th draft position regardless of today’s games.

Rangers at Capitals
The Rangers are guaranteed the top spot in the league and home ice throughout the playoffs regardless of today’s games. They will host the 2nd Wild Card team in the first round, which could be Ottawa, Pittsburgh, or Boston.
The Capitals are 2nd in the Metropolitan, 1 point ahead of the Islanders, who they will play in the first round. Home ice is still undecided. The two teams are equal in ROW and the Isles hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Caps would need to get either more points than Isles today, or the same number of points to hold onto home ice.

Flames at Jets
The Flames sit 3rd in the Pacific. They can move into 2nd if they win and in regulation or overtime and the Canucks (vs. EDM) lose in regulation. These two teams are guaranteed to face each other in the first round, with home ice being undecided.
The Jets are guaranteed to finish in the second Wild Card position and will visit either Anaheim or St. Louis.

Sharks at Kings
The Sharks in the 11th draft position will the able to move up to 9th or down to the 12th. They are 1 point behind Dallas (vs NSH) and 2 points ahead of Colorado (vs CHI). They have the same number of points as Florida (vs. NJD) but hold the ROW tiebreaker by 7 wins.
The Kings are in the 13th draft position, two points behind Boston (@TBL). They would drop to the 14th position with a regulation or overtime win and a Bruins regulation loss.

Wild at Blues
The Wild sit in the first Wild Card spot, where they would visit either St. Louis or Anaheim. They are two points behind Chicago (@COL) in the Central, and would overtake them with a win and a Hawks regulation loss, at which point they would visit Nashville in the first round.
The Blues have clinched the Central Division, but are still fighting Anaheim (@ARZ) for the top spot in the conference and home ice through the conference final. The Blues and Ducks have identical records, but Anaheim has the ROW tiebreaker. If bother win in regulation or overtime, or if both gain one point, or if either get a point, the Ducks would take the West. The Blues can only win the West by getting more points than the Ducks today. The winner of the West would host Winnipeg in the first round. The other would host either Chicago or Minnesota.

Penguins at Sabres
The Penguins currently hold the second wild card position, one point behind Ottawa (@PHI) and one ahead of Boston (@TBL). The Penguins will only miss the playoffs if Boston wins in regulation and the Pens fail to get a point against Buffalo, as they gold the ROW tiebreaker. By getting a point today, the Pens would clinch a playoff spot, or by getting zero and the Bruins getting fewer than two. They can also move into the first Wild Card spot if they more points than the Senators today, as they hold that ROW tiebreaker as well. If the Sens were to move into 3rd in the Atlantic, the Pens would also claim the first Wild Card spot and a matchup with the Atlantic champ with a regulation win and a Detroit (@CRL) regulation loss. Possible first round opponents are the Rangers, the Lightning, and the Canadiens. If the Pens drop out of the playoffs, they are guaranteed the 14th draft position.
The Sabres are guaranteed the 1st draft position regardless of today’s games.  

Canadiens at Maple Leafs
The Canadiens are currently first in the Atlantic, two points ahead of Tampa Bay (vs. BOS). The Lightning hold the tiebreaker, and could only pass the Habs for the division title with a win and a Habs regulation loss. Montreal will host one of Boston, Pittsburgh, Detroit or Ottawa in the first round.
The Maple Leafs are guaranteed the 4th draft position regardless of today’s games.

Devils at Panthers
The Devils are guaranteed the 6th draft position regardless of today’s games.
The Panthers are currently in the 10th draft position. The could fall as far as the 12th spot or could move up to the 8th.  They have two more points than Columbus (@NYI), one more than Colorado (vs. CHI), the same number as San Jose (@LAK) who holds the tiebreaker, and one fewer than Dallas (vs. NSH).

Blue Jackets at Islanders
The Blue Jackets have the 8th draft position. They could fall as far as the 10th. They have one fewer point than Colorado (vs. CHI) and two fewer than Florida (vs. NJD).
The Islanders are 3rd in the Metro and will be facing Washington in the first round. Home ice is still undecided. The Isles are a point behind the Caps (vs. NYR), and each have 40 ROWs. The Islanders hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. The Isles can overtake the Caps with a win and the Caps getting fewer than two points, or if they get one point and the Caps get none.


Red Wings at Hurricanes
The Red Wings currently hold the 3rd spot in the Atlantic. They are one point ahead of Ottawa (@PHI), who could overtake their Atlantic spot, and two ahead of Pittsburgh (@BUF) who could finish ahead of them in the Wild Card if the Sens pass the Wings. In order to lose their Atlantic spot, Ottawa would need to win and Detroit would need to lose in regulation. If that were to happen, Pittsburgh could also pass them with a regulation or overtime win, in which case Detroit would visit the Rangers in the first round. In other scenarios, the Wings will visit either Tampa or Montreal in the opening round.
The Hurricanes are guaranteed the 5th draft position regardless of today’s games.

Bruins at Lightning
The Bruins are currently out of a playoff spot. They are one point behind Pittsburgh (@BUF) for the 2nd Wild Card spot, where they would visit the Rangers in the first round. They are also two points behind Ottawa (@PHI) for the first Wild Card spot, where they would visit Montreal (if the Bruins win, Tampa can’t pass Montreal). To pass Pittsburgh, Boston would need a win and a Pitt regulation loss, or a Boston ROW and a Pitt overtime or shootout loss. If Pitt wins, Boston can’t pass them. Boston could also pass Ottawa with a regulation win and a Sens regulation loss. Boston can’t pass Ottawa if the Sens get a point today. Outside of the playoffs, the Bruins hold the 14th draft position. They could move up to the 13th position with a regulation loss and a regulation win for the Kings (vs. SJS).
The Lightning are currently 2nd in the Atlantic, two points back of Montreal (@TOR). They have the ROW tiebreaker, and to take the division crown would need a win plus a Montreal regulation loss. They will host one of Detroit, Ottawa, Boston or Pittsburgh in the opening round.

Predators at Stars
The Predators are guaranteed to finish 2nd in the Central regardless of today’s games and will host either Chicago or Minnesota in the first round.
The Stars currently hold the 12th draft position, and could move as high as the 10th. They are a point ahead of both San Jose (@LAK) and Florida (vs. NJD).

Blackhawks at Avalanche
The Blackhawks are currently 3rd in the Atlantic, two points ahead of Minnesota (@STL). If they hold their position, they would visit Nashville in the opening round. They could fall to the first Wild Card spot with a regulation loss plus a win for the Wild, in which case they would visit either Anaheim or St. Louis.
The Avalanche hold the 9th draft position. They could move up to the 8th, or fall back to the 11th. They are a point ahead of Columbus (@NYI) and a point behind both Florida (vs. NJD) and San Jose (@LAK).

Ducks at Coyotes
The Ducks are guaranteed first in the Pacific, but are still fighting St. Louis (vs. MIN) for the top spot in the West. The two teams have identical records, but Anaheim has the ROW tiebreaker. The Ducks would take the conference and host the Jets in the first round by getting more points today than the Blues. Otherwise they will host Chicago or Minnesota.
The Coyotes are guaranteed the 2nd draft position regardless of today’s games.

Oilers at Canucks
The Oilers are guaranteed the 3rd draft position regardless of today’s games.

The Canucks currently sit second in the Pacific, two points ahead of Calgary (@WPG), who they will face in the first round with home ice still undecided. Calgary can pass Vancouver with a ROW and a Vancouver regulation loss. If the Canucks get a point, or if the Flames fail to get two points before a shootout, the Canucks will secure home ice.

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