The Caps will soon suit up for game No. 78, so it is time to lay out the playoff scenarios. (here's a link to the conference standings from NHL.com)
Washington has 84 points, which is two behind Boston for the eighth spot, four back of Philly for the No. 7 seed and Carolina for No. 3. The Caps could be in trouble if there is a tiebreaker situation, so it would be best for them to pass somebody. Here are the tiebreakers:
1. Games won (They can't catch Carolina in wins and be tied in points; they have one less win than Philly and the same number as Boston.) If they have the same number of wins it goes to. ...
2. Greater number of points in the season series between the two teams (This is the killer. The Caps went 2-2 against both Philly and Boston, but both of those teams went 2-1-1, picking up an extra point in the series via an overtime or shootout loss).
The Caps can run the table and get to 94 points. If Carolina, Boston and Philly reach 95, Washington is out. If Carolina gets to 94 (without the very implausible scenario where the Canes go 0-0-5 and the Caps go 4-0-1), the Caps cannot win the division. If the Bruins or Flyers finish with 94, the Caps need to have more wins (which is actually pretty plausible).
Here are all of the reasonable scenarios for the Caps, but the reality is they just need to keep winning:
TEAM WAS BOS PHI CAR
W-L* 5-0 4-2 3-2 2-2-1
W-L 4-0-1 3-2-1 2-2-1 2-3
W-L 4-1 3-3 2-4 1-3-1
W-L 3-1-1 2-3-1 1-3-1 1-4
W-L 3-2 2-4 1-4 0-4-1
W-L 2-2-1 1-4-1 0-4-1 0-5
* If the Caps finish this way, this is the best the other team can do for the Caps to make the playoffs
Comments (2)
Still like the Caps chances. They'll be playing 4 games against teams that should be mailing it in for draft position (@TB, @FL, TB, FL) and they get CAR at home.
Flyers play home & home series against NJ (who owns them) and PIT - both of whom are jostling for playoff positioning themselves.
Boston gets OTT twice, NJ and BUF twice. [We should now be rooting for BUF as well to make sure they show up for these games]
If we end up tied for points with either Boston or (especially) Philly we'll be almost certain to have more wins and thus the tie breaker.
Half glass full? I'll take it.
Posted by Garrett | March 27, 2008 3:59 PM
All they really need to do is tie either philly or Boston in points and they will get through unless it's done by losing a couple in OT but that's not very likely.
Posted by Stu | March 28, 2008 2:09 PM