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Official 2011-2012 NHL Regular Season Thread; Second Period
- Thread starter MJ5150
- Start date
It's going to be an exciting finish to the season in the West. Only a couple of weeks left and there's a lot of teams vying for those final spots.
Over in the East, the 7/8 spots are looking more secure, but a team like Ottawa can certainly make a push to take out Boston. That big win over the Pens last night was huge for them.
The President's Trophy has some steep competition as well: Rangers, Blues, Penguins and Vancouver are all real close.
Over in the East, the 7/8 spots are looking more secure, but a team like Ottawa can certainly make a push to take out Boston. That big win over the Pens last night was huge for them.
The President's Trophy has some steep competition as well: Rangers, Blues, Penguins and Vancouver are all real close.
Pretty ridiculous. My jaw hit the floor!
Gorgeous Pass From Crosby Sets Up Cooke's Goal 3/24/12 - YouTube
The Pens D did not play that well against the Sens, although you could attribute that to them having to play more aggressive with Thiessen giving up so many goals. If anything that game showed just how important MAF is to the Pens, not that anyone really doubted it before.
ThePensBlog is blaming this loss on the national anthem singer, which I agree with! Easily one of the worst/funniest anthem singing events I've ever seen. If you watch carefully you'll see players like Anderson, Crosby, and especially Neal unable to contain their laughter: Penguins & Senators Try Not To Laugh During National Anthems 3/24/12 [Extended] - YouTube
Sabres are alone in eighth for the first time in weeks. Playing the Caps in Washington Tuesday. That is going to be a big game.
Tough to watch Thiessen get hammered last night, but Fleury needs the time off. 8-4 games are boring to me, win or lose, so I turned it off midway through the third when it was a shootout and obvious the Pens didn't have it in them to win.
I don't know if the Pens have it in them to beat New Jersey tonight. The game I really want to see today though is NAS/CHI. I'll be flipping between that one and BOS/ANA.
-Mike
I don't know if the Pens have it in them to beat New Jersey tonight. The game I really want to see today though is NAS/CHI. I'll be flipping between that one and BOS/ANA.
-Mike
41 wins for MAF. Another 5 goal game for the Pens. I was nervous for awhile, as the Devils were coming on hard, but the scoring power of the Pens won out.
The Bruins win with Turco in goal. That was the first points that they have made without Thomas in goal for a month and the first non-Thomas win since January 16.
I'll take 4 points on a 3-game western road trip.
It was good that the team was able to give Thomas a break. The Bruins have a back-to-back next weekend in NY with the Islanders and Rangers, I suspect that Thomas will get one of those games off.
I'll take 4 points on a 3-game western road trip.
It was good that the team was able to give Thomas a break. The Bruins have a back-to-back next weekend in NY with the Islanders and Rangers, I suspect that Thomas will get one of those games off.
Pens join the Rangers and Blues in the 100 point club. Next up is the Islanders on Tuesday.
The Predators looked more like the team I thought they were tonight. They even got my guy Emery for a couple after he took over for Crawford.
I feel bad for Anaheim. They look like they're limping to the end of the season. So much talent on that team and nothing to show for it.
-Mike
The Predators looked more like the team I thought they were tonight. They even got my guy Emery for a couple after he took over for Crawford.
I feel bad for Anaheim. They look like they're limping to the end of the season. So much talent on that team and nothing to show for it.
-Mike
To tell the truth, I wish the B's were playing more teams limping to the end of the season. The only two left on the schedule that are Tampa and the Islanders - Otherwise you have three that are fighting to make/stay in the playoffs (Washington, Buffalo, Ottawa) or win a division (Rangers, Pens).
Don't complain Newt, the B's could have the Flyers' schedule for the stretch. During the Pens/devils game they showed the winning percentage of the teams each team was playing against going down the stretch into the playoffs. Flyers were facing the strongest set of teams in these last few games.
That is pretty similar - Toronto instead of the Islanders is a wash but two games instead of one against Pittsburg is no picnic.
Actually looking at Buffalo and Pittsburg and Washington, it looks like almost everyone has two out-of-contention teams and a bunch of trying to make the playoffs or win a division teams. The Rangers have three out-of-contention but finish up with Boston, Philly, Pittsburgh and Washington which might be needing a win to make the playoffs. The NHL schedule makers did a great job all around.
Actually looking at Buffalo and Pittsburg and Washington, it looks like almost everyone has two out-of-contention teams and a bunch of trying to make the playoffs or win a division teams. The Rangers have three out-of-contention but finish up with Boston, Philly, Pittsburgh and Washington which might be needing a win to make the playoffs. The NHL schedule makers did a great job all around.
I agree, could be worse. My Sabres get the Leafs twice - I hope we are good for at least three points. Other than that we have the Caps, the Pens, the Flyers and end the season at the Bruins. None of these teams, even the Leafs, are going to lay down.
Just to stay in the hunt, we need to beat some of these teams outright, and even if we do, there is nothing like going into the playoffs with the s#!t beat out of you.
Just to stay in the hunt, we need to beat some of these teams outright, and even if we do, there is nothing like going into the playoffs with the s#!t beat out of you.
My apologies.
Take care of the Sens for us, would you? You guys really rock on home ice!
OK, I've been having a little fun with a spreadsheet since about a third of the way through the season, tracking the teams and coming up with their possible points in a couple different scenarios.
I meant to put this out at the 72 game mark with 10 games to go but got busy elsewhere.
First scenario: How they shape up based on the overall strength of their season
East
NY Rangers 108 points
Boston 96
Florida 93
Pittsburgh 107
Philadelphia 102
New Jersey 95
Ottawa 91
Buffalo 88
Washington 88
Winnipeg 83
Tampa Bay 81
Carolina 79
Toronto 79
NY Islanders 78
Montreal 75
West
St. Louis 108 points
Vancouver 106
Dallas 93
Nashville 101
Detroit 101
Chicago 97
Los Angeles 92
San Jose 92
Phoenix 90
Colorado 89
Calgary 87
Anaheim 79
Minnesota 77
Edmonton 75
Columbus 59
Second scenario: based on the strength of their last ten games
East:
Pittsburgh 109 points
Boston 96
Florida 94
NY Rangers 106
Philadelphia 104
New Jersey 94
Buffalo 90
Ottawa 90
Washington 90
Winnipeg 83
Tampa Bay 80
Carolina 79
Toronto 78
NY Islanders 78
Montreal 75
West:
St. Louis 109 points
Vancouver 104
Dallas 94
Nashville 101
Detroit 98
Chicago 98
Los Angeles 93
San Jose 92
Phoenix 91
Colorado 90
Calgary 88
Anaheim 79
Edmonton 76
Minnesota 75
Columbus 61
West looks pretty stable, but with the way teams are playing right now, the playoff seedings in the East could shake up quite a bit. BTW, I obviously don't take into account the NHL tie-breakers here.
I meant to put this out at the 72 game mark with 10 games to go but got busy elsewhere.
First scenario: How they shape up based on the overall strength of their season
East
NY Rangers 108 points
Boston 96
Florida 93
Pittsburgh 107
Philadelphia 102
New Jersey 95
Ottawa 91
Buffalo 88
Washington 88
Winnipeg 83
Tampa Bay 81
Carolina 79
Toronto 79
NY Islanders 78
Montreal 75
West
St. Louis 108 points
Vancouver 106
Dallas 93
Nashville 101
Detroit 101
Chicago 97
Los Angeles 92
San Jose 92
Phoenix 90
Colorado 89
Calgary 87
Anaheim 79
Minnesota 77
Edmonton 75
Columbus 59
Second scenario: based on the strength of their last ten games
East:
Pittsburgh 109 points
Boston 96
Florida 94
NY Rangers 106
Philadelphia 104
New Jersey 94
Buffalo 90
Ottawa 90
Washington 90
Winnipeg 83
Tampa Bay 80
Carolina 79
Toronto 78
NY Islanders 78
Montreal 75
West:
St. Louis 109 points
Vancouver 104
Dallas 94
Nashville 101
Detroit 98
Chicago 98
Los Angeles 93
San Jose 92
Phoenix 91
Colorado 90
Calgary 88
Anaheim 79
Edmonton 76
Minnesota 75
Columbus 61
West looks pretty stable, but with the way teams are playing right now, the playoff seedings in the East could shake up quite a bit. BTW, I obviously don't take into account the NHL tie-breakers here.
I really, really hope the Pens end up first in the East, as I have no desire for them to have to play Philly in the first round!
Rangers are fading fast and Pittsburgh (and Philadelphia) is hot right now. It's likely to happen.
While there are definitely a few cup favorites this year, I'd say it is really up for grabs. I like to think my Pens will be the favorite going in, but that doesn't mean crap! I'm really excited for the playoffs this year as I think there are going to be some incredible series.
Some interesting facts I just came across...
Bryzgalov first Philly goalie since Bernie Parent to allow 2 goals or less in 11 consectuive games. Ilya just matched that mark on Saturday. Tonight he can best it against Tampa Bay.
Philadelphia and Detroit are the only teams to have made the playoffs 16 of the past 17 years. Philadelphia fans, you have the right to feel frustrated!!!
Bryzgalov first Philly goalie since Bernie Parent to allow 2 goals or less in 11 consectuive games. Ilya just matched that mark on Saturday. Tonight he can best it against Tampa Bay.
Philadelphia and Detroit are the only teams to have made the playoffs 16 of the past 17 years. Philadelphia fans, you have the right to feel frustrated!!!
