FLA has some serious work ahead of them in their next 10 games. They have 7 playoff teams with only Carolina, Toronto, and us not being considered.

@WPG
NSH
OTT
@PHI
@PIT
CAR
TOR
BOS
BUF
@PHI

Without Backstrom, Washington just may be the surprise non playoff team of the year. They pulled one out of their ass earlier this week but it will be interesting to see where they go from there.
- Gunner Staal

Their goalie situation is looking more and more like Philly as well. Vokoun has been struggling mightily, and Neuvirth is generally pretty inconsistent, though he has strung a few wins in a row together. IF they make it, they are definitely getting bounced early.

WPG's next 12 games -

FLA
BUF
@VAN
@CAL
DAL
WSH
CAR
@PIT
@WSH
@NSH
OTT
NYR

It will be a great finish of the Season... I actually am pretty confident the way Miller and our D is playing that we will sneak into a playoff spot....

Their goalie situation is looking more and more like Philly as well. Vokoun has been struggling mightily, and Neuvirth is generally pretty inconsistent, though he has strung a few wins in a row together. IF they make it, they are definitely getting bounced early.
- BuffaJoe

Is it completely homer of me to think that out of TOR, FLA, WSH, TB, and BUF that only us have a chance of actually knocking off NYR?

Their goalie situation is looking more and more like Philly as well. Vokoun has been struggling mightily, and Neuvirth is generally pretty inconsistent, though he has strung a few wins in a row together. IF they make it, they are definitely getting bounced early.
- BuffaJoe

I think they would give the Rangers fits if Backstrom is in the lineup.

Is it completely homer of me to think that out of TOR, FLA, WSH, TB, and BUF that only us have a chance of actually knocking off NYR?
- JVince117

Like Gunner said, if Backstrom figures out a way to get back into the lineup, Washington has a chance.

Like Gunner said, if Backstrom figures out a way to get back into the lineup, Washington has a chance.
- buffalofan19

Without him, well, frankly they suck.

THERE'S A CHANCE MY FRIENDS!!!

By the end of tonight we could be in 10th place and 3 points out of the playoffs.

Who would have thought that was possible? What was the most points out of the playoffs we were... 10 or 12?
- JVince117

Our % has been in the single digits since losing to Winnepeg on January 7th. It bottomed out at .29% after the shootout loss to Montreal on February 17th. We need to go 12-5-2 to get to 90 pts and then we have a 50/50 shot to make the playoffs. We still have a mountain to climb.... in flip-flops... with blizzard conditions.

I think they would give the Rangers fits if Backstrom is in the lineup.
- Gunner Staal

Last I heard he was still out "indefinitely," and was recently put on LTIR, but if he makes it back by then, it would definitely be a boost for them. He's talented enough that he probably wouldn't need much time to find his game, but if he doesn't very quickly, the Caps are done. Their lower tier players have been exposed, and I haven't seen Ovechkin play less inspired hockey... ever. (Though he has been able to get on the scoreboard a decent amount)

Is it completely homer of me to think that out of TOR, FLA, WSH, TB, and BUF that only us have a chance of actually knocking off NYR?
- JVince117

Maybe a bit; I think the Rangers will be tough this year no matter who draws them. The Sabres have trouble scoring and Lundqvist is having a GREAT year. I don't see much of a dip in their performance in the playoffs.

Is it completely homer of me to think that out of TOR, FLA, WSH, TB, and BUF that only us have a chance of actually knocking off NYR?
- JVince117

Not crazy at all considering Buffalo's goaltending and D matched with the Rangers sometimes scoring issues.

Maybe a bit; I think the Rangers will be tough this year no matter who draws them. The Sabres have trouble scoring and Lundqvist is having a GREAT year. I don't see much of a dip in their performance in the playoffs.
- BuffaJoe

The one exception is the Rangers are far from lighting it up on most nights as well.

Our % has been in the single digits since losing to Winnepeg on January 7th. It bottomed out at .29% after the shootout loss to Montreal on February 17th. We need to go 12-5-2 to get to 90 pts and then we have a 50/50 shot to make the playoffs. We still have a mountain to climb.... in flip-flops... with blizzard conditions.
- keptupl8

Nicely put. but if they have to go basically 12-7 down the stretch that is not unbelievable to do. We still have canes, canadiens, avs, tbl, canadiens, wild, leafs, and leafs that are on our schedule and not playoff teams currently.

This talk is way too premature, but the last two matchups versus the Rangers have gone into a shootout or overtime. If Kaleta doesn't get caught up in "Linsanity", and try to take a charge on Callahan on Saturday, Buffalo possibly even wins that game.

Our % has been in the single digits since losing to Winnepeg on January 7th. It bottomed out at .29% after the shootout loss to Montreal on February 17th. We need to go 12-5-2 to get to 90 pts and then we have a 50/50 shot to make the playoffs. We still have a mountain to climb.... in flip-flops... with blizzard conditions.
- keptupl8

I get this feeling like the 8th place team may not even need 90 points. Think of it like one of those odd-ball years in the NFL, where 9-7 gets you a wildcard.

Not crazy at all considering Buffalo's goaltending and D matched with the Rangers sometimes scoring issues.
- kingcong39

I think it is goaltending that sets us apart from those other teams. We have one that can take over games and has the skill to be a top 7 goalie in the NHL.. the other teams outside of Vokoun sometimes really don't have that.

Buffalo just lacks offense in a BAD way.

Lundqvist is my Vezina and maybe Hart trophy winner this year IMO

Last I heard he was still out "indefinitely," and was recently put on LTIR, but if he makes it back by then, it would definitely be a boost for them. He's talented enough that he probably wouldn't need much time to find his game, but if he doesn't very quickly, the Caps are done. Their lower tier players have been exposed, and I haven't seen Ovechkin play less inspired hockey... ever. (Though he has been able to get on the scoreboard a decent amount)
- BuffaJoe

His tricks are stale and like I said 3-4 years ago. He doesn't really make others around him better so when his physical attributes start to decline, so will his game play. The style of play that has made him so dynamic (very physically involved) is not conducive to maintain top notch physical attributes for the long term.

I am not saying he is a bad player. I am saying he has a very specified skill set which needs to somehow branch out or he will plateau and not reach his 50-60 goal levels ever again.

Then of course there is that little thing called leadership which I think he is completely void of.

I get this feeling like the 8th place team may not even need 90 points. Think of it like one of those odd-ball years in the NFL, where 9-7 gets you a wildcard.
- buffalofan19

Or 7-9 wins the division!

Or 7-9 wins the division!
- Gunner Staal

Well, that's the Southeast every other year...I just figured that went without saying.

I think it is goaltending that sets us apart from those other teams. We have one that can take over games and has the skill to be a top 7 goalie in the NHL.. the other teams outside of Vokoun sometimes really don't have that.

Buffalo just lacks offense in a BAD way.

Lundqvist is my Vezina and maybe Hart trophy winner this year IMO
- JVince117

He certainly deserves and warrants to be in the Hart conversation.

I think Malkin is the front runner at this point. He is reaching Mario like levels in this regard; people are resorting to hugging and tackling him as the only means on slowing him down. The Buffalo game was one of the few games where he did not find time and space, and even then he found a full fledged breakaway.

His tricks are stale and like I said 3-4 years ago. He doesn't really make others around him better so when his physical attributes start to decline, so will his game play. The style of play that has made him so dynamic (very physically involved) is not conducive to maintain top notch physical attributes for the long term.

I am not saying he is a bad player. I am saying he has a very specified skill set which needs to somehow branch out or he will plateau and not reach his 50-60 goal levels ever again.

Then of course there is that little thing called leadership which I think he is completely void of.
- Gunner Staal

His contract is going to be the worst contract in hockey in a few years. I actually wouldn't be surprised if they Caps try to move him in the next few years. You are exactly right about the physical toll his style of play will take on him, plus his lack of motivation. He knows that he can beat almost anyone, almost anytime he wants to give the effort, so he doesn't really try... and it's obvious on tv, in the stands, and most likely on the bench. And he's supposed to be the captain.

His contract is going to be the worst contract in hockey in a few years. I actually wouldn't be surprised if they Caps try to move him in the next few years. You are exactly right about the physical toll his style of play will take on him, plus his lack of motivation. He knows that he can beat almost anyone, almost anytime he wants to give the effort, so he doesn't really try... and it's obvious on tv, in the stands, and most likely on the bench. And he's supposed to be the captain.
- BuffaJoe

*Head nodding*

He certainly deserves and warrants to be in the Hart conversation.

I think Malkin is the front runner at this point. He is reaching Mario like levels in this regard; people are resorting to hugging and tackling him as the only means on slowing him down. The Buffalo game was one of the few games where he did not find time and space, and even then he found a full fledged breakaway.
- Gunner Staal

Valid. I know you are not just saying that as a Penguin fan either.

Malkin, Lundqvist, or Stamkos would be my top 3

I get this feeling like the 8th place team may not even need 90 points. Think of it like one of those odd-ball years in the NFL, where 9-7 gets you a wildcard.
- buffalofan19

I just did some quick math to see what everyone is on pace for

#3 - Florida - 94 pts
7 - NJ - 98 pts
8 - Wash - 90
9 - Wpg - 86
10 - Tor - 82
11 - Tam - 83
12 - Buf - 83

That is simply those teams continuing to accrue points at the same rate they have all season. It doesn't account for current trends or streaks.

If you take our 5-3-2 record in our last 10 and project it over the remaining 19 games, we would only make it up to 87 points. The odds are still heavily stacked against us.