So here we are....three teams... Boston Detroit Philly
Two Spots... COUNTLESS scenarios.
The way I like to do this is go game by game...It takes a long time, but it's always interesting...Enjoy!
(and after copy and paste the final games and give your own picks in the comment section if you'd like)
Here is EXACTLY How it will all go down...
Carolina @ Boston Team Status Heading into Contest Boston: With 3 games remaining for the Red Wings and the Bruins, the B’s find themselves one point behind Detroit...with a Thursday night showdown looming. The Bruins know they can control their destiny with a win here should the Red Wings fall to Philly tomorrow night. That would put the Bruins into a position to win Third place outright on Thursday night. A Bruins loss here however puts Detroit firmly in the drivers seat and would mean the Red Wings could clinch third place with a win tomorrow and Thursday.
Carolina: With the exception of Saturday’s 5-1 loss to the Blue Jackets, the Hurricanes have been playing solid hockey despite being out of the playoffs. They knocked off the Rangers last Thursday and picked up 1 point in losses to Washington, Minnesota, and twice to the NY Islanders...On March 10th they went into Boston and won 3-2.
Matchup History: Last 3 years overall: Boston has won 6 of 8 outscoring the Canes 23-12 This season: Each team has won once. Last 3 games played in Boston: Boston has won 2 of 3 Last game in Boston: Carolina won March 10th 3-2 in OT
Predicted Outcome: The Bruins simply have to win this game and I do believe they will.
Standings after Game Team Games Left Points Boston 2 92 Philly 4 91 Detroit 3 91
Flyers @ Detroit Team Status Heading into Contest Flyers: The Flyers are coming off of another embarrassing loss to the Penguins, their second in the past two weeks. The good news is the Flyers have beaten almost everyone else they have played over the last month or so. Of the three teams in this battle the Flyers are far and away the hottest and most solid right now. And they are in the drivers seat at this point. They also have one more game left to play. That's great, but it also means they end the season with 4 games in 5 nights...and they end wth two teams they have struggled against of late: Pittsburgh and the NY Islanders. The Flyers need to win this game and their next game against a feisty Leafs team (against whom they have also struggled).
Detroit: I am assuming the Bruins win tonight. This will put enormous pressure on the Red Wings in this game. The Wings have struggled but have managed to win 4 of their last 6. They are playing much better hockey right now. They need to not look too much forward to Thursday Night’s matchup with Boston. They end with the Rangers in NY on Saturday. That game could matter in an interesting way for NY...more on that later...
Matchup History: Last 3 years overall: Philly has won 6 of 8 This season: Philly won both Last Game Played: Philly won 4-3. They dominated the first period, only to barely hold on. Last 3 games played in Detroit: Philly won 2 of 3. Last game in Detroit: Philly won 2-1 in a shootout.
Prediction: I believe the Red Wings will will take this game because their playoff streak will be very much on the line.
Standings after Game Team Games Left Points Detroit 2 93 (39 ROW) Boston 2 92 (38 ROW) Philly 3 91
Toronto @ Philadelphia Team Status Heading into Contest Flyers: Coming off the loss in Detroit the Flyers, and weekend games coming up with Pittsburgh and the Islanders, the Flyers will have to get two points out of Toronto, but the Leafs have been playing spoiler well and have given the Flyers fits lately. Toronto: The Leafs are playing a ton of lesser players, but they aren’t playing like a team who wants to lose out and draft Matthews...despite their fans’ pleas.
Matchup History: Last 3 years overall: each team has won 4 times of 8 This season: each team won 1 Last Game Played: Philly won 5-4 in OT with a dramatic Gostisbehere OT gaol. But is was a battle. Last 3 games played in Philly: Philly won 2 of 3 Last game in Philly: Toronto won 3-2 scoring the winner with a few seconds left in regulation. If the Flyers miss the playoffs by a point or two this one will be remembered very infamously.
Prediction: I believe the Flyers will get a win here, but I could see it being an OT win...similar to the Winnipeg game. The Flyers would hope for it to go more like the last home game against Columbus.
Standings after Game Team Games Left Points Phily 2 93 (37 ROW) Detroit 2 93 (39 ROW) Boston 2 92 (38 ROW)
Detroit @ Boston Team Status Heading into Contest Detroit: The Red Wings will be flying high after their win in Philly and they will know they can clinch with a regulation win, but a regulation loss would be damaging. Detroit has to go into NY to end the season. And that game could go either way.
Boston: The Bruins need a point to survive for third in the division, but a loss puts them into scoreboard watching mode for sure to simply make the playoffs...The Bruins end at home against Ottawa on Saturday.
Matchup History: Last 3 years overall: Boston has won 7 of 12 This season: Boston won 3 of 2 Last Game Played: Detroit won a wild 6-5 game on Valentines Day in Detroit Last 3 games played in Boston: Boston has won 3 of 2 Last game in Boston: Boston won 3-1 in November
Prediction: This game will be the most insane of any of these to watch. The Bruins, due to the ROW, could be called the “slightly… more desperate team, but really this game will be low scoring and hard fought....and I can see a 1-1 game heading into OT. Bruins win in OT.
Standings after Game Team Games Left Points Boston 1 94 (39 ROW) Detroit 1 94 (39 ROW) Phily 2 93 (37 ROW)
Bonus Predictions that play into the final weekend....A LOT.
We have to look carefully at the Rangers and Islanders....The Islanders could still fall out, but not likely. Both of these teams could finish in third, HOWEVER that means a matchup with the Penguins, where fourth means the Panthers... So The Rangers and the Isles could be looking to rest some players coming into the weekend...
Tonight NY Rangers Win @ Tampa NY Islanders L @ Washington
Thursday NY Islanders W over NY Rangers
So heading into the final weekend it will look like this...
Metro
3rd NY Rangers 99points (ROW 42) 4th NY Islanders 99 points (ROW 40)
and onto SATURDAY! 12:30 pm: Detroit @ NY Rangers Team Status Heading into Contest Detroit: The Red Wings play their final game and will have to leave it all on the line here...They will be one point behind Boston and scoreboard watching for sure. They could lose this game and still make the playoffs if the Flyers go on to lose to Pitt and the Isles. NY Rangers: The Rangers could be in “resting players… mode...Winning this game could get them a date with the Penguins....and help the Flyers...two ideas all Rangers fans are surely not thrilled with.
Matchup History: Last 3 years overall: NY Rangers have won 5 of 8 This season: each team took one in OT Last Game Played: Detroit won 3-2 in OT on March 12th Last 3 games played in NY: Rangers have won all 3
Prediction: Red Wings win in Regulation
Standings after Game Team Games Left Points Detroit 0 96(40ROW) Boston 1 94 (39 ROW) Phily 2 93 (37 ROW) Ottawa @ Boston Team Status Heading into Contest Boston: The Bruins will be on a roll and they will know they have the season in their grasp.
Ottawa: The Sens would LOVE to spoil the Bruins season for sure.
Matchup History: Last 3 years overall: Boston has won 7 of 12 This season: Ottawa won 3 of 2 Last Game Played: Ottawa won 2-1 in OT on Jan 9th Last 3 games played in Boston: Ottawa won 2 of 3 Last game in Boston: Boston won 7-3 on December 29th
Prediction: Just a hunch here, but this game feels very dangerous. I see an Ottawa win to end off the season.
Standings after Game Team Games Left Points Detroit 0 96 (40ROW) Boston 0 94 (49 ROW) Phily 2 93 (37 ROW)
3pm Pittsburgh @ Philly Team Status Heading into Contest Flyers: The Flyers haven’t played well against the Penguins as of late (but then again who has) and the atmosphere in Philly will be insane to say the least. The Flyers will be feeling the pressure big time though...AND they will have at least a partial idea of what is happening with Detroit and Boston since those games start at 12:30. If they go as I am predicting the Flyers will know they need to get 3 of 4 points out of the final 2 games…¨.
Pittsburgh:…¨The Penguins won't have much left to play for. They will be in a solid second place in the Conference and could rest some players...however this is Mike Sullivan and this is a chance to knock out the Flyers....so not so sure here....
Prediction:
The Penguins continue to roll...and win in Regulation.
Standings after Game Team Games Left Points Detroit 0 96 (40ROW) Boston 0 94 (49 ROW) Phily 1 93 (37 ROW)
FINAL GAME:
Flyers at NY Islanders. Team Status Heading into Contest Flyers: They must win to make the playoffs. Islanders: If they beat the Sabres on Saturday they will take second place from the Rangers...and get the Penguins...if they lose to Buffalo and lose this game they will fall to a more preferable 5th. I believe they will win Saturday though and this game won’t mean anything to the NY Islanders...
Prediction: Running out of time here, so I will get to it. The Flyers/Islanders series tends to split very much as a home ice series...However this game, a one and done playoff for the Flyers is hard to calculate. I believe the Flyers will find a way here to get the win and squeak in...knocking out Boston...
Final Standings...
The Red Wings get third and the Flyers get the Wildcard.
OK...so what are your picks?
(You can copy and paste below and put into the comments..)
Current Records Detroit 91 points Flyers 91 points Bruins 90 points.
Games Left Canes @Bruins Flyers @Red Wings Leafs @Flyers Red Wings @ Bruins Red Wings @Rangers Senators @ Bruins Penguins @ Flyers Flyers@ NY Islanders
My Final Standings:
We will discuss all this and more on today’s podcast: