Playoffs...or not likely.
If the Jets are going to make the playoffs they have to win some games and do so over tough competition Today's game against Carolina could be the easiest match-up for sometime. That's not a shot at Carolina it's simple schedule reality.
Here's how it happens but first one needs to know what the variables are for success to happen. Remember too success is squeaking in and having to play Blues, Sharks or Blackhawks. Today they win. Boom goes the dynamite on Dustin Byfuglien bobble head night,
That gives them 75 points with 10 games remaining and they would be 4 points back of Phoenix, who will lose against the Bruins today. That leaves sorting out Vancouver and Dallas. The former will flounder- why do the Canucks need the post season? It makes less sense than the Jets squeaking in. Dallas though could pose the biggest problem.
They have 12 games left and some against less than prime opposition, at least from a Jets perspective. The Jets have to beat them on Monday to have any real chance but they also have to hope that Florida, Tampa, Nashville x2 and Carolina can take a win against the Stars too. They need help so as Dallas does not make up ground on Phoenix too.
Then Phoenix. They have to falter and give up ground too. No one said it would be easy and it's not going to be. The Coyotes have a tougher road ahead than Dallas and that works to the Jets' favour but the Jets have to beat Phoenix in Glendale and hope there are no 3 point games in any losses the Coyotes may have.
So it really comes down to the Jets themselves.
Win in Dallas, win in Phoenix, and get 3 points out of San Jose, LA and Anaheim to get 7 points before final five games. Then hope Pittsburgh and Boston are playing soft to save for playoffs along with a win against Toronto and the games versus Minnesota and Calgary could determine everything.
Right now 8th looks like 92 points 93, to be safe. If the Jets play to the Phoenix 8th place pace of points per game they hit 85-86 and Phoenix can go .500 to make 91. In the scenario above the Jets would need 5 wins in 5 games after the western road trip. So this is not something anyone should be wagering money on- it's just too far-fetched a reality. Too much to come from them and help. With 10 games left after tonight and the Jets hopefully having a win to reach 75 points the need to go 8-1-1 for 17 points and 92 on the season.
It would me finishing off with a 10-1-1 record since going 0-3-3 post Olympics. So yes there's a chance, there's always a chance but not one I'd bet on with anything other than house money. Unfortunately there's none of that lying around because this team could not win when the schedule and standings gave them a better chance to move up.