In looking at the remaining schedules for Phoenix, Dallas and Minnesota, I truly believe that the Wild can force things so that the last game of the season between Dallas and Phoenix will determine who gets the 8th seed in the West. But only if the Wild does the following:
(1) Get 3 points in their upcoming games at L.A., at Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston and St. Louis; AND
(2) Beat both Winnipeg and Nashville.
Should the Wild do this, they will finish the regular season with 94 points. I believe it's reasonable at this point in the season to put out there that the Wild should beat both the Jets (away game) and the Predators (home game). Not that they necessarily will, but that they SHOULD. Also, I think it is completely within their game to play close enough to the 5 teams on their schedule that are better than them to at least get to O.T. on 3 of the 5 games, if not get 1 win (perhaps in L.A.) and 1 extra time loss.
Should the Wild fail to win or force extra time against L.A., Chicago, Pittsburgh, Boston and/or St. Louis, they would then be left with only 91 points, provided that they beat both Winnipeg and Nashville. In my estimation, that will not be good enough as I believe that both Dallas and Phoenix will close out their respective seasons with at least 92 points. Here's why:
Dallas' upcoming schedule is at Washington, at Carolina, at Tampa Bay, at Florida, Nashville, Columbus, St. Louis and at Phoenix.
Phoenix's upcoming schedule is Winnipeg, at L.A., Edmonton, at Columbus, at Nashville, San Jose and Dallas.
In my estimation, I think Dallas gets 1 point vs the Caps and that they beat the 'Canes, Panthers and Nashville. I also believe they get at least 1 point against Columbus and at Phoenix. That's 9 points added to the 83 they already have for a total of 92 points.
Also, in my estimation, I think Phoenix beats the Jets and the Oilers; that they get at least 1 vs the Blue Jackets; that they beat the Preds and get at least 1 vs the Stars. That's 8 points added to 84 for a total of 92 points also.
Granted, Dalls or Phoenix will get the extra point at the end of the year so 1 team will finish with 93 and the other with 92.
I know these prognostications require alot of assumptions and that maybe I'm missing the boat when eyeballing the remaining games for the 3 teams in question. As such, show me where I may be wrong and what your thoughts are about where each team finishes coming down the final stretch.
However, all in all, I think the Wild have it in them to pull this thing off and make the playoffs, notwithstanding my extremely negative attitude up to this point. Saturday night's win, for me, makes it go from plausible to possible. Now the coaches and the team have to get the job done on the ice.
No doubt, some big games coming up. So stay tuned hockey fans.
Your turn. Go!