James Tanner: The Arizona Coyotes Are In the Playoffs (for now)

The West is a real joke. Negative goal differential for how many teams Who currently hold a playoff spot?
There are 8 spots and only 4 real playoff teams. You know when the coyotes and Oilers are in the mix the quality is pretty shot

There's just one team with a negative goal differential. And as in the East, only one team with a positive, outside the playoffs.

If that is your basis for a conference having joke teams, well.......

There's just one team with a negative goal differential. And as in the East, only one team with a positive, outside the playoffs.

If that is your basis for a conference having joke teams, well.......
- lastmanback

It used to be the other way around. In fact it's been a while since we've seen the East overall considerably better than the West.

But this season.... the West is overall weaker. I mean with 81 points Vegas is seen as a legitimate contender in the West while the Habs are just outside the playoffs with the same amount.

During the coyotes run they have beaten Tampa, Toronto, Calgary, Winnipeg, Vegas, San Jose. So please, tell me more about how there are only 4 playoff teams.

The coyotes have had some insanely bad luck with injuries and early season puck luck, so it will be tough to fully mount the comeback, but from Jan 1st forward they are absolutely a playoff team that would probably woop your “only 4 playoff teams” if they get the chance.

It used to be the other way around. In fact it's been a while since we've seen the East overall considerably better than the West.

But this season.... the West is overall weaker. I mean with 81 points Vegas is seen as a legitimate contender in the West while the Habs are just outside the playoffs with the same amount.
- Scabeh

It's a bit like comparing apples to oranges though. East and West mostly play against East and west teams respectively. I think it's pretty clear that the sewer teams are in the east for the most part. NYR, NJ, DET, and OTT are all tanking teams. West has just a little more parity so not as many easy point nights. The east has more teams with losing records against western conference teams than the other way around.

I agree with Lonny, the East is way more top heavy. The Metro is the worst division in hockey.

The West is a real joke. Negative goal differential for how many teams Who currently hold a playoff spot?
There are 8 spots and only 4 real playoff teams. You know when the coyotes and Oilers are in the mix the quality is pretty shot
- halo63

There have been years where the teams in the West have been stronger than the teams in the east. It goes back and forth.

It's a bit like comparing apples to oranges though. East and West mostly play against East and west teams respectively. I think it's pretty clear that the sewer teams are in the east for the most part. NYR, NJ, DET, and OTT are all tanking teams. West has just a little more parity so not as many easy point nights. The east has more teams with losing records against western conference teams than the other way around.
- lonnyBohonos

Don't forget my Sabres as a sewer team. Unfortunately, it has not been done on purpose.

Phoenix Junior really put a spanking on Phoenix the other night.

Kuemper came over in a trade from The Kings not the Wild

It's a bit like comparing apples to oranges though. East and West mostly play against East and west teams respectively. I think it's pretty clear that the sewer teams are in the east for the most part. NYR, NJ, DET, and OTT are all tanking teams. West has just a little more parity so not as many easy point nights. The east has more teams with losing records against western conference teams than the other way around.
- lonnyBohonos

I'm in no way saying the teams in the east you mentioned aren't garbage, but there are several teams in the west who are just as bad.

LAK, Anaheim, Van....and if you're including NYR from the east, then you include Chi, and Edm. and I'm sorry, Edmonton is definitely a "sewer team" that is being carried by 2 great players. top to bottom, they have one of the worst teams in the league BY FAR, but they just happen to have 2 of the best players in the league who are helping them tread water. That is a mediocre AHL roster, that has McDavid and Draisaitl (and RNH)

Kuemper came over in a trade from The Kings not the Wild
- Shuswap Wap

Oh well I tried. The point stands - both MN and AZ gave away goalies who became *at this point temporarily* stars for the other team.

I'm in no way saying the teams in the east you mentioned aren't garbage, but there are several teams in the west who are just as bad.

LAK, Anaheim, Van....and if you're including NYR from the east, then you include Chi, and Edm. and I'm sorry, Edmonton is definitely a "sewer team" that is being carried by 2 great players. top to bottom, they have one of the worst teams in the league BY FAR, but they just happen to have 2 of the best players in the league who are helping them tread water. That is a mediocre AHL roster, that has McDavid and Draisaitl (and RNH)
- sensarmy_11

This point still stands though

The east has more teams with losing records against western conference teams than the other way around.


And the teams in the west aren't just as bad. You really think the teams at the bottom in the west are as bad as the teams at the bottom in the east?

I agree with Lonny, the East is way more top heavy. The Metro is the worst division in hockey.
- James_Tanner

Both east divisions are equally top heavy, both are very close to having 5x100 point teams. The Pacific is the worst division in Hockey.

I agree with Lonny, the East is way more top heavy. The Metro is the worst division in hockey.
- James_Tanner

The Metro might have 5 playoff teams...

It sure helps when the officials help the team. What a joke.
How about some advanced stats from last night? Not even close.

It used to be the other way around. In fact it's been a while since we've seen the East overall considerably better than the West.

But this season.... the West is overall weaker. I mean with 81 points Vegas is seen as a legitimate contender in the West while the Habs are just outside the playoffs with the same amount.
- Scabeh

East isn't better than the west. Maybe two teams that are really good--Tampa and Boston.

Then the overall depth of the rest are questionable.

Didn't both of AZ's goalies shine in that 7-1 Hawks game? Talk about playoff impostor
The Yotes if they survive the last dozen games or so will only be 4 or 5 game fodder for the real playoff teams.

Marincin is absolute junk


Go Yotes!

Oh well I tried. The point stands - both MN and AZ gave away goalies who became *at this point temporarily* stars for the other team.
- James_Tanner

East isn't better than the west. Maybe two teams that are really good--Tampa and Boston.

Then the overall depth of the rest are questionable.
- BluemanGuruu

blues wouldn't be a playoff team in the east; as part of the bottom 4 playoff teams in the west getting freebie spots this year.