Fantasy Hockey - Running Out of Title Ideas

[Asher]

And of course the game was over as soon as it went to the shootout. Flames are the worst team by a longshot in the shootout.

What a robbery.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
And of course the game was over as soon as it went to the shootout. Flames are the worst team by a longshot in the shootout.

What a robbery.

I didn't see it but Flames radio people seemed to think that the calls that led to the 5 on 3s were marginal. They WERE a bit put out by the non-call on the foul against Iginla in OT though.


Bottom line though is that it seems the Flames sleepwalked through a game where Chicago had no intensity either which allowed them to be in the position where a bullcrap call could change the game.

No excuses -- If the Flames had played anywhere near as well as they can, Chicago doesn't even get a CHANCE to win this one

[Flubber]

I watched the Edmonton game and wow -- poor Rollie-- I don't think he gave up a bad goal but his defence just seemed to like allowing the Canucks to tic-tac-toe it around

Thankfully for Edmonton, Minnie lost but even losing ground on Vancouver and Calgary hurts. You want to have the potential to catch as many teams as possible and while Vancouver and Calgary are not out of sight yet, they are definitely on the horizon

[Flubber]

Ninot??

Are you at all concerned that the Habs are only 4 points up on ninth place Toronto? I confess to a bit of worry

[Asher]

Originally posted by Flubber
I didn't see it but Flames radio people seemed to think that the calls that led to the 5 on 3s were marginal.

Catch the TSN highlights of the Zyuzin call in particular. Brutal, brutal, brutal...lead to the GTG.

[Asher]

Next week's schedule for Calgary:

Colorado, Colorado, Colorado

Next week's schedule for Colorado:
Calgary, Calgary, Vancouver, Calgary

[Flubber]

I know I keep saying this but we are in a key stretch for the Leafs. After they play Nashville away they get

Pittsburgh (3 points ahead)
NYI (1 point behind)

If they can do well in that stretch, it then gets easier with the Flyers twice and the Bruins and Oilers once in the next 4. So a basement dwellar and two teams currently out of the playoffs . . . It seems like a stretch where the Leafs should really try to capitalze

[Flubber]

Meanwhile, the Oilers need a strong outing against the Hawks and Thrashers becasue I fear the road-trip might be a killer. Atlanta is a good road team while the Hawks are on a high after wins in Vancouver and Calgary

[Asher]

It's all based on the premise that, if you get 95 points in the standings, you'll make the playoffs. There's a chance you can sneak in with 93, maybe even 92, but beyond that, it's going to be pretty unlikely under the NHL's kooky everybody-gets-a-point system.

Here's a look at the record each team needs to attain that 95-point mark and (essentially) guarantee a playoff berth:

Western Conference

1. Nashville - 9-18-0
2. Detroit - 9-17-1
3. Anaheim - 10-16-1
4. San Jose - 12-15-0
5. Calgary - 15-14-0
6. Dallas - 14-13-1
7. Vancouver - 15-11-1
8. Minnesota - 16-10-1
9. Colorado - 19-9-1
10. Edmonton - 19-8-1
11. Phoenix - 21-5-1
12. St. Louis - 22-5-1
13. Chicago - 23-5-0
14. Columbus - 24-4-0
15. Los Angeles - 25-0-1

Eastern Conference

1. Buffalo - 8-17-1
2. New Jersey - 11-16-1
3. Atlanta - 14-12-0
4. Pittsburgh - 16-13-0
5. Montreal - 15-11-1
6. Ottawa - 16-11-0
7. Tampa Bay - 16-10-1
8. Toronto - 17-10-1
9. N.Y. Islanders - 18-10-0
10. Carolina - 17-9-0
11. N.Y. Rangers - 20-8-0
12. Boston - 21-8-1
13. Washington - 21-5-1
14. Florida - 22-5-0
15. Philadelphia - Cannot get 95 (max 91)

From Mirtle's blog.

[Asher]

You guys know the courier commercial where there's a couple guys in a meeting room with "Canada" and "China" on the board? They need to get the package from Canada to China, then shrug eventually and say, "Well, that's impossible."

There's a parody of that floating around now. Instead of saying 'Canada' and 'China', it says "Oilers" and "Playoffs". They reach the same conclusion.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher

It's all based on the premise that, if you get 95 points in the standings, you'll make the playoffs. There's a chance you can sneak in with 93, maybe even 92, but beyond that, it's going to be pretty unlikely under the NHL's kooky everybody-gets-a-point system.

Here's a look at the record each team needs to attain that 95-point mark and (essentially) guarantee a playoff berth:

Western Conference

1. Nashville - 9-18-0
2. Detroit - 9-17-1
3. Anaheim - 10-16-1
4. San Jose - 12-15-0
5. Calgary - 15-14-0
6. Dallas - 14-13-1
7. Vancouver - 15-11-1
8. Minnesota - 16-10-1
9. Colorado - 19-9-1
10. Edmonton - 19-8-1
11. Phoenix - 21-5-1
12. St. Louis - 22-5-1
13. Chicago - 23-5-0
14. Columbus - 24-4-0
15. Los Angeles - 25-0-1

Eastern Conference

1. Buffalo - 8-17-1
2. New Jersey - 11-16-1
3. Atlanta - 14-12-0
4. Pittsburgh - 16-13-0
5. Montreal - 15-11-1
6. Ottawa - 16-11-0
7. Tampa Bay - 16-10-1
8. Toronto - 17-10-1
9. N.Y. Islanders - 18-10-0
10. Carolina - 17-9-0
11. N.Y. Rangers - 20-8-0
12. Boston - 21-8-1
13. Washington - 21-5-1
14. Florida - 22-5-0
15. Philadelphia - Cannot get 95 (max 91)

From Mirtle's blog.

95 points is likely a flawed premise-- could work out to be accurate or maybe not. But even if you are thinking 97 or 93 or 90 is more accurate, its easy to do a mental adjustmnet of what a team needs to do to get there

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Asher
You guys know the courier commercial where there's a couple guys in a meeting room with "Canada" and "China" on the board? They need to get the package from Canada to China, then shrug eventually and say, "Well, that's impossible."

There's a parody of that floating around now. Instead of saying 'Canada' and 'China', it says "Oilers" and "Playoffs". They reach the same conclusion.

Not badbut I don't think the OIlers are anywhere out of it based on the points standings yet. I think the stronger argument they won't make it arises from the play of the three NW teams in front of them versus the Oilers own play. The Oilers efforts do not yet inspire much confidence.

Of course everything could change depending on what they can pick up at the trade deadline. I still think they need that big dman

[Flubber]

Although if the Flames continue to blow games, the Flyers could surpass them.

The Flames led 1-0 over Columbus and played reasonably well for 50 minutes. Then in like 50 seconds the Flames give up two goals in a series of plays where they give the puck AWAY 4-5 times.

Brutal doesn't even begin to cover it.

The Flames are the biggest homers in the league. No team has a bigger discrepency in home and away records

[Ninot]

Originally posted by Flubber
Ninot??

Are you at all concerned that the Habs are only 4 points up on ninth place Toronto? I confess to a bit of worry

I want to cry. I just might.

[Flubber]

Originally posted by Ninot


I want to cry. I just might.

and another loss for the Habs since I wrote that.

Ninot would you now start to agree my "good, not great " assessment of the Habs is being shown to be more accurate than yours of them being elite.

I still expect the Habs to pull through and be a playoff team


Oh and Ottawa--it appears they are headed upward as I expected .

THat leave Toronto. They have played way better lately than I ever thought they would but they still sit just outside the playoffs. I think I'll stick with my assessment that they are good enough to just barely miss the playoffs. I still think the Leafs will be in for a close call heartbreak. I wouldn't be shocked if they made the playoffs either since I have always seen them sitting on that fringe.