Wednesday, March 11, 2009

(Late) morning playoff check-up

Hey, it's still technically morning. The dreaded three-point game reared its ugly head as the Penguins won their seventh straight 4-3 in OT against the Panthers, giving two playoff rivals points. The Hurricanes look for their fifth straight win tonight in Chicago against a Blackhawks team that's lost two in a row. Carolina would jump back into sixth with a win.

Eastern Conference Playoff Race

Philadelphia Flyers - 4th place, 82 points, 36 wins
17 games remaining - 9 on road, 8 at home, 7 against playoff teams
Last night – Won 5-2 over Buffalo; next game – Thurs. vs. Washington

Montreal Canadiens - 5th place, 79 points, 36 wins
15 games remaining - 5 on road, 10 at home, 4 against playoff teams
Last night – Won 4-3 over Edmonton; next game – Thurs. vs. NY Islanders

Pittsburgh Penguins - 6th place, 78 points, 36 wins
14 games remaining - 5 on road, 9 at home, 8 against playoff teams
Last night – Won 4-3 over Florida; next game – Thurs. @ Columbus

Florida Panthers - 7th place, 77 points, 34 wins
15 games remaining - 6 on road, 9 at home, 7 against playoff teams
Last night – Lost 4-3 in OT to Pittsburgh; next game – Thurs. @ Buffalo

Carolina Hurricanes - 8th place, 77 points, 36 wins
14 games remaining - 6 on road, 8 at home, 8 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play; next game – Tonight @ Chicago

New York Rangers – 9th place, 76 points, 34 wins
15 games remaining - 8 on road, 7 at home, 11 against playoff teams
Last night – Did not play; next game – Thurs. @ Nashville

Buffalo Sabres - 10th place, 73 points, 33 wins
15 games remaining, 7 on road, 8 at home, 9 against playoff teams
Last night – Lost 5-2 to Philadelphia; next game – Thurs. vs. Florida

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey arp, i hate to add to your workload but i was wondering if you'd consider adding a 'last ten' to your stat. i feel like there are two or three teams in the east that just aren't losing. pitts? carolina?

nk

Anonymous said...

regarding the "dreaded three-point game" this anomoly could be resolved by allocating three points to every game - 3 points for a regulation time win - two points for an OT / SO win and 1 consolation point for taking it to OT and losing

Isn't it time this was taken to Mr Betman? If he is going to persist in tinkering this might make for more excitement than making it easier to score by adjusting the size of the goals / goalie equipment.

Arpon Basu said...

Habitant D'Ecosse,
I do like the idea, but a simpler way of making three-point games less of a factor would be to take away the point for an overtime loss. It should stay in for a shootout loss because that's not hockey, but giving up a goal in overtime is still hockey - even if it's 4-on-4 - and you shouldn't be rewarded for losing.

Anonymous said...

I could argue that the only only time OT is hockey is during the playoffs but that is for another time. What we agree on is that this is a situation that needs to be explored properly and rectified. Where does this discussion go next? Your voice is a little louder than mine - over to you Arpon!