Should the Rangers win, particularly if they do so in overtime, then things will start getting very tight around their collar for tomorrow’s game against the Leafs. That extremely unlikely scenario whereby the Habs didn’t make the playoffs we described to you a few days ago? Well, it’s not falling into place, helped especially by the Canadiens total lack of effort last night.
If the Rangers win in OT or a shootout tonight, suddenly the Habs would be in eighth place in the conference, only one point up on New York with one game remaining for each team.
But again, if the Habs can get a single point against the 29th overall Toronto Maple Leafs at home Saturday night this is all moot. Right now, that’s a very big if.
Boston Bruins – Sixth place, 37-30-13, 87 points
Last night: 3-1 win over Buffalo
Next game: v. Carolina Saturday
2 games remaining, 1 against teams in playoff spot
Home (1) – Car April 10
Road (1) – Was April 11
Montreal Canadiens – Seventh place, 39-33-9, 87 points
Last night – 5-2 loss to Carolina
Next game: v Toronto Saturday
1 games remaining, 0 against teams in playoff spot
Home (1) – Tor April 10
Philadelphia Flyers – Eighth place, 40-34-6, 86 points
Last night: Did not play
Next game: @ New York Rangers Friday
2 games remaining, 0 against teams in playoff spot
Home (1) – NYR April 11
Road (1) – NYR April 9
New York Rangers – Ninth place, 37-33-10, 84 points
Last night: Did not play
Next game: v Philadelphia Friday
2 games remaining, 2 against teams in playoff spot
Home (1) – Pha April 9
Road (1) – Pha April 11
Posts
11 comments:
It is BEST for the Habs if the Rangers win tonight, even though still remaining alive, so the Flyers will still be one point BEHIND the Canadiens going into tomorrow night. Habs must NOT finish 8th. In either of 6th or 7th they will most probably (unless the Devils collapse) meet either Buffalo or New Jersey - 2 teams the Habs on their best days can beat. If by chance the Rangers lose a game and Habs get in by losing their last 3 games to bottom feeder Toronto after losing to Carolina and the Islanders - the Habs at #8 they wouldn't have a prayer against Washington. In the event all Habs had to do was to win over the 15th place Eastern team at home in the final game and couldn't there is no way this team even belongs in these playoffs!
Note: two seasons ago Habs finished as #1 East seed BUT only 10 points ahead of the #8 seed. Washington and with one game in hand currently is 31 points ahead of Montreal.
Montreal is 2-1-1 against Washington, 1-2-1 against NJ, 2-3-1 against Buffalo, and 1-3-0 against Pittsburgh.
Maybe they don't need to avoid the Washington match-up so hard. They seem to match up decently well, especially relative to the other playoff match-ups.
MathMan said...
Montreal is 2-1-1 against Washington, 1-2-1 against NJ, 2-3-1 against Buffalo, and 1-3-0 against Pittsburgh.
Maybe they don't need to avoid the Washington match-up so hard. They seem to match up decently well, especially relative to the other playoff match-ups
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Individual games of the "2nd exhibition season" means zilch! Habs went 4-0 over the Flyers 2 years ago and then Flyrers slaughtered 4-1 in games when they then met in the playoffs. But the Habs had only finished 9 points ahead of Philadelphia that year in the standings.
You think Habs matchup wellwith Capitals? Are you serious? Washington currently with one game in hand not only are 31 points IN FRONT of the Habs, but have also scored 97 MORE GOALS.
IF Habs sneak in as #8 they will be out in 4 and even in a more embarrassing way than last year. Only hope they have is getting in at #6 or #7 and resume playing the way they were a month ago and hope someone ELSE knocks off Washington or it will be 17 years and counting since the Habs even won TWO series in the same year.
The entire management must be flushed by the Molsons brothers from Boivin on down! There are good people, there are winners out there!
Boivin, Gauthier and Martin are LOSERS!
@MathMan
Meetings since January 1, 2010
Jan 9 Devils 2 Canadiens 1 OT
Jan 22 Canadiens 3 Devils 1
Mar 27 Devils 4 Canadiens 2
Jan 3 Sabres 1 Canadiens 0
Mar 24 Canadiens 2 Sabres 3 SO
Apr 3 Sabres 0 Canadiens 3
These 2 teams do not outclass the Habs like Washington or Pittsburgh does
If you're going to try to validate your point by putting up an arbitrary cut-off date, you may want to at least show how much Montreal was dominated by Washington and Pittsburgh over that span of time. Of course, when you look at it...
Jan 5 Montreal 2 Washington 5
Feb 10 Washington 5 Montreal 6 OT
Feb 6 Pittsburgh 3 Montreal 5
Montreal won the last meeting with both the teams that (you claim) so badly outclass them.
MathMan
Jan 5 Montreal 2 Washington 5
Feb 10 Washington 5 Montreal 6 OT
Feb 6 Pittsburgh 3 Montreal 5
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It was you who posted regular season numbers NOT me. But since you did, yes the last part of the season is more relative than what happened at the start of the year.
You now posted 3 scores. Look at those scores. Habs allowed 13 goals in 3 games which is over 4 goals a game average. Which is way WAY higher than the Habs GAA of either goalie against the other teams OR the rest of the league combined. AND Habs have a serious problem scoring goals especially right now.
And I just told you that with a game in hand Washington has already scored 97 MORE goals than the Habs.
Thanks for proving my point.
MathMan
Jan 5 Montreal 2 Washington 5
Feb 10 Washington 5 Montreal 6 OT
Feb 6 Pittsburgh 3 Montreal 5
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Allowed 13 goals in 3 games or 4.33 goals allowed per game. Which is MUCH HIGHER than Habs goals against average of either Hab goalie against Buffalo or New Jersey or the rest of the league combined. And Habs at present canNOT score goals.
Washington will have scored OVER 100 MORE GOALS than the Habs did by the end of game #82. Yes Washington with Ovechkin and Penguins with Crosby and Malkin totally outclass them and that is why I hope Rangers win tonight in REGULATION to force Habs to wake up and beat the Leafs on their own
tomorrow night and hope Jersey doesn't lose any ground to Pittsburgh. Because I repeat, it will be ugly the Capitals with the cup on their mind facing this Canadiens team who will know coming in that they BACKED IN.
4.33 Goals Against Average vs. those Was and Pit. Thanks for proving my point!
You're not exactly proving your point by railing about the Habs' 4.33 GAA over three games (a small sample size)... out of which they won two, with a GFA of, wait for it, 4.33. Actually, you're not making much sense at all.
Sounds like those teams can score but, during those 3 games at least, the Habs gave as good as they took...
I gave you a sample size of EIGHTY games it was you who said posted those Pittsburgh -Washington scores.
The BEST thing for the Habs did happen tonight, Rangers beat Flyers in REGULATION meaning Habs can with their own skill if they do have it can avoid Washington next week who now has won 5 in a row with one game left to play as they head into the playoffs in top form.
AFTER TONIGHTS GAMES
Washington has won 54 out of 81 games
54 wins 27 losses = (.667% W/L%) and scored 102 more goals than Montreal
Montreal has won 39 out of 81 games
39 wins 42 losses = (.481% W/L%) and scored 102 less goals than Washington
Montreal wants no part of Washington
Washington has 33 points than Montreal for a reason!
Habs will come out flying after their latest 3 game slumber and at least will now avoid Washington in Round 1 as they will easily defeat the Leafs the 15th and worst team in the east tomorrow night.
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