Race to the Cup - 4 Games Left!

[GypsieDeathBringer]

Top 6 teams get a First Round Bye.  Purple teams have locked a playoff spot. 

#1 Seed (locked in)  Anaheim Ducks  (36-4)   -  Things were looking shaky for the Ducks last week.  There were at least 4 teams that were out scoring them until they had a bonkers Sunday.  66 points in one night to take the lead, and that is what the Ducks do this year.  They are never out of it until all the games have been played.

#2 Seed  (2,3)  Florida Panthers  (31-9)  -   Another tremendous week for the Panthers.  2nd most points and they continue to roll.  They can't get the top seed, but they are locked in to a 1st round bye at this point.  They play the Red Wings this week, which could determine whether or not the Red Wings get in the playoffs.  There is nothing sweeter than crushing a division rival to have them looking outside in.

#3 Seed  (2,3,5,6)  Boston Bruins  (30-10)  -  Apparently putting up 200 points in a week is pathetic when you have the likes of the Ducks, Panthers, Hurricanes and Coyotes scoring around or above 220 points.  They play the Capitals which, if they lose and the Caps win both games there could be some intrigue in the final week.  The Caps win out and the Bruins bungle it then we could see a switcheroo with the Bruins losing their 1st round bye.

#4 Seed (locked in) Edmonton Oilers   (23-17)  They put up some big points last week, but they ended up losing to a couple of the top teams.  There is no shame in that, but a loss and is a loss and they got two of them last week.  They get the last spot in the playoffs because they are division champs.

#5 Seed (2,3,5,6,7)  Carolina Hurricanes  (29-11)  -  Two more wins and still no closer to the division lead.  They play the Oilers this week and then the Red Wings in the final week, and both games could determine big playoff seeding.   

#6 Seed (3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)  Washington Crapitals  (26-14)  -  Just a massive amount to play for still.  They could either be the division winner with a 1st round bye, a middle seed vs a lower seed, a lower seed vs a middle seed, or if everything goes to BooYah!  out of the playoffs.  That is how parity works.  The NHL should take note and we did it without shootouts (which I actually like, but they should use a 3 point system)

#7 Seed (5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)  Arizona Coyotes  (25-14)   -   They moved up into the 6th seed after a dominate last week.  They play the Red Wings this week and the Blackhawks next.  Games that will certainly determine their fate of being in or out of the playoffs.

#8 Seed (5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)  Detroit Red Wings   (24-16)  Look at these beautiful bastards.  Two wins and they go from #12 to #8.  You know that feeling after you have had a huge buffet of food, your stomach is all knotted up, your pants are cutting into your gut, and then take a monumental BM.  That feeling of relief is what Izaman is feeling now.  He knows there will be more BMs, but that first one is great.

#9 Seed  (5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12) Chicago Blackhawks   (24-16)   They lost both games last week and the numbers don't lie.  They are up against it pretty hard.  They play the Penguins and Canadiens this week.  Hawks would've lost to both last week and then they play Arizona and Florida in the final week.  They need to win both of the games this week to have a realistic shot at hanging on to a playoff spot. If I were Arizona and Florida I would purposefully dog the last week and try to keep teams like the Avs, Kings and Red wings out. They fell from the #7 seed.

#10 Seed  (5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12)  St. Louis Blues   (23-17)  Got hit hard by Arizona and Carolina last week.  Lundqvist is skating again, but is still oh so far away from playing hockey games of meaning in our league, which might be how the Blues stumble out of playoff contention.  It will likely come down to the last week against the Caps and Oilers.  They fell from the #8 seed.

#11 Seed (6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13)  Los Angeles Kings   (23-17)  Lost both games last week.  They play the Avs and Canadiens which could be tough teams.  They need all the wins at this point because they are the first team out as they fell from the #10 seed.

#12 Seed (6,7,8,9,10,11,12)  Buffalo Sabres   (22-18)   Went 1-1 last week, which was good enough to keep them in contention, but this week they play the Ducks and Avs.  If I had to guess I'd say they will be just oh so close and miss out of the playoffs by 2 wins. 

#13 Seed  (9,10,11,12,13,14)   Colorado Avs   (20-20)  A double victory week in week 20.  The Kings and Sabres are up next this week and that will really determine quite a bit.  Their improbable run to make the playoffs continues.  I call it Dubnyk's March to Glory.

[shooter47]

Has the playoff format changed since last season?

http://www.profsl.com/smf/index.php?topic=141818.0

Top 6 teams get a bye the first week with matchups of seeds 7 Vs. 10 and 8 Vs. 9 for the wildcard series.

Also the top 4 seeds go to the division winners meaning Edmonton has already locked up the #4 seed.

[GypsieDeathBringer]

You are completely correct.  Must've had a different league in mind.  I'll fix it up.

[snugerud]

this puts me in such a bad spot,,,,, Would love to make playoffs but if I cant I have moves I want to make,  the question comes down to do I take malkin off IR or keep the cap space....hmmmmm.

[Rob]

Will LA get screwed again??

[Capn Cally]

this puts me in such a bad spot,,,,, Would love to make playoffs but if I cant I have moves I want to make,  the question comes down to do I take malkin off IR or keep the cap space....hmmmmm.

Haha jeez, how is Geno still on your IR?
Hasn't he been playing for like the last month?
And you've still been winning!

[snugerud]

yeah he has was leaving him there for cap flexibility to complete some buyouts.

[dedreger]

Will LA get screwed again??

Well, now Kane going down has answered that question (and screwed my real-life 'Hawks too).   This year's been a bit weird:  domestic violence (Voynov), the classic undisclosed multiple-month "upper body injury" (Trouba), broken leg (Pearson), mononucleosis (Toffoli) and now a broken collarbone apparently (Kane).  I'll be due for some good luck next year.

[Rob]

Well, now Kane going down has answered that question (and screwed my real-life 'Hawks too).   This year's been a bit weird:  domestic violence (Voynov), the classic undisclosed multiple-month "upper body injury" (Trouba), broken leg (Pearson), mononucleosis (Toffoli) and now a broken collarbone apparently (Kane).  I'll be due for some good luck next year.

In case you weren't aware, LA is the unluckiest franchise in the history of DNHL.  They are a 2 time recipient of the Bad Juju award!  (soon to be 3 time?) I probably should have put a disclaimer on the team before you took over the franchise. 

Los Angeles Kings
Team Rank - 9th (Previously 9th)
GM - Dan - dedreger - since May 2014
Prior owners:
June 2011 - Sep 2011 - BrewCrew
Sep 2011 - Nov 2011 - Eric
Nov 2011 - Dec 2011 - Jesse
Dec 2011 - Feb 2014 - Drew
*2012/2013 Dominik Hasek Award (team w/ best goalies)*
*2011/2012 Bad Juju Award (most unluckiest team)*
Feb 2014 - May 2014 - Jesse
*2013/2014 Bad Juju Award (most unluckiest team)*

[dedreger]

In case you weren't aware, LA is the unluckiest franchise in the history of DNHL.  They are a 2 time recipient of the Bad Juju award!  (soon to be 3 time?) I probably should have put a disclaimer on the team before you took over the franchise.

At least I've got a shot at winning something, then.  Awesome.

I hadn't noticed that I've already been around longer than 3 of the 4 prior owners.  Yikes.  Bit of a Spinal Tap drummer situation there.