All playoff teams have been decided. The only thing that remains is the seeding for first-round matchups, and a huge number of contingencies for the draft lottery. I actually spent close to an hour working on lottery setups alone before realizing that I had gotten just two teams done of the first cluster, and it would only get worse from there.
I will be traveling out of town tomorrow evening and be back sometime on Sunday. I fully intend to be able to update this during the day on Saturday, or else provide enough scenarios where anyone can keep track of it with ease.
There's only one game tomorrow, but two scenarios that can come from it... St. Louis can be eliminated from the Presidents' Trophy race with a regulation loss to Phoenix.
Phoenix can be eliminated from the Pacific Division race with a regulation loss to St. Louis.
Right, don't know why I put that there considering my earlier posts had them out of that spot.
They can't get 7th because OTT has the tiebreaker over them so the Panthers would need to gain at least a point to pass Ottawa.. but by gaining a point, the Panthers would just win the division and get #3 seed.
Only thing left to be decided in the East is 3 or 8 for Panthers/Capitals and 7 or 8 for Senators/Capitals
3rd seed -> Panthers clinches with a point or Washington clinches with a win AND Panthers regulation loss
6th seed -> Ottawa clinches with a point or Washington clinches with a win, Panthers getting a point AND Senators losing in regulation
8th seed -> Whoever doesn't get 7th or 3rd!
Right, don't know why I put that there considering my earlier posts had them out of that spot.
They can't get 7th because OTT has the tiebreaker over them so the Panthers would need to gain at least a point to pass Ottawa.. but by gaining a point, the Panthers would just win the division and get #3 seed.
Only thing left to be decided in the East is 3 or 8 for Panthers/Capitals and 7 or 8 for Senators/Capitals
3rd seed -> Panthers clinches with a point or Washington clinches with a win AND Panthers regulation loss 6th seed -> Ottawa clinches with a point or Washington clinches with a win, Panthers getting a point AND Senators losing in regulation
8th seed -> Whoever doesn't get 7th or 3rd!
St. Louis is about to get eliminated from the Presidents' Trophy contention.
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"Trust me I'm an expert, I watched 13 rangers games on NHL center Ice this year through streaming." -Starburst
"I don't even understand what the point of all this arguing is. Are you guys hoping that the other side is going to have an epiphany and go 'Oh, OH! You're right, we ARE going to lose this series!'" -Crease
The NY Rangers can clinch the Presidents' Trophy with:
- A win of any type against Washington, OR
- A Vancouver regulation loss against Edmonton, OR
- An OT/shootout loss against Washington AND a Vancouver loss of any type against Edmonton
Vancouver can clinch the Presidents' Trophy with:
- A win of any type against Edmonton, AND
- A NY Rangers loss of any type against Washington
In the East...
Florida can clinch the Southeast Division and the #3 seed with:
- A win or OT/shootout loss against Carolina, OR
- A Washington loss of any type against NY Rangers
Washington can clinch the Southeast Division and the #3 seed with:
- A win of any type against the NY Rangers, AND
- A Florida regulation loss to Carolina
Ottawa can clinch the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference with:
- A win or OT/shootout loss against New Jersey, OR
- A Washington loss of any type against the NY Rangers, OR
- A Florida regulation loss against Carolina AND a Washington win of any type against the NY Rangers
Washington can clinch the #7 seed in the Eastern Conference with:
- A win of any type against the NY Rangers, AND
- A win or OT/shootout loss by Florida against Carolina, AND
- An Ottawa regulation loss to New Jersey
The #3 seed will host New Jersey in the first round; the #7 seed will go on the road to play Boston; the #8 seed will go on the road to play the NY Rangers.
And in the West...
Nashville can clinch the #4 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A win or OT/shootout loss against Colorado, OR
- A loss of any type by Detroit against Chicago
Detroit can clinch the #4 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A win of any type against Chicago, AND
- A regulation loss by Nashville against Colorado
Chicago can clinch the #5 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A regulation win against Detroit
Nashville will be either the #4 or #5 seed; they cannot fall to #6. Chicago will be either the #5 or #6 seed; they cannot rise to #4. Detroit can be any of the #4, #5, or #6 seeds.
No matter what, Nashville will play either Detroit or Chicago. Chicago will play either Nashville or the Pacific Division champions. Detroit will play one of Chicago, Nashville, or the Pacific Division champions.
Vancouver can clinch the #1 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A win of any type against Edmonton, OR
- An OT/shootout loss against Edmonton, OT
- A St. Louis loss of any type against Dallas
St. Louis can clinch the #1 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A win of any type against Dallas, AND
- A Vancouver regulation loss against Edmonton
Phoenix can clinch the Pacific Division and the #3 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A win of any type against Minnesota, OR
- An OT/shootout loss against Minnesota AND a San Jose win of any type against Los Angeles
Los Angeles can clinch the Pacific Division and the #3 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A regulation/OT win against San Jose AND a Phoenix loss of any type against Minnesota, OR
- A shootout win against San Jose AND a Phoenix regulation loss against Minnesota
San Jose can clinch the Pacific Division and the #3 seed in the Western Conference with:
- A win of any type against Los Angeles AND a Phoenix regulation loss against Minnesota
For the #7 and #8 seeds, here are the current tiebreakers:
- Phoenix and Los Angeles both have 34 R/OT wins, San Jose 33
- Phoenix holds the season series over San Jose, but Los Angeles holds the season series against Phoenix
I will try to update throughout the day if at all possible.
No matter what, Nashville will play either Detroit or Chicago. Chicago will play either Nashville or the Pacific Division champions. Detroit will play one of Chicago, Nashville, or the Pacific Division champions.
Detroit will play one of Nashville or Pacific division champions. If I understand correctly, Detroit/Chicago is no longer possible.
Nashville will host Detroit in the first round, while Chicago will be on the road to open against the Pacific Division champion (still unknown).
The draft lottery picture is becoming slightly clearer. Buffalo will have either the 11th or 12th slot, while Calgary will pick either 13th or 14th. Anaheim will be in the top-6, and may be as high as 4th.
Florida has clinched the Southeast Division and the #3 seed (will play New Jersey)
Washington has clinched the #7 seed in the East (will play Boston)
Ottawa has clinched the #8 seed in the East (will play NY Rangers)
Teams that can pick 1st overall are Columbus, Edmonton, NY Islanders, Montreal, and Toronto.
All 14 non-playoff teams are now seeded up for the lottery.
The winner of Los Angeles/San Jose will have the 7th seed in the Western Conference, and the 18th draft position (pending playoff outcomes). The loser will have the 8th seed, and the 17th position.
If Vancouver gains a single point, they will win:
- The Presidents' Trophy
- The #1 seed in the Western Conference
- The 30th spot in the draft, pending the playoffs. This can be no lower than 26th overall no matter what
If Edmonton wins in regulation...
- NY Rangers will win the Presidents' Trophy
- St. Louis will have the #1 seed in the West
- Vancouver will have the 28th spot, which can end up no lower than 24th
