Mayor bee, do you know what the earliest was that a team has clinched a playoff spot in recent memory? (Say post-lockout)
With the increase in competitive balance, especially after the lockout, I don't think there's been anyone clinching before around March 20. In fact, most years involve the first teams clinching sometime around the 20th of March.
The earliest I can remember was in Detroit's 1995-96 season, and it demonstrates exactly how long it actually takes to secure a spot. If you remember, this was Detroit's 62-win (131 point) season, and the West actually had three playoff teams with a sub-.500 record. It was so unbalanced that New Jersey, who missed the playoffs in the East, would have been the #4 seed in the West.
Anyway, if I remember, Detroit clinched sometime around February 25 or something like that, which was their 60th game of the season or so. And they were far and away the best team in the regular season from wire to wire.
With the increase in competitive balance, especially after the lockout, I don't think there's been anyone clinching before around March 20. In fact, most years involve the first teams clinching sometime around the 20th of March.
The earliest I can remember was in Detroit's 1995-96 season, and it demonstrates exactly how long it actually takes to secure a spot. If you remember, this was Detroit's 62-win (131 point) season, and the West actually had three playoff teams with a sub-.500 record. It was so unbalanced that New Jersey, who missed the playoffs in the East, would have been the #4 seed in the West.
Anyway, if I remember, Detroit clinched sometime around February 25 or something like that, which was their 60th game of the season or so. And they were far and away the best team in the regular season from wire to wire.
That Detroit team was unreal. Took them another full year before they won the Cup. They of course did it back-to-back.
Magic number is one for the Hawks. Apparently they clinch if LA loses to Edmonton in any fashion tonight.
And this is based on the fact that Los Angeles and San Jose meet twice, guaranteeing that the loser would miss out on at least one point, giving the Hawks a playoff berth.
Magic number is one for the Hawks. Apparently they clinch if LA loses to Edmonton in any fashion tonight.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cullksinikers
And this is based on the fact that Los Angeles and San Jose meet twice, guaranteeing that the loser would miss out on at least one point, giving the Hawks a playoff berth.
This sounds plausible. I was pretty fatigued last night, so undoubtedly data staring at me right in the face wasn't registering.
With the increase in competitive balance, especially after the lockout, I don't think there's been anyone clinching before around March 20. In fact, most years involve the first teams clinching sometime around the 20th of March.
The earliest I can remember was in Detroit's 1995-96 season, and it demonstrates exactly how long it actually takes to secure a spot. If you remember, this was Detroit's 62-win (131 point) season, and the West actually had three playoff teams with a sub-.500 record. It was so unbalanced that New Jersey, who missed the playoffs in the East, would have been the #4 seed in the West.
Anyway, if I remember, Detroit clinched sometime around February 25 or something like that, which was their 60th game of the season or so. And they were far and away the best team in the regular season from wire to wire.
Well the rangers clinched on the 19th. I believe they were the second team to clinch. St. Louis clinched a few days before. So the general vicinity of March 20th worked out this year too.
BTW, would it be fair to say that Detroit's record would a lot different in the east?
-Go 0-4-0
-San Jose must go 4-0-0
-Los Angeles must lose to San Jose in overtime or shootout twice and win their three games before the two matchups between the teams
-Phoenix must go at least 3-0-1
-Dallas must go 3-2-0 with their losses to San Jose
How Chicago clinches a playoff berth:
-Get one more point
-Los Angeles loses in regulation against Edmonton tonight
-San Jose misses out on one more point
-Phoenix misses out on two more points
Also, if my theory is correct, if the Hawks get two more points, they can be no worse than the 7th seed.
In over a billion simulations, sportsclubstats has Chicago missing the playoffs in 104 of them. 1044599896/1044600000 = more than 99.99999% likely to make the playoffs.
In over a billion simulations, sportsclubstats has Chicago missing the playoffs in 104 of them. 1044599896/1044600000 = more than 99.99999% likely to make the playoffs.
So you're saying there is a chance. (I know this has been overused, lol, just seemed applicable).
Carolina has been eliminated from the playoff race Washington now controls its destiny in the East, while Buffalo does not Los Angeles once again controls its destiny in the Pacific Division. Does anyone actually want to win this?
For tomorrow... Philadelphia can be eliminated from the Atlantic Division race with any type of loss against Ottawa
St. Louis can clinch the Central Division with a win or OT loss against Columbus, OR a Nashville loss of any type against Chicago
Boston can clinch the Northeast Division with a win against the NY Islanders AND an Ottawa regulation loss against Philadelphia
New Jersey can clinch a playoff spot with a win or OT/shootout loss against Carolina, OR a Buffalo loss of any type against Toronto, OR a Washington loss of any type against Montreal
The NY Islanders and Tampa Bay can be eliminated from the playoff race with a Buffalo win against Toronto OR a Washington win against Montreal, OR a Washington OT/shootout loss (NY Islanders only)
Winnipeg can be eliminated from the playoff race with a regulation loss against Tampa Bay, OR a Washington regulation/OT win against Montreal, OR a Washington OT/shootout loss against Montreal AND a Winnipeg OT/shootout loss against Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay can be eliminated from the playoff race with a regulation loss against Winnipeg, OR a Buffalo win against Toronto, OR a Washington win against Montreal, OR an OT/shootout loss against Winnipeg AND a Washington OT/shootout loss
Calgary can be eliminated from the playoff race with a regulation loss against Vancouver. I think there's more to it than this, so I'll update at some point tomorrow
The Bruins regulation win, paired with the Sens SO win means that the Sens cannot catch the Bruins ROW (1st tiebreaker) total. Therefore the Sens need to have more points than the Bruins to pass them. Both teams have 4 games left and the max number of points the Sens can get is 98 while the Bruins currently have 96.
-So Bruins magic number is 2. 2 points in any of their last 4 games give them the Northeast Division title.
-Same exact scenario exists with the 2nd seed in the East and the Florida Panthers. Magic number is 2 for the Bruins to clinch the 2nd seed and home ice in the first round.
