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Countdown to the Cup, April 2
posted by Dave Stubbs at 10h40 EST on Apr 2
Countdown to the Cup, April 2:
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IM BORED AT WORK SO HOPE YOU ENJOY!
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These are my picks for the week : (most beneficial seeding for habs)
Today:........Tomm:.........Fri:.......Sat:.......Sun:
PHI...........HABS..........CAR........HABS.......PHI
CAR...........NYR...........PHI........BUF........NYR
BOS...........TOR...........NYR........FLA...........
..............TAM...........OTT.......................
If all goes accordingly (or a variation of such) these are the standings:
Come Playoffs
MTL 104
PIT 100
CAR 94
NYR 99
PHI 97
NJD 95
OTT 94
BOS 92
Best case scenario (after HABS sweep Beantown) PHI upsets NYR
Thus: 2nd round PHI (free ticket into confrence finals)
Hopefully: CAR will meet us there (without Robby B.) = see SJ in FINALS
AFTER 6 games CUP comes to St. Catherine street OLE OLE OLE
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OFFICIAL ESPN CUP PREDICTION: Montreal vs San Jose
Here are the chances of each Eastern Conference team finishing at 1-15 positions.
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4/2/2008 3:29:50 PM Sim runs: 100000
Teams P 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th
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Pittsburgh 100 60.25 36.28 0 3.47 0 0 0 0
Montreal 100 39.22 60.78 0 0 0 0 0 0
New Jersey 100 0.54 2.94 0 81.41 12.03 2.26 0.79 0.04
NY Rangers 99.66 0 0 0 13.94 51.29 20.95 9.65 3.83
Ottawa 96.29 0 0 0 0.05 11.76 30.82 28.13 25.53
Boston 92.17 0 0 0 0.84 16.12 24.74 24.79 25.68
Philadelphia 91.49 0 0 0 0.3 8.79 20.98 33.39 28.03
Carolina 68.41 0 0 62.23 0 0 0.02 0.68 5.48
Washington 51.21 0 0 37.77 0 0.01 0.23 2.55 10.65
Buffalo 0.77 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.01 0.76
Florida 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Toronto 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NY Islanders 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Atlanta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4/2/2008 3:29:50 PM Sim runs: 100000
Teams P 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
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Pittsburgh 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Montreal 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
New Jersey 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
NY Rangers 99.66 0.35 0 0 0 0 0 0
Ottawa 96.29 3.72 0 0 0 0 0 0
Boston 92.17 7.12 0.71 0 0 0 0 0
Philadelphia 91.49 7.46 1.05 0 0 0 0 0
Carolina 68.41 26.27 5.32 0 0 0 0 0
Washington 51.21 42.92 5.88 0 0 0 0 0
Buffalo 0.77 12.18 87.05 0 0 0 0 0
Florida 0 0 0 62.23 37.77 0 0 0
Toronto 0 0 0 37.77 62.23 0 0 0
NY Islanders 0 0 0 0 0 100 0 0
Atlanta 0 0 0 0 0 0 67.36 32.64
Tampa Bay 0 0 0 0 0 0 32.64 67.36
Seriously. We should aim at taking Boston in the first round. So do we bother risking injury and spending energy to try to get first in the East?
If it were me, I'd rest the guys that need/want it and use the time to experiment with certain strategies. But then again, I'm not a coach in the NHL, am I?
http://habsbros.blogspot.com/2008/04/maple-leafs-apparently-giving-it.ht...
It's been said before, but Carolina's third-place spot with just 90 points is a sham. One less point - or one less win even - and they wouldn't even qualify for eighth, even under this silly system.
Why reward a mediocre team for beating up on the likes of Washington, Atlanta, Tampa and Florida all year?
www.flickeringpictures.com - not a hockey site, but still kinda neat
The Canadiens' website posted an article looking at how the Habs match up against their potential opponents in the first round:
Carolina Hurricanes
42-32-6 = 90 pts
Remaining games: April 2 vs Tampa Bay, April 4 vs Florida
Down the Stretch: 9-3-1
Versus Montreal: 2-1-1
New Jersey Devils
44-28-7 = 95 pts
Remaining games: April 2 vs Boston, April 4 @ Philadelphia, April 6 vs NY Rangers
Down the Stretch: 7-6-1
Versus Montreal: 1-3-0
New York Rangers
41-27-11 = 93 pts
Remaining games: April 3 @ NY Islanders, April 4 vs NY Islanders, April 6 @ New Jersey
Down the Stretch: 8-3-3
Versus Montreal: 3-0-1
Ottawa Senators
42-30-8 = 92 pts
Remaining games: April 3 @ Toronto , April 4 vs Boston
Down the Stretch: 6-7-2
Versus Montreal: 5-3-0
Boston Bruins
40-28-11 = 91 pts
Remaining games: April 2 @ New Jersey, April 4 @ Ottawa, April 5 vs Buffalo
Down the Stretch: 6-5-5
Versus Montreal: 0-8-0
Philadelphia Flyers
40-28-11 = 91 pts
Remaining games: April 2 @ Pittsburgh, April 4 vs New Jersey, April 6 vs Pittsburgh
Down the Stretch: 8-3-4
Versus Montreal: 0-4-0
Washington Capitals
41-31-8 = 90 pts
Remaining games: April 3 vs Tampa Bay, April 5 vs Florida
Down the Stretch: 11-4-0
Versus Montreal: 2-2-0
Looks like we should avoid the Rangers Caps and Canes, if possible. Probably should add the Sens to that list, if they do get on track they are very dangerous especially vs us. So ideally, that leaves us facing...
Philly, Boston, or NJ.
Incidently.. what is our record vs the Pens this season?
3 - 2 W: Wed Oct 10, 2007
4 - 3 W: Sat Oct 27, 2007
2 - 0 L: Sat Jan 19, 2008
5 - 4 L: Thu Feb 21, 2008
all close games... definetly don't want to meet up with them unless we have too.
Thanks for the info!
Stanley Cup odds: http://www.bettorsworld.com/nhl-odds.htm
From no-hope-in-hell to 7-1: not bad.
The funny thing is....I already know we're gonna win the conference and Boston as the 8th seed will be our first round
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OFFICIAL ESPN CUP PREDICTION: Montreal vs San Jose
screw that.. who wins the CUP?
Montreal in 6 vs San Jose
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OFFICIAL ESPN CUP PREDICTION: Montreal vs San Jose
this is the match-up I predict as well... It looks like the sharkies can be for real this year.
PHILI WILL WIN TONIGHT 4 - 1
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OFFICIAL ESPN CUP PREDICTION: Montreal vs San Jose
Let's hope Philly comes out with their nuts on fire tonight!
Does that bring back memories!...fortunately, a two-week course of penicillin cleared it up.
I think some posters here are giving way too much respect to Washington. Sure they have played well down the stretch (so have the Habs)...sure Huet has played very well (so has Price)...and sure the Caps have Ovechkin (but we have scoring balance covering at least 3 lines, and I doubt Ovy can log equal ice time).
The Habs first round opponent is not the "worry factor" for me. Habs are guaranteed a top 3 seeding. In fact, only New Jersey overtaking Pittsburgh could possibly drop the Habs to third. So we are looking at first or second in the conference. Admittedly, any team can knock off any other team in a seven game series, but I like the Habs chances of getting out of the first round regardless of who they play. It's the next round following that could prove to be worrisome. Our record against the Rangers is not great, but an even bigger test IMO would be the Penguins. We haven't played them in a long while, and they have been on a tear without Crosby, and now with Crosby back in the lineup. Their goaltending seems to have woken up also.
Looking at last night's game vs the Sens, I have to say the Habs played a very strong game against a team desperate to get back on track. And this was accomplished with all of the pressbox gang, that many on here love to slam, in the lineup. Add stellar goaltending from Price and you have to feel that our guys are ready, and more importantly, willing to take a long run at the Cup. READY, WILLING...and now if the injured players are healthy enough to regain their roster spots, the Habs are also ABLE.
It's going to be fun!
We cant go lower then Second on the seedings....We are Top 2 for sure.
Correct me if I am wrong. If the Devils finish with 101 points(1 point ahead of our Habs)they would start the playoffs as a 4 seed but come second round they would be re-seeded. The Pens could be first, Devils second and Habs third followed by the Canes or Caps.
I am just counting on us finishing ahead of them.
No, when they re-seed the teams they still go with how they finished in the original standings...even though MTL would finish one pt back of NJ, I think we would still have that Second Seed....
Yes, you retain your seedings.
"Are the Habs ready to pay the Price?"
I think when ppl say there worrisome of WAS its because most of us still havent gotten over the game Ovie scored 4 goals and 1 asssit to beat us in OT
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OFFICIAL ESPN CUP PREDICTION: Montreal vs San Jose
Things that could happen tonight:
-A Tampa win over Carolina would put Washington in 3rd (since they would be tied in points with a game in hand)
-If Boston and Philadelphia BOTH win, Buffalo would finally be eliminated, Ottawa would be in 8th and our beloved Habs would be 1st (same points as Pittsburgh but with a game in hand)
This is too much fun... :)
Washington and Carolina both play Florida and Tampa to finish out the year. It's not a stretch to think that both teams could win both their remaining two games. They would then end up with 94 points and Carolina would be seeded 3rd. That possibility could make life really interesting for teams like Ottawa, Boston, and Philly. Ray Whitney and Justin Williams are both slated to play for Carolina tonight.
Huet only needs to win two more games to secure a UFA contract for next year. Someone will bite for sure. Even if by some strange reason the Caps don't make the playoffs with 94 points Huet is still golden. Who knows, maybe Washington will resign him.
The Original 24 Cups
24 Cups - I hope Washington keeps Huet. I don't think they have much faith left in Kolzig and I'm not sure about their younger goaltending prospects. With Ottawa's goaltending issues, you have to wonder if they'll be looking at a UFA goalie like Huet (after buying out/trading Emery and maybe even Gerber). I'd hate to have Huet playing for a division rival!
kovyfan - Ottawa is on the hook for $7mil next year in goaltending salary and then another 3.5mil for Emery in 2009-10. Something would have to give before they would sign Huet. Kolzig is getting up there age wise and makes a lot of coin. Washington could sign Huet to play with Johnson and then wait for Varlamov to arrive in a few years down the road. Regardless, Gainey made the right call at the trade deadline. Price could be the nest Roy - only difference being that he's an iceberg instead of a volcano.
The Original 24 Cups
24 Cups - I love the "iceberg instead of a volcano" comparison!
I like the Eastern match-ups just the way they are. Despite last night, I wouldn't want the Habs to play the Sens in the first round. And nobody really wants to play the Caps.
Okay maybe Washington could finish 8th and play against the Pens. No, the NHL hype machine would be too much.
I wouldn't mind seeing Carolina miss the playoffs and Washington taking 3rd spot. It would be great to have them in the playoffs facing Ottawa!
I'm cool with that, I hate Carolina. TB has given them trouble this year, so they just might beat them tonight. It would be sweet to see them fall out of the playoff picture.