Looking at the standings it’s really amazing to me to see Florida on top of the very competitive Atlantic. Really incredible parity from top to bottom in that division and I wouldn't be shocked to see most of those teams earning the second seed in the east. However I’m still a believer in Tampa Bay and think they make a run now that they have their pieces back.
Nobody denies Washington from winning the Metro and earning the the top seed. They have all the ingredients and it clearly would be a disappointment to their franchise and fans if they fall short of reaching the cup finals. On another note I have the feeling that Penguins make a run and somehow end up in the playoffs.
Things are more clearer in the west of who should win their respective divisions and hold the top two seeds for the playoffs. Then, as usual in the playoffs, anything can happen. No doubting St Louis and Chicago will have something to say about that. Injuries and trade deadline deals will have something to say about that too.
I’m still in disbelief the Canucks would make the playoffs if the season ended today. I guess the same could be said for the Coyotes but there’s no doubt that those franchises are heading in opposite directions for the immediate future. Another team in that division will over take the Canucks. Personally I’m pulling for the Flames who had a taste of post season hockey last year and think that experience can only be a benefit this year. Problem for any team in the Pacific not named the Kings is their first round matchup is against Los Angeles, Dallas, St Louis, or Chicago. No question in my mind that the west representative will be one of those four.
Honestly I have no idea who wins in the west. I’d love to see a Dallas/Washington final. I think that could be the most offensive and end to end final we’ve ever seen.
Nobody denies Washington from winning the Metro and earning the the top seed. They have all the ingredients and it clearly would be a disappointment to their franchise and fans if they fall short of reaching the cup finals. On another note I have the feeling that Penguins make a run and somehow end up in the playoffs.
Things are more clearer in the west of who should win their respective divisions and hold the top two seeds for the playoffs. Then, as usual in the playoffs, anything can happen. No doubting St Louis and Chicago will have something to say about that. Injuries and trade deadline deals will have something to say about that too.
I’m still in disbelief the Canucks would make the playoffs if the season ended today. I guess the same could be said for the Coyotes but there’s no doubt that those franchises are heading in opposite directions for the immediate future. Another team in that division will over take the Canucks. Personally I’m pulling for the Flames who had a taste of post season hockey last year and think that experience can only be a benefit this year. Problem for any team in the Pacific not named the Kings is their first round matchup is against Los Angeles, Dallas, St Louis, or Chicago. No question in my mind that the west representative will be one of those four.
Honestly I have no idea who wins in the west. I’d love to see a Dallas/Washington final. I think that could be the most offensive and end to end final we’ve ever seen.
Look at Kings record against top 10 as well as top 16 teams they play. Men against boys here.NHL 2015-2016 through games of 2016 January 2 Saturday
RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 | PREDICTOR | GOLDEN_MEAN | RECENT
HOME ADVANTAGE=[ 0.23] [ 0.23] [ 0.23] [ 0.23]
1 Washington Capitals = 4.68 28 10 3.94( 28) 7 2 | 12 6 | 4.65 1 | 4.73 1 | 4.66 2
2 Dallas Stars = 4.50 28 12 3.95( 25) 9 3 | 14 5 | 4.63 2 | 4.63 2 | 4.35 4
3 Los Angeles Kings = 4.48 25 13 3.91( 30) 8 2 | 13 2 | 4.41 3 | 4.46 3 | 4.60 3
4 Florida Panthers = 4.35 22 16 4.01( 13) 8 5 | 11 9 | 4.29 6 | 4.24 7 | 4.77 1
5 Chicago Blackhawks = 4.28 22 17 3.97( 21) 6 6 | 10 10 | 4.26 7 | 4.26 5 | 4.34 5
6 Minnesota Wild = 4.22 20 17 3.99( 18) 6 6 | 9 13 | 4.32 5 | 4.25 6 | 4.10 10
7 New York Islanders = 4.19 21 18 3.95( 26) 3 8 | 7 11 | 4.25 8 | 4.20 9 | 4.11 8
8 Montreal Canadiens = 4.17 22 18 4.02( 11) 5 6 | 13 9 | 4.36 4 | 4.32 4 | 3.91 18
9 St. Louis Blues = 4.14 23 18 3.99( 19) 5 9 | 14 11 | 4.14 12 | 4.22 8 | 4.05 12
10 Tampa Bay Lightning = 4.14 19 20 4.03( 9) 2 12 | 6 15 | 4.22 9 | 4.16 11 | 4.05 14
RATING W L SCHEDL(RANK) VS top 10 | VS top 16 | PREDICTOR | GOLDEN_MEAN | RECENT
HOME ADVANTAGE=[ 0.23] [ 0.23] [ 0.23] [ 0.23]
1 Washington Capitals = 4.68 28 10 3.94( 28) 7 2 | 12 6 | 4.65 1 | 4.73 1 | 4.66 2
2 Dallas Stars = 4.50 28 12 3.95( 25) 9 3 | 14 5 | 4.63 2 | 4.63 2 | 4.35 4
3 Los Angeles Kings = 4.48 25 13 3.91( 30) 8 2 | 13 2 | 4.41 3 | 4.46 3 | 4.60 3
4 Florida Panthers = 4.35 22 16 4.01( 13) 8 5 | 11 9 | 4.29 6 | 4.24 7 | 4.77 1
5 Chicago Blackhawks = 4.28 22 17 3.97( 21) 6 6 | 10 10 | 4.26 7 | 4.26 5 | 4.34 5
6 Minnesota Wild = 4.22 20 17 3.99( 18) 6 6 | 9 13 | 4.32 5 | 4.25 6 | 4.10 10
7 New York Islanders = 4.19 21 18 3.95( 26) 3 8 | 7 11 | 4.25 8 | 4.20 9 | 4.11 8
8 Montreal Canadiens = 4.17 22 18 4.02( 11) 5 6 | 13 9 | 4.36 4 | 4.32 4 | 3.91 18
9 St. Louis Blues = 4.14 23 18 3.99( 19) 5 9 | 14 11 | 4.14 12 | 4.22 8 | 4.05 12
10 Tampa Bay Lightning = 4.14 19 20 4.03( 9) 2 12 | 6 15 | 4.22 9 | 4.16 11 | 4.05 14
Peppermill has it 8-1 here thinking about putting $125 on it to win a K.
Mines the same as it was two weeks into the season: Kings/Capitals. Both team are head and shoulders above the rest of their divisions and should be able to dodge a gauntlet later in the season. Caps will have a tough ride in the East and I think they finally get over that playoff hump this season.
You guys are bit late on the Kings. They were 16/1 just a month ago.
http://www.therxforum.com/showthread.php?t=1036838
http://www.therxforum.com/showthread.php?t=1036838
That's the Scary part. Kings could end up playing the Hawks in the first round. Hawks are only 3 points ahead and have played 2 more games than the Wild. Blues have played 3 more than the Wild and only 3 points ahead.
every year st lou gets mentioned in all of this. i say with this bunch they have they will never do it. possibly tarasenko is a paycheque player. i dont see dallas - they have no defense. prolly kings or chi again.
would like to see fla win with jagr, all i know is once again the west is best. caps have no experience in huge games
would like to see fla win with jagr, all i know is once again the west is best. caps have no experience in huge games
Weird, it's the same IP and same city. Roommate maybe?
So Kings pick up Lecavlier today, while the Caps signed Mike Richards to a one year deal. If it is Caps/Kings in the finals, the Mike Richard's story will be an interesting story line. He's really going to want to stick it to the Kings for what they did to him. Plus the MVP of the King's last Stanley Cup team now plays for the Capitals (Williams). I think this would be an interesting and exciting match up.
