4/5/09: Recap and tomorrow's games

by RickyRage on Apr 5, 2009 9:27 PM EDT

Today's games (involving Eastern Conference teams):

Caps 6 - Thrashers 4: They allowed us to score more than we did them. Caps MN for the 2 seed is 5 (NJD).
Panthers 4 - Pens 2: Ruh roh...Canadiens now control the 6 seed, Pitt the 7 seed. The Pens need 3 points in 3 games to clinch the playoffs. If the Panthers win out, they are in the playoffs (see ya, Torts).

Tomorrow's games (involving Eastern Conference teams):

Sens @ Canadiens: A loss is better for the Caps if you'd like to see the Canadiens in the first round. Canadiens MN for the 6 seed is 7 points (Pittsburgh).
Wings @ Sabres: This is the final East v. West game of the season. No real impact unless you like guys named Lindy.

You can find an updated Playoff Tracker here. Note that in the tracker, I don't account for tiebreakers but I've added a little table to help compare head to head points earned.

Best case Scenario for tomorrow:

Create your own, based upon how you feel about the 6/7 seed.

If this FanPost is written by someone other than one of the blog's editors, the opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect those of this blog or SB Nation.

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Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m thinking be careful what you wish for with regard to the #7 seed. This team gets up for Pittsburgh better than for Montreal, I think, and getting up is going to be a huge issue right now. I’m tired of watching 40 minutes of crap and 20 minutes of brilliance. It’s happened way way way too much lately. Can we please have 60 minutes of brilliance? We’ve seen it in a few games this year.

I’m thinking anything I wish will probably be bad, so best to sit and watch and see what happens. Clinch the second seed and let the rest of the conference worry about itself.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

Why do you (in multiple comments all over the site) think that motivation is going to be an issue come playoff time? What have you seen that indicates that this team is incapable of putting forth a good effort against a good team when it matters?

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Apr 6, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m hoping it won’t be, JP, but the fact is that BB had to yell at them last night in second intermission. There’s no evidence of internal motivation right now. If they can turn it on in the playoffs, good, but I’m just not convinced yet – they haven’t shown me yet. Call me a doubter, and I’m willing to wait and see, but I want to see hard evidence before I believe it, and regular season isn’t enough evidence for me.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Let me clarify – I think of the playoffs as a whole different animal, and I just haven’t seen anything yet that makes me believe. I’m willing to wait and see, but I’m not real confident. I can’t tell you rationally why, I’m just not.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough, but try to remember their efforts against Boston and Detroit, in Philly, etc. They haven’t gotten terrible in March and April, they’ve gotten bored, imo. The big question, of course, is can they flip the switch, and to me, yesterday’s 3rd period showed that they can. But we shall see, I suppose.

Japers' Rink: Hockey blogging from the most powerful city in the world

by J.P. on Apr 6, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions

It certainly gave me a lot of hope. That I’ll agree with you on.

Like you said, we shall see. It’s a good sign that they’re antsy for the playoffs, as maddening as it makes their play right now.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions

While I understand that we haven’t seen a lot of consistent 60 minute efforts from the Caps lately unless they’re playing Pitt/Philly/Boston, I don’t think it’s going to be a problem come playoff time. This team has apparently been telling themselves for the past month to keep the batteries charged for the playoffs. Pardon the invocation, but I think they’re going to be unleashing the fury starting in Game 1.

by grapejoos on Apr 6, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope you’re right, man. I genuinely hope you’re right. Guess we’ll just wait and see.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope I’m right too. I understand where you’re coming from, I just have faith that the team learned a serious lesson last year and know where their intensity level needs to be. It also seems to me like Feds and perhaps some other leaders have told the guys to catch their breath a little. Neither of us know what will happen, but I just have a good feeling about this bunch.

by grapejoos on Apr 6, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions

It’s definitely going to be interesting.

Sadly, it looks like I’ll miss games #1 and #2. Company is sending me to Denver that week. Oh well, at least there shall be free NHL GameCenter Live courtesy STH perks.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

I think they’ll get up for playoffs period. It’s like the new regular season and they’re no longer the top dogs. Remember how hard they fought to take the lead? I just hope they don’t squander the first (home) game.

by snowburnt on Apr 6, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think Theo will have any trouble getting up for the Habs.

by Carl Putnam on Apr 6, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

He didn’t have any trouble getting up for the Avs either but that didn’t help us. I think Theo is generally better when people are doubting him. I don’t like it when he starts really feeling confident, that’s when he loses his game.

by Rob Parker on Apr 6, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s not whether he gets up so much as whether everyone else gets up.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, we played poorly that game but I thought that Theo should have saved 2 of the goals against. That completely changes the complexion of the game in the third period and maybe gives us a chance to pull a point out of it. Bottom line, if you are going to talk like he talked before the game you need to perform better on the ice. COL may have led the league in 1 goal losses (according to Theo) but Theo couldn’t even keep us in a 1 goal game.

by Rob Parker on Apr 6, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I second your hypothesis that JT plays better when he’s the underdog, but man, it doesn’t matter a lick if he continues to allow pedestrian goals in the playoffs.

I hope someone tapes today’s K. Jones keepsake on the inside of his mask.

from the house that Red Jesus built

by bigonetimer on Apr 6, 2009 3:03 PM EDT up reply actions

True dat.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Apr 6, 2009 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Explanation Needed

Panthers win out they make the playoffs?

First tie-breaker after games played is Wins. NYR has more wins than FLA. They are both tied in points. If NYR win out, THEY make the playoffs. NYR has to lose a point to open the door for FLA.

by FFSEnough on Apr 6, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Additional

Based on tie-breakers, 7 points for MON means 44 wins and 99 points. PIT can get to 99 points with 45 wins. This would put MON’s magic number for 6th seed at 8 points, not 7 as PIT owns all tie breakers under the scenario of them winning out.

MON still controls their destiny, 4 wins and 6th is theirs. But 7 points doesn’t quite cut it without help

by FFSEnough on Apr 6, 2009 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Yep, everything you said here is right. I had the tiebreakers mixed up. I thought it was H2H points, but it’s not. Wins is #1. I’ll correct my analysis going forward. Thanks.

by RickyRage on Apr 6, 2009 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

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Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Florida Litter Box Cats	53	25	17	11	61
Washington Japers' Rink	54	28	21	5	61
Winnipeg Arctic Ice Hockey	56	26	24	6	58
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