Running NHL 2023-24 regular season thread

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

The Islanders have somehow made the playoffs. Impressive late-season run by a veteran bunch.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Rangers got President's Trophy. They played Ottawa last night like the game meant something to them. I am really excited for the playoffs, but weird not knowing who their opponent will be this late. It's either the Capitals, Red Wings, Flyers or Penguins. I'm OK with any of those, if the Rangers are playing to potential, they win a 7 game series against any of those teams, but I suppose Philly or Detroit would be the "easiest" options. Pittsburgh and NY have way too much history and they still have Sid and Geno. Caps have been playing inspired hockey the last month, I just am not sure how a team with their underlying stats is where they are. It doesn't add up.

 

[Cosmo]

 

[Liut]

That was a hell of a comeback by Detroit last night. The sequence leading up to Lucas Raymond getting the equalizer with 1:17 remaining in regulation was terrific entertainment.

 

[The Big Ragu]

I came here to post this same exact tweet. It's an interesting scenario. I can't believe the Caps are sitting pretty right now for that final WC spot with such a big goal differential. They really came on at the end of the season. Ovechkin turned into the old Ovechkin and Charlie Lindgren is great.

 

[Cosmo]

I came here to post this same exact tweet. It's an interesting scenario. I can't believe the Caps are sitting pretty right now for that final WC spot with such a big goal differential. They really came on at the end of the season. Ovechkin turned into the old Ovechkin and Charlie Lindgren is great.

Noted it earlier in the thread, but the when the Caps lost this season, they REALLY lost. Of their 31 regulation losses, 24 were by at least three goals. That's the huge driver of that GD.

 

[outofplace]

Noted it earlier in the thread, but the when the Caps lost this season, they REALLY lost. Of their 31 regulation losses, 24 were by at least three goals. That's the huge driver of that GD.

The Penguins are actually plus-five. That they are behind the Caps is the result of the Penguins spending most of the season finding ways to lose. There is a good chance they will end the season getting at least a point in 11 of their final 12 games, winning eight of them, but they got it together too late.

 

[MTM]

Here's a simple breakdown

 

[ChrisLong]

I remember covering a similar situation in the old NASL. Teams got 6 points for a win, plus one point for every goal they scored up to 3. The team needed all 9 in the last game to make the playoffs. Question was, if they were leading, 2-1, as the clock was running out, should they put one in their own net to tie the score, then try to get the third goal in OT. Didn't happen, but was a definite possibility.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

The Penguins are actually plus-five. That they are behind the Caps is the result of the Penguins spending most of the season finding ways to lose. There is a good chance they will end the season getting at least a point in 11 of their final 12 games, winning eight of them, but they got it together too late.

It's wild how the Penguins and Islanders (7-0-1 this month) are the most deserving based on how they've played over a longer stretch but that the Capitals (0-4-2 before their current 3-1-0 stretch), Red Wings (5-12-3 w/a seven-game REGULATION losing streak before winning their last two) and Flyers (7-13-5 w/an eight-game losing streak before winning their last two) are better positioned to get the last playoff berth than the Penguins. A wretched race but it's been entertaining in spite of itself.

 

[UPChip]

Was thinking about the Wings today, and needing help from Philly, who is something of a mercenary who is acting for themselves, and this feels like a edgy heist movie starring Gritty. Maybe we can call it the "Montreal Screwjob?" Oh wait, that's something else.

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

Jack Edwards: Retired, napping on the couch

Mrs. Jack Edwards: "GET UP!!!"