Fun Facts About The Playoff Picture So Far In The East: 4/16/22

Tonight's gam against the L.A, Kings is a big deal for the Blue Jackets.  It's already been said that the Kings are looking for a Playoff bid.  So, why does it matter to the Blue Jackets?  This Kings team is incredibly talented and likely Playoff bound team.  This game tonight will be a great measure against what thee Blue Jackets need to do this off season to be where the Kings are now, next NHL Season.  

Looking beyond our own situation, the East is almost won.  The Pacific Division is settles already with the Panthers, Maple Leafs, Lightning and Bruins heading to the Playoffs for sure.  In our Metro Division 3 teams have clenched their own Playoff spots for this years Stanley Cup.  These teams, in playoff clenching order, are the Hurricanes, Rangers and Penguins.  Notice there are only 3 teams there.  Yes, the final East Playoff spot has not been clenched yet in this division.  

Personally, I'm surprised.  The Capitals have needed few wins and points to seal their fate and take that last spot.  However, this has been the case for several games now.  Right now the Wildcard slots look like this.  

Bruins-  ADVANCE 97 Points.  (Happy for Nick Foligno)

Capitals-  92 Points.

Islanders-  79 Points.

Blue Jackets-  76 Points.  

Each team has 8 games left to play.  Again, this is all hypothetical, but it is still interesting.  As I do my math now, the Capitals need 3 points to tie and 4 to clench their spot.  This means 2 wins or a win and 2 Overtimes forced.  This seems simple until you consider that the Capitals lost heavily to the Maple Leafs last night7-3.  While the Islanders shut out the Canadians, 3-0.  Is it possible the Capitals could clench here soon, definitely.  My point here is that the Islanders are hot right now, whereas the Capitals can have a few huge wins and then not.  In a way, they remind me of the Blue Jackets a bit in that regard, to be honest.  

If you want some real if then fun, here you go!  If the Blue Jackets could win every game through the rest of the season, they would have 92 points.  Now, if the Islanders and Capitals completely fell apart due to injury and such, this could matter.  (note how I'm saying "could" a lot here!  To further the fun, the two teams would be even in points, if the islanders dropped a few games, the Capitals never won another and the Blue Jackets took their final 8.  In this instance the Capitals would have 41 wins to the Blue Jackets 43, meaning the Blue Jackets would gain that second and final Wild Card slot.  Again, I know this is incredibly unlikely, but it is not yet impossible.  For that reason alone it's worth putting in this post, especially for those fans who have lost faith in this team, want to fire HC Brad Larson after 1 season and trade half our players!  Folks you know who I'm taking about!  

Now, thee Capitals tonight are playing at the Canadians.  The Islanders Shutout the Canadians last night, in New York.  I'd love to see a statement win for the Canadians tonight, as I'm sure that loss left a bad taste in their mouth.  Is it possible?  Well, anything is.  Puck drop for that game was at 7:00 PM.  Unfortunately, as I write this the Capitals are up 1-0 with 7:30 to go in Period 1.  Being said, it's only 1 goal.  

The Islanders play the Maple Leafs, in Canada, tomorrow at 7:30 PM.  So, that should be a fun Easter game to watch, no doubt.  

The Blue Jackets take on the L.A. Kings tonight in a very late game, 10:30 PM EST.  Thankfully, this one is on Bally Sports Ohio, so brew that coffee 5th Line!  

Go CBJ!  

Source:

Stats Only (https://www.nhl.com/standings/2021/wildcard)  

    




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