Last night a linesman did something we've all wanted to do for a very long time:
And of course, Crosby Crosby'd it.
And of course, Crosby Crosby'd it.
April NHL Game Thread
- Thread starter TSC
- Start date
The Stars are minutes away from punting one of their games-in-hand on Phoenix tongiht, losing 4-1 at Carolina. That would be a bad loss.
CBJ beats Philly 2-0, Bob over Mason. Big win for the Jackets to gain some breathing room on Washington and Toronto as well as keep Detroit and a longshot of Philly in their sights.
CBJ beats Philly 2-0, Bob over Mason. Big win for the Jackets to gain some breathing room on Washington and Toronto as well as keep Detroit and a longshot of Philly in their sights.
cshea said:
Amazing how a 0-0 game between the Blues and Flyers can have me on the edge of my seat on Tuesday, but this game on the other hand was like Jacques Lemaire running a Devils scrimmage. Just painfully slow, like they played in a mudpit. Granted the Flyers lost so there's probably a bit of sour grapes working here, but seriously, that was ugly.
If the Rangers win tonight in Denver (they were up 1-0 last I checked), that pretty much locks them into 2nd. The Jackets, however, are only 2 back of the Flyers. So we may get that Philly-Pitt first round matchup that everybody wants.
I think tonight is pretty much lights out for the Caps as Columbus and Toronto both picked up wins.
To have any realistic shot, Washington would probably need to go 5-1 to close the season to finish with 91 points and no tie breakers. Detroit would just need to go 2-3-1 to beat that and they have Buffalo twice still. Columbus would need to just go 3-3-0 to best Washington's 5-1 finish. Unlikely scenario, especially since these teams aren't playing each other.
If there's any hope for the Caps, it's probably Columbus somehow fumbling down the stretch to finish 1-4-1 (losing to playoff teams like Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, and Tampa while beating one of NYI/FLA and getting a loser point against the other). Washington would need just 89 points to top that (4-2 or 3-1-2). However, with a bar that low, the Leafs come into play. The Leafs would need to lose twice in regulation to WPG/TBL/FLA/OTT to finish below 89. A 4-2 finish for Washington would look something like wins over NJD, NYI, CAR, and one of STL/CHI/TBL.
To have any realistic shot, Washington would probably need to go 5-1 to close the season to finish with 91 points and no tie breakers. Detroit would just need to go 2-3-1 to beat that and they have Buffalo twice still. Columbus would need to just go 3-3-0 to best Washington's 5-1 finish. Unlikely scenario, especially since these teams aren't playing each other.
If there's any hope for the Caps, it's probably Columbus somehow fumbling down the stretch to finish 1-4-1 (losing to playoff teams like Chicago, Phoenix, Dallas, and Tampa while beating one of NYI/FLA and getting a loser point against the other). Washington would need just 89 points to top that (4-2 or 3-1-2). However, with a bar that low, the Leafs come into play. The Leafs would need to lose twice in regulation to WPG/TBL/FLA/OTT to finish below 89. A 4-2 finish for Washington would look something like wins over NJD, NYI, CAR, and one of STL/CHI/TBL.
At least the coach had the balls to call out Ovie. If Ovie gives up, he's still getting paid next year. Oates might be gone if they stumble into the offseason.
Caps may need to blow it up somewhat. It just doesn't seem to be working with how they're currently constituted. I don't think a complete blowup is neccesary, but they need to do something.
Gutty 2-1 win by the Devils over the Caps tonight. The Devils, who usually skate four lines, had to start the game with 11 forwards, lost three to injury during the game, and, in the third period, when Damien Brunner had to go to the locker room for an equipment problem, had only 7 forwards left. Still, they managed to dominate most of the third period against the Caps and finally pulled it out.
They lost 3 guys? I knew Elias and thought I heard about someone else but 3? Wow. Shows how much I was paying attention...
Yeah, they lost Elias, Josefson and Henrique. Time for some minor league call-ups for Saturday night's game. Elias looks like he's got a bad concussion from getting his head slammed into the turnbuckle between the benches.The Napkin said:
When I saw Schneider was in net and not Marty, I had a feeling that the Caps weren't getting much offensively. Not surprisingly, Schneider was excellent. The Caps really needed to score on their early 5-on-3 and they didn't. Washington had a great penalty kill that lasted 5:53 of game clock (hook, then a double minor for high sticking with seven seconds left on the original penalty), but they struggled to generate much offensively. On the few good opportunities they had, Schneider was up to the task. A win would have faulted them back to within 3 points of a playoff spot (2 behind CBJ, without the tie breaker).
Washington's only realistic (if winning is realistic) path to the playoffs at this point is 5-0 down the stretch to end with 91 points. Columbus cannot do better than 2-2-1 and Toronto/New Jersey must each lose a game in regulation.
Washington's only realistic (if winning is realistic) path to the playoffs at this point is 5-0 down the stretch to end with 91 points. Columbus cannot do better than 2-2-1 and Toronto/New Jersey must each lose a game in regulation.
Phoenix came back to take a 2-1 lead on Edmonton in the third, but blew the lead with under a minute in the game. Sam Gagner scored the last minute equalizer and also the shootout winner. Despite getting 1 point, it's a pretty big blow to Phoenix's playoff hopes. The Coyotes are now a point ahead of Dallas for the final wild card spot, but Dallas has two games in hand and the tie breaker.
Phoenix's (86 points) remaining games (4): @CBJ, @NSH, SJS, DAL
Dallas' (85 points) remaining games (6): @TBL, @FLA, NSH, CBJ*, STL, @PHX
* - Columbus will start with a 1-0 lead in that game.
Phoenix and Dallas play head to head in the final game of the season, so as long as Dallas doesn't get more than a point ahead before that game and Phoenix doesn't get more than 2 points ahead, the final game will decide who is playoff bound. Columbus, though out of the Western Conference now, will play a large role in deciding who gets the final wild card in both the East and the West.
Phoenix's (86 points) remaining games (4): @CBJ, @NSH, SJS, DAL
Dallas' (85 points) remaining games (6): @TBL, @FLA, NSH, CBJ*, STL, @PHX
* - Columbus will start with a 1-0 lead in that game.
Phoenix and Dallas play head to head in the final game of the season, so as long as Dallas doesn't get more than a point ahead before that game and Phoenix doesn't get more than 2 points ahead, the final game will decide who is playoff bound. Columbus, though out of the Western Conference now, will play a large role in deciding who gets the final wild card in both the East and the West.
Devils with an empty netter look like they're going to beat the Canes
Minny's up big on the Pens.
Dallas is up big on the Bolts
Toronto is down 2 to the Kaneless Jets with about 10:00 left
Detroit has scored three times in the 3rd to come back and tie the Habs at 3 with 7 left
This is going to be a fun final week...
Minny's up big on the Pens.
Dallas is up big on the Bolts
Toronto is down 2 to the Kaneless Jets with about 10:00 left
Detroit has scored three times in the 3rd to come back and tie the Habs at 3 with 7 left
This is going to be a fun final week...
Some important games in the East Wild Card underway tonight. Columbus is up 4-0 against the Isles at the end of 2, and the skidding Flyers are about to take on the Sabres. If the CBJ score holds up, and the Flyers lose, CBJ would jump into the 3rd seed in the Atlantic.
Over in the West, Dallas blew a 2-0 lead against the Panthers and lose 3-2. That was their game in hand on the Coyotes, so that one stings for the Stars but they're still 1 point up on the Coyotes.
Edit: One of the more fascinating races right now is San Jose and Anaheim fighting for the Pacific. Winner gets a WC team in the first round, loser gets the Los Angeles Kings.
Over in the West, Dallas blew a 2-0 lead against the Panthers and lose 3-2. That was their game in hand on the Coyotes, so that one stings for the Stars but they're still 1 point up on the Coyotes.
Edit: One of the more fascinating races right now is San Jose and Anaheim fighting for the Pacific. Winner gets a WC team in the first round, loser gets the Los Angeles Kings.
cshea said:
I am very excited about the possibilities here. With four games to go, they're just a point a part. The beauty? They'll both finish the season with a head-to-head match up that could well be winner to the playoffs, loser goes home. If the current standings hold, you could even get a rare situation at the end of the game where Phoenix has to pull their goalie and win in regulation since a guaranteed OT point would give Dallas a share of the spot while they own the tiebreaker.
This is why sports are awesome. A week ago everyone was pretty cemented into spots, and some winning streaks and losing streaks have totally messed that up. The B's could end up playing PHI, DET, CLB, NJD, or even Toronto, and no one will probably know until the last game is played. Woo playoffs!
Another article on the NHL and advanced stats:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-people-pushing-the-nhl-into-the-advanced-stats-era/
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-people-pushing-the-nhl-into-the-advanced-stats-era/
Former P-Bruin Michael Hutchinson finally made his NHL debut tonight. He was saddled with the loss, but only allowed 1 goal on 17 shots.
John Gibson is also debuting tonight for the Ducks. So far, so far as Anaheim leads 2-0.
John Gibson is also debuting tonight for the Ducks. So far, so far as Anaheim leads 2-0.
Thanks to Calgary for beating the Devils 1-0 this evening. If Washington can win out (4-0), New Jersey and Toronto can no longer catch them. In that scenario where Washington ends up with 91 points thanks to a 4-0 finish, Columbus would need to stumble to a 1-2-1 the rest of the way (or Detroit 1-3) for the Caps to sneak in. Unlikely, but there's still a chance!
- Columbus plays 3 teams in a row fighting for their playoff hopes or home ice (Phoenix, Dallas, and Tampa Bay).
- Detroit still has the Pens and Blues who could be tough, though Carolina and Buffalo look less intimidating.
- Of course, Washington winning in St. Louis, against Chicago, and against Tampa Bay is no easy task. Heck, at Carolina could prove difficult for that team.
There were three NHL games last night and all three ended in shutouts.
- John Gibson made his NHL debut and recorded an 18 save shutout. Not a bad start to his career. He's still just 20, too.
- Karri Ramo helped lead Calgary to a 1-0 shutout win over New Jersey.
- Ilya Bryzgalov backstopped Minnesota to a 1-0 win over Winnipeg.
Flyers built a 4-0 lead in the 2nd and held on for the 5-2 win. 2 for Giroux and the Vinny Lecavalier-centered 4th line produced 2 goals too (Vinny's 20th and Tye McGinn). The Flyers have 7 20-goal scorers which seems pretty impressive, but I think one of Doin Cherry's Bruins teams had 11 (!) Which is just silly.
The Flyers, who were 4-10-1 in November with a 4% chance of making the playoffs clinched a spot. Roy is probably the Jack Adams winner but Craig Berube has to be a finalist.
The Flyers, who were 4-10-1 in November with a 4% chance of making the playoffs clinched a spot. Roy is probably the Jack Adams winner but Craig Berube has to be a finalist.
Tampa's up 1-0 against Philly tonight. Tampa will face Montreal in the first round, Philly's opponent in still TBD. A regulation loss would leave them tied with CBJ (and DET), but holding the ROW tiebreaker.
Phoenix and Nashville are scoreless after 1. The Coyotes are looking to tie Dallas for the final wild card in the West. They need 2 points to do so.
Minny up 1-0 on St. Louis. The Blues are trying to hold off the charging Avs (2 points back) for the Central Division title. The Avs are in Vancouver later tonight.
Phoenix and Nashville are scoreless after 1. The Coyotes are looking to tie Dallas for the final wild card in the West. They need 2 points to do so.
Minny up 1-0 on St. Louis. The Blues are trying to hold off the charging Avs (2 points back) for the Central Division title. The Avs are in Vancouver later tonight.
Tampa beats the Flyers, 4-2. So the Flyers waste their game in hand and remain tied with Columbus and Detroit. Tampa's win, coupled with the Habs 2-0 loss against the Islanders puts Tampa in the drivers seat for home ice advantage in their first round series with Montreal. The Habs remain 1 point up on the Bolts, but Tampa's got 2 games left while they Habs only have 1 game left.
Phoenix down 1-0 early in midway through 3rd against Nashville.
Edit: Meaningless game, but the Devils lost another shootout tonight. 0-12.
Phoenix down 1-0 early in midway through 3rd against Nashville.
Edit: Meaningless game, but the Devils lost another shootout tonight. 0-12.
And the Devils continue their history-making season. Now 0 for 12 in shootouts. 0 for 16 over two seasons. Can anyone stop them?
Colorado beat Vancouver 4-2 last night, so by virtue of the ROW tiebreaker, they've taken over the top spot in the Central.
On the schedule tonight:
Carolina @ Detroit
Columbus @ Tampa- The Bolts should have something to play for since winning their final 2 games assures they'll have home ice against the Habs.
St. Louis @ Dallas- Important for both teams. The Blues are obviously trying to win the Central, while Dallas can wrap up the final WC with 2-points of any kind tonight.
Colorado @ San Jose- Avs are playing for the top spot in the Central (and the West, I suppose). San Jose doesn't have anything to play for, they're locked in to a first round matchup with the LA Kings.
On the schedule tonight:
Carolina @ Detroit
Columbus @ Tampa- The Bolts should have something to play for since winning their final 2 games assures they'll have home ice against the Habs.
St. Louis @ Dallas- Important for both teams. The Blues are obviously trying to win the Central, while Dallas can wrap up the final WC with 2-points of any kind tonight.
Colorado @ San Jose- Avs are playing for the top spot in the Central (and the West, I suppose). San Jose doesn't have anything to play for, they're locked in to a first round matchup with the LA Kings.
Dallas beats St. Louis to clinch the West's final playoff spot. Sunday's game in Phoenix is meaningless.
Colorado is currently down 2-0 at San Jose. If the Avs were to comeback and win, they'd clinch the Central. Remarkable season for them.
Colorado is currently down 2-0 at San Jose. If the Avs were to comeback and win, they'd clinch the Central. Remarkable season for them.