3/9 Western Conference Playoff Race Update - 24 Points out of 34

by Brandon Bibb on Mar 9, 2010 6:00 PM CST in Dallas Stars Analysis

Rather than post a confusing spreadsheet that tried to defy the laws of cascading style sheets (like what this t-shirt sarcastically does), I'll let former SBN hockey head honco and current Toronto Globe and Mail columnist James Mirtle explain the math of the playoff race.

Western Conference (94 points)

1. San Jose - 0-16-1
2. Chicago - 1-15-1
3. Vancouver - 6-11-0
4. Los Angeles - 6-11-0
5. Phoenix - 5-10-1
6. Colorado - 7-10-0
7. Nashville - 9-7-1
8. Detroit - 10-7-0
9. Calgary - 10-6-1
10. Dallas - 12-5-0
11. St. Louis - 12-4-1
12. Minnesota - 13-4-1
13. Anaheim - 13-4-0
14. Columbus - eliminated (max: 93 pts)
15. Edmonton - eliminated (max: 82 pts)

As you can see, it's a tall order for your Dallas Stars. Even taller than last week, I'll add. Thanks to Detroit sprinting out of the gates out of the Olympic Break, the cut line has actually been bumped up a few points.

And as long as Detroit continues their break away from the a peltonen of teams that includes the Stars, Flames, Blues, Wild, and Ducks, that cut line could get even higher.

As it stands now, the Stars can only drop 10 more points out of 34 available points the rest of the season. Otherwise, it'll be a second consecutive season of post-season-less hockey at the AAC.

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Comments

Oh. Well...great.

"It would've been a huge momentum boost if we had beaten the St. Mary's School for the Blessed, Blind, Deaf and Dumb."

Hockey nut since the night of 5/2/08. What a night it was.

DefendingBigD
Twitter: PatIVERSEN

by Pat Iversen on Mar 9, 2010 7:33 PM CST reply actions

95

Just bumped up to 95 with Calgary’s win over Detroit. The good part is, it was in regulation which was the best outcome for the Stars. New goal: 12-4-1.

by LilEagle on Mar 9, 2010 8:39 PM CST reply actions

Scratch that, I jumped the gun

by LilEagle on Mar 9, 2010 8:40 PM CST up reply actions

I like the cycling reference,

however…

he a peltonen of teams

it is peloton vice peltonen. :-)

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by Derek B on Mar 9, 2010 8:47 PM CST reply actions

"Peltonen" is

a great word for a future game when Kari faces a bunch of shots! :)

by laurenb on Mar 9, 2010 10:01 PM CST up reply actions

Ha

Yes, I confused the French cycling term with the former Florida Panther.

It’s corrected now.

Defending Big D | Knee Jerk City | This is Anfield

by Brandon Bibb on Mar 9, 2010 10:31 PM CST up reply actions

With the current D-core in place.....

I’d say EVERY game Kari faces will be a “Peltonen” heheheh.

by deaken77 on Mar 10, 2010 7:32 AM CST up reply actions

Dear Lord,

Please let Razor use that as a description during the next game we lose 6-0

by Tsudbury on Mar 10, 2010 7:54 AM CST up reply actions

Regardless of what the stats say...

we have a great chance to gain a point on the 8th spot. Plus the ducks lost last night, so they’re firmly 2 points behind us now. Looks like the breaks came our way this time.

by Tsudbury on Mar 10, 2010 7:56 AM CST reply actions

These projections are Bogus

This is all based on a presumption that the teams ahead of Dallas will attain a certain record over the rest of the season. Making projections based on other projections is a waste of time.

The facts:

The Stars are only 5 points out of a playoff spot with a game in hand. A team can gain 3-5 points on another team in a 3-4 game span without any huge miracles.

Without knowing what Calgary and Detroit will do the rest of the way, we cannot project how many points Dallas needs here on out.

Just take one game at a time…they are still firmly in the race.

by 5PointPuckism on Mar 10, 2010 9:48 AM CST reply actions

Projections

I’ve said basically the same thing before. There is no hard and fast rule, but 94 points is reasonable based on past performances.

One team winning over another does NOTHING to alter the final number of points needed. I’m not sure where this came from but to use the Stars as an example, they could go on a 11 game win streak (stop laughing) and then go 0-5 to finish it out and not make the playoffs.

Point being, it’s important to win and stop waiting on others to win or lose. Day to day, things aren’t going to change much.

by jabudi on Mar 10, 2010 12:29 PM CST up reply actions