carpandean

Besides the obvious two, there are some other games to watch: - Vancouver beating Winnipeg would almost guarantee them a playoff spot by the time they play Arizona. - Regardless of whether Calgary wins, they will be playing for their playoff lives when they face Arizona, but I'm thinking that a win would probably be better. Of course, a loser-point for Edmonton would help us forget about them, once and for all. - Columbus is playing well, despite being out of the playoffs, so hopefully they'll try to play spoiler against the Pens. We may need Pittsburgh to actually try in the last game. - A Rangers loss would help ensure that the Ducks don't have anything to play for in their last game against Arizona. We may need Anaheim to not try in that one.

Just for complete accuracy, I should add that if we go 4-0-0 with all four wins in regulation/OT and the Coyotes go 3-1-0 with all three wins coming in the shootout, then we would end up tied in points with 60 and tied in ROW with 18, so we would lose out on the head-to-head tiebreaker. :death: What's really fun to think about is that, were that to happen, and the Oilers were to lose out in regulation, then the Sabres would finish in 28th. :o As long as we don't win out and/or the Oilers pick up at least a loser point, then we can finish no lower than 29th.

I was playoff game, comeback win animated ... in my living room. As I said before the infamous Coyotes game, I know that I could not be a good fan in the building at this point, so I wouldn't go even if I were given tickets. I continue to hope that the fan-appreciation game against the Pens to end the season will truly be meaningless (i.e., 30th will be locked up for whomever will get it), so that the game is civil, if not jovial.

Ignoring the effect you mention in the second line (which, really, you cannot), the standings wouldn't be much different. Basically the good teams would end up more ahead, but still at the top, and the bad teams would end up more behind, but still at the bottom. The ordering of the middle four or five teams in each conference would likely change, but that's about it. Honestly, any reasonably "fair" system is going to result in about the same standing over an 82 game season. The teams that would be most affected would also be affected by making it a 72 or 92 game season. That said, the effect you mention, even if it wouldn't affect the standings much, would likely have an effect on the actual game play at the end of tied games. Plus, it's wouldn't hurt my sense of logic.

Ah, yes, me and all of my morally-corrupt friends and co-workers. Sure is. I'd love to get milk chocolate (wins) without the almonds (two points), but that just isn't an option (in the candy or the analogy.) For now, I'll take the bitter taste of the dark chocolate (losses), because I can't stomach the almonds. Brad May said something like, "there is a group of Sabres fans rooting for a loss" and Brian Duff chirped out, "a small group." I laughed out loud at that. Maybe small in the building, which is probably a good thing, but definitely not in general.

Nothing seems like it's going to be easy for us fans. Last night, they nearly completed another come-from-behind victory, this time against a good team (on the second game of a back-to-back with late night travel). They won't give in to the Islanders. We can only hope that the stakes are high enough for the Isles to push them (NYI) over the top. We needed 4 of 10 games to "go our way" (i.e., Sabres losses in regulation or Coyotes wins; Sabres and Coyotes OT/SO losses each would count as 1/2) and we got a magical one last night, so now we need 3 of 8. Sabres have three tough opponents (and one weak one), but I wouldn't count on three losses. Have to hope for one (or even two halves) from AZ. They started poorly against the Sharks last night, but their backup still kept them in a game in which they were terribly out shot and started down two early. Let's hope they play them a little tougher tonight at home and that Mike Smith actually plays well. Reports were that both Sharks' goalies have been sick. 'Yotes didn't test Niemi enough, but maybe they can get on Stalock if he plays.

Can I get the CliffsNotes?

Every sports fan knows that the results aren't in their hands. However, if you start thinking about how little effect you actually have (none), then sports becomes a pointless waste of time that we should all feel silly for putting any emotion into. Your sample is very different than mine. Every Sabres fan that I have talked with at work or at home is now, even if they weren't initially, pro-tank. In fact, I haven't met one person who feels embarrassed or disgusted. The closest they have gotten were comments like, "feels a little dirty, but ..." or "looking forward to next next year, but ..." followed by "tank on!"

We can go 0-4-0, 0-3-1, 0-2-2 or 1-3-0 and not be caught. Anything more, they need help.

Yes, as long as the 1 is in regulation.

They were down by two before they had a shot on net.

:w00t:

You're right ... because our immediate opponent was actually Colorado and we didn't hear about how the team was so "galvanized" as you say when they lost to them.

Hopefully, the Coyotes players will want to play spoilers, because ... you know ... players don't think about losing, only meaningless moral victories.

They clinched a playoff spot tonight, so hopefully they won't have a letdown game. Currently sitting 4th in the conference, but could easily move up.

I was worried that we'd be seeing a backup, since Crawford played tonight (in a 3-1 win over Vancouver), but Chicago's backups have better numbers (though, smaller sample sizes) than he does. We'll probably see Scott Darling. While I'd love to see Makarov, I'm betting on a battle of the 6'6"-ers.

Oilers getting smoked by the Kings (8-1 with half a period left.) If the Sabres really go on a run, 28th may still be possible. As bad as 33.5% would be, 11.5% would be much, much worse.

Yeah, at 18, I was 5' 11", 155 lbs (and a collegiate athlete). By 20, I was 6' 2", 190 lbs.

... beats his ace high. :P

I just realized that they passed last year. In fact, unless they lose out (wouldn't that be nice*), they won't match last years badness. * My ideal would actually be four regulation losses, then close out the season with a win (would not affect 30th.)

McDavid or Eichel would be your dominant #1 center in a year, if not sooner. Reinhart would be a very strong #2. If you end up with the third pick and choose a center, then he would probably spend another year in juniors before coming up and being your #2 behind Reinhart. Big difference. He talked about it on WGR. Nolan told him it was his for the rest of the season and he said (basically) that it almost brought him to tears.

Pretty sure that was an April Fools Day post. It would be bigger news than it was and would be so far from what Central Scouting says. I have no doubt that #3 and #4 wouldn't get you either #1 or #2. I can't imagine what, if anything, could get it done, but I can all but guarantee that you wouldn't want to pay it.

Well ... yeah. Let's not do that, then. ;) Edit: I just realized that my sig line quote may prove particularly relevant.

If they finish 29th behind Arizona, then it would also be fine for the 'Yotes to win the lottery.

Ristolainen, Girgensons, Ennis, Moulson, Bogosian are the five that I definitely see Deslauriers, Foligno, Zadorov, Larsson are probably staying Grigorenko is a big question mark and the rest will likely be gone this year or the next.