Analysis of the analysis of who has the best schedule for the Eastern Conference last month

Toronto – When the ponies fly past the neighborhood in the bend, I am pleased to report that we have some legitimate good playoff races that contain some teams that no one gave the chance in October (I myself).

Today’s piece deals with the race of the Eastern Conference. We will talk about all the chances of the teams, their remaining schedules and how I expect everything to shake out.

Florida, Tampa Bay and Toronto?

These three sit in a different level than the rest of the division, with the senators with 18 games still five points from Tampa. This is not insurmountable, unfortunately for the Sens, Tampa Bay is just as good as every team in the league.

Two of these three probably play a 2: 3 seeds in the first round that is fun for everyone who doesn’t play in the games. And unfortunately it feels as if they are statistically the weakest of the three, even though they are a position to control their fate.

Florida is plus-40 in the Tord differential and Tampa Bay is plus-51. Toronto is plus-16.

When checking the expected goals for and against graphics, both Florida and Tampa sit in the “good good” quadrant. The Leafs do not (they give up too many).

So that Toronto can go deep into playoffs, it would certainly like to draw … everyone apart from these two teams, at least outside the goal. And the Leafs want these two to play each other and beat hell apart in a bloodbath with seven games.

What do the Leafs have for you? Both Florida and Tampa Bay play more street than home games on the track, while the Leafs see a 50/50 split. You don’t want to sleep in Tampa Bay that climb up the overall ranking because the Bolts play 13 non-playoff teams in your last 18 games (both the Leafs and the Panthers 10), but the Leafs have a three-point lead.

If you desire the top position of the division, Florida has the most difficult schedule of the three teams. The Leafs’ are mediocre while the screws are the easiest.

In the end it depends: Toronto will play Florida three times from Thursday evening and Tampa Bay. If the Leafs win the majority of these games, they will achieve a very legitimate shot when winning the Atlantic. Tampa Bay and Florida also play very late a year, which could also be a big swing.

Washington, Carolina, New Jersey

What a strange year in the U -Bahn. The main cities of “reconstruction” could win the trophy of the presidents, the Hurricanes acted against a Top -NHL striker and turned it over.

This is another clear divisional top three because the Blue Jackets do not catch the devils: they are six points back with two games in their hands, but they still have a remaining NHL time plan. Only eight of their remaining 18 opponents are not in the playoffs, and even then it is the Rangers, islanders and Canucks, hardly any push.

In the devils: Do you imagine this team healthy? They hardly had their six best d in the line -up at the same time, and when they (before Christmas) did, they played seven games in a row under 20 shots, of which I think they have never been done in the NHL before.

They are second in the league in goals, have good special teams and good underlying numbers, while they did not lose their regulation after two. Buuut, you lost Jack Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler for the year and Dougie Hamilton for a longer period of time, and I am not sure what the team could manage to lose 1c and 1d and have playoff success.

The best you have for you is that the canes in 2-3 metro matchup do not look as fatal as in previous years, and you have not solved the problem of top-end talents at short notice.

But I will also support this and give the Canes a little love – they create more than any other team in the NHL in terms of expected goals, they defend themselves well and play hard and play hard and given their high -quality team depths if they only get a few parades, they will be difficult to beat.

The caps? Well, you will certainly win the division, and from there it is everyone’s assumption. They are good, but not without holes. Fortunately for you, the one weakness that other teams have shared in the U -Bahn.

Ottawa, Columbus, Montreal, Rangers, Boston, Detroit

We have four original teams outside from the outside, with Ottawa and Columbus holding cards. What a world.

If we wanted, we could include the islanders here who actually have a 10 percent chance of the DOM model to hit playoffs. You still have 18 games and 65 points. They would have to go around 14-4 in the track, so I feel pretty comfortable when I cooked them, but it is not as if teams can’t get it hot, especially those with goalkeeper like the Isles.

Ottawa: These are strong chances for a team, only five points for so many hunting teams, but according to the strength of the schedule, I have them with one of (if not The) The softest remaining schedule in the NHL. Eleven home games, evenly divided into playoff and non-playoff opponents. You probably need a maximum of 20 points to get in (could be less), which means that about 10-8 or 8-8-2 seals the deal. It’s never a castle, but hey, you have to win games to make the playoffs and they are in a good place.

Columbus: This is the history of the hockey season with a good lead. If you ask someone whether the jackets would receive less than 70 or over 90 points this season, 99 out of 100 under 70 points take a difficult schedule, a hard schedule, a top five percentage (without top five talent) and have no elite goalkeeper. It is okay to still be skeptical that you can get in. But it has become a realistic possibility.

Montreal: Habs are not far behind CBJ on the scale “not seen that this has not been seen”. You have the most neutral schedule possible: Nine Home, Nine Away, Nine Playoff, Nine Non-Playoff opponents. Neither bought nor sold on the deadline. They are exactly where a team should be that the page from “reconstruction” will convert to “competition” with some consistency.

Rangers: You should really come to the playoffs, no? You won the President’s trophy last year. You have top-end talents. You have the best goalkeeper in the world (or at least one of the few). But they have a game less than the teams they pursue, more street games than away and more playoff opponents than non-playoff. Can you achieve a dozen victories in your last 17 games? You would definitely think that. But they resisted the chances all season (badly).

Boston: Sometimes when they cut a plant, new flowers grow quickly. Perhaps the bruins will find some new ones after a large activation “They didn’t believe in us!” Energy and rally. You still have a handful of top-end talents, and you only need a hot goalkeeper for a good run that Jeremy Swayman can certainly offer. But their management gave up the group and they no longer have games. Getting a dozen victories in just 16 attempts, feels like a long shot and would still not guarantee a playoff games.

Detroit: The Red Wings have recently lost some massive hockey games to lead the competition for the last playoff places. You need 13 victories in your last 18 games and I see them with one of the most difficult (ok, probably most difficult) remaining schedule. After Buffalo they play Carolina, Vegas, Washington, Vegas, Utah, Colorado on Wednesday. 11 of their last 18 are on the road. You have enough games to get there, but the games are all difficult. The playoffs are starting for them now.

And so the stage is set. Ottawa and Columbus are in great places, while the Atlantic will be a dog construction to avoid a bad struggle in round 1.

For some fans who only wanted to play meaningful games at the end of the year, that’s fun. For those with more loving expectations, the work is only starting.