Capitals Playoff Watch

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 2:41 pm

Wednesday, April 1

Standings going in:

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Penguins (A)   100   2 - clinched playoffs
 2 Canadians (N)   98   3 - clinched playoffs
 3 Hurricanes (S)  90   3 - magic number: 5
 4 Devils          93   4 - magic number: 2
 5 Rangers         93   3 - magic number: 2
 6 Senators        92   3 - magic number: 3
 7 Flyers          91   3 - magic number: 4
 8 Bruins          91   3 - magic number: 4
--------------------------
 9 CAPITALS        88   3 - elimination number: 5
10 Sabres          86   3 - elimination number: 2

Today's Relevant Games:

Hurricanes at Capitals; 7:00
Canadians at Senators; 7:30
Sabres at Maple Leafs; 7:30

Make or break tonight. A regulation win moves the Capitals into a tie for the Southeast Division lead, a regulation loss drops the Capitals elimination number to two. Get excited.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:20 pm

It's do or die. The Caps have got to get this one, and they've got to get it in regulation. If only they would have gotten the last one against the 'Canes in regulation, this would be a completely different conversation.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:10 pm

FIRST STAR -- ALEX OVECHKIN, LW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS Ovechkin video

Ovechkin led all NHL scorers in March with 26 points (14 goals, 12 assists) and recorded a +17 rating in 14 games as the Capitals went 10-4-0 in pursuit of a playoff position in the Eastern Conference. Ovechkin recorded points in 11 of 14 games, including nine multiple-point performances. He recorded goals in nine contests, including his 50th of the season against Boston, Mar. 3. Two of his goals were game-winners, against Boston, Mar. 3 and Calgary, Mar. 12. On Mar. 21 in Atlanta, he became the first player to notch 60 goals in a season since Pittsburgh’s Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr both did it in 1995-96. Entering play Tuesday night, Ovechkin leads the League in goals (62), points (109), power-play goals (21), game-winning goals (10) and shots (430).

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:39 pm

Sweet Victory

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Penguins (A)   100   2 - clinched playoffs
 2 Canadians (N)   98   3 - clinched playoffs
 3 Hurricanes (S)  90   2 - magic number: 4
 4 Devils          93   4 - magic number: 2
 5 Rangers         93   3 - magic number: 2
 6 Senators        92   3 - magic number: 3
 7 Flyers          91   3 - magic number: 4
 8 Bruins          91   3 - magic number: 4
--------------------------
 9 CAPITALS        90   2 - elimination number: 4
10 Sabres          86   3 - elimination number: 2

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:56 pm

Well, two games left, tied for 1st place! C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!!!! great win tonight, I got a little worried when Hartford scored to make it 2-1. What a turn of events after that big save by Huet. I watched the game, but did not have any sound. After the Huet save, when Ovie drilled Staal, did Scott Walker get called for a penalty and negate Ovechkins penalty? or was nothing called?

Oh well, another big one on Thursday night!

GO CAPS!

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:04 am

Sir_Monk wrote:After the Huet save, when Ovie drilled Staal, did Scott Walker get called for a penalty and negate Ovechkins penalty? or was nothing called?

13:03 2nd Period
Ovechkin 2:00 Roughing
Wallin 2:00 Roughing

No penalty to that dirty bastard Scott Walker

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:00 am

No penalty to that dirty bastard Scott Walker

really? cause it looked like he came in throwing haymakers after the Ovie hit. None the less, we win!!!!

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:44 am

The Caps and the Canes each have two games remaining.
The Caps and the Canes play the same opponents in the Lightning and the Panthers.
The Canes play each opponent the night before the Caps play each opponent.
The Caps have to win both remaining games.
The Canes have to lose or tie one game.

It would also help if the Senators, Bruins and Flyers would lose one game each.

Tonight's Games

Bruins @ Devils 7:00PM
Lightning @ Hurricanes 7:00PM
Flyers @ Penguins 7:00PM

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:36 am

Canes lost to Tampa this past weekend, didn't they? Now they have to play Tampa tonight, after a punishing loss to us, while Tampa had the night off.

All We need is for Carolina to lose. Regulation, overtime, doesn't matter...they just need to lose one.

Tonight seems like the better chance. They played very physical last night versus us. They felt they got shafted on some calls. They are going to be sore, and angry, this could throw them off balence and cause them to make some mistakes.

Tampa knows they can beat them. They've had time to rest and get ready for them. Even though Tampa is the away team, they really could be in better shape than Carolina who will be tired, and beat up when they come in tonight.

I think this is the first time I've ever rooted for Tampa!

Go Bolts!

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:37 am

Updated Standings:

Code: Select all

 # Team           Pts  GR

 1 Canadians (N)  100   2 - clinched Northeast
 2 Penguins (A)   100   2 - clinched playoffs
 3 Hurricanes (S)  90   2 - magic number: 4
 4 Devils          95   3 - clinched playoffs
 5 Rangers         93   3 - magic number: 2
 6 Senators        92   2 - magic number: 3
 7 Bruins          91   3 - magic number: 4
 8 Flyers          91   3 - magic number: 4
--------------------------
 9 CAPITALS        90   2 - elimination number: 4
10 Sabres          88   2 - elimination number: 2

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:01 pm

This is going to sound like a stupid question, but what are the magic number, and elimination numbers representative of?

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:15 pm

I believe the magic number is games they need to win to clinch their playoff spot and elimination is the number of games they have to lose to eliminate themselves.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 12:20 pm

From Paul Rovnak, Caps PR person extraordinaire...

Simplifying the Scenarios – Washington’s impressive 4-1 victory in front of a raucous Verizon Center crowd last night against Carolina moved the team one step closer to the playoffs and dramatically simplified the scenarios in which the Capitals would get in should they win their two remaining home games. If Washington is 2-0-0 against Tampa Bay (Thursday) and Florida (Saturday), any of the following would get the team its first spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs since 2003:

-- Carolina goes 1-0-1 or worse in its last two games (beginning tonight)

-- Ottawa goes 1-1-0 or worse in its last two games

-- Either Boston or Philadelphia goes 1-1-1 or worse in their last three games

-- The New York Rangers go 0-2-1 or worse in their last three games

In the event of a tie at 94 points, the Caps would hold the tiebreaker against each of these teams except Carolina.

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:02 pm

Wow, so we are rooting for Tampa, Jersey, and I never thought I'd say this, Pittsburg tonight!

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 1:14 pm

JansenFan wrote:I believe the magic number is games they need to win to clinch their playoff spot and elimination is the number of games they have to lose to eliminate themselves.

Please replace games with points. brain fart.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:30 pm

Thanks for sucking, Tampa Bay.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:11 am

At least the Flyers and Bruins both lost. Now we need to beat the Lightning or none of this matters anyway.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:24 am

JansenFan wrote:At least the Flyers and Bruins both lost. Now we need to beat the Lightning or none of this matters anyway.

Let's hope Tampa does the Caps the same courtesy of giving no effort whatsoever. The Caps will play like the Caps have been playing.

I'd still feel more comfortable knowing the Lightning will continue to play like they are Sucking Hind Inner Teat. After all, Tampa, why break tradition?

Either way, just the thought of relying on the Florida Panthers to win or tie any game is not a comforting one, although I'd be certain they'll give more effort than the Lightning did last night.

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:48 am

Code: Select all

Rank  Team              GP     W     L   OT   Pts  
3 Carolina Hurricanes*  81   43   32   6     92  
4 x - New Jersey Devils 80   45   28   7     97  
5 New York Rangers      79   41   27   11    93  
6 Ottawa Senators       80   42   30   8     92  
7 Boston Bruins         80   40   28   12    92  
8 Philadelphia Flyers   80   40   29   11    91  
9 Washington Capitals   80   41   31   8     90

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:44 am

So, if Ottowa loses tonight, we can tie them. Do we have the tie-breaker on them since we swept them this year?

I watched the Philthy-Pitt game, what a bloodbath! Philthy has to play NJ, and then Pitt again, so we may have a good chance there. Ottowa is not favored to win their remaining two. We may not be able to overtake Carolina, and Boston may win both of their next two, but we have a lot of scenarios to work with.

All we have to do is take care of our own business and win out these next two games...against tired opponents (Tampa and FLA both having to face Carolina the night before they face us).

No excuses...no regrets.

Go CAPS!

GSPODS · Post by **GSPODS** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:05 am

Bob 0119 wrote:So, if Ottowa loses tonight, we can tie them. Do we have the tie-breaker on them since we swept them this year?

I watched the Philthy-Pitt game, what a bloodbath! Philthy has to play NJ, and then Pitt again, so we may have a good chance there. Ottowa is not favored to win their remaining two. We may not be able to overtake Carolina, and Boston may win both of their next two, but we have a lot of scenarios to work with.

All we have to do is take care of our own business and win out these next two games...against tired opponents (Tampa and FLA both having to face Carolina the night before they face us).

No excuses...no regrets.

Go CAPS!

The Caps hold the tie-breaker advantage over every team except the Hurricanes. Although the Caps could conceivably backdoor their way into the playoffs, it would be nice to see them steal the division and the #3 seed from Carolina. Same discussion as ten games ago. Unless the Caps handle their own business, the rest of the discussion is moot. But the way the Caps are playing, I can't see them folding now.

Sir_Monk · Post by **Sir_Monk** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:21 am

The Caps hold the tie-breaker advantage over every team except the Hurricanes. Although the Caps could conceivably backdoor their way into the playoffs, it would be nice to see them steal the division and the #3 seed from Carolina. Same discussion as ten games ago. Unless the Caps handle their own business, the rest of the discussion is moot. But the way the Caps are playing, I can't see them folding now.

It would be nice to see the Caps win the division, but with the way the Eastern Confrence is, I think if we get in we have as good a shot as anyone to make a run. I have a bad feeling that we will end up playing Pittsburgh in the first round.

Bob 0119 · Post by **Bob 0119** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:36 am

I wouldn't mind some payback against the Pens. I know we don't usually play very well against them, but we've shown we can match up with anyone. I think we would benefit from a best-of-seven atmosphere.

Steve Spurrier III · Post by **Steve Spurrier III** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:56 am

A Capitals regulation win and a Senators regulation loss puts us in the playoffs. Awesome stuff.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:10 pm

Caps Media Relations wrote:Simplifying the scenarios – Washington enters its last two games of the regular season within reach of the playoffs, but possibly needing some assistance from other teams – and in all likelihood, two victories – to reach the postseason for the first time since 2002-03. If the Capitals win their last two games, they would make the playoffs if any of the following occurred:

- Carolina loses in regulation or overtime to Florida tomorrow

- Ottawa loses one of its two remaining games in regulation or loses both in overtime

- Boston loses one of its two remaining games in regulation or loses both in overtime

- Philadelphia loses one of its two remaining games in regulation or overtime

Boston and Ottawa play each other tomorrow in Ottawa. If that game ends in regulation, the most one of those teams could earn is 94 points, and the Capitals hold the tiebreaker against both of them. That means that as long as that game is decided in regulation the Capitals control their own destiny.