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NHL Playoff Death Watch: LA Kings shoot (out) own foot; Pens vs. Sens
Since we're down to the final moments of postseason life for teams in contention, Puck Daddy solemnly begins a daily countdown to annihilation.
RIP San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. May the former find some way to convince two guys who don't want to leave to relocate, and let a wonderfully coiffed coach find a huge contract elsewhere; may the latter at least get to see Jamie Benn win the Art Ross.
The Los Angeles Kings are once again on the outside of the playoffs looking in, and they only have a skills competition to blame.
The loss to the Vancouver Canucks on Monday night moved the Kings to 2-8 in the shootout, which is a whole lotta points left on the table when you’re a point behind the Jets and tied with the Flames.
Anze Kopitar? One-for-nine. Jeff Carter? Two-for-nine. In fact, the Kings have only gotten shootout goals from three players – those two and Marian Gaborik – despite have eight other players taking chances.
The Kings are right back at it tonight at Edmonton, while the Jets are in St. Louis and the Flames host the Coyotes.
Here are the current standings. The Death Watch tracks the final Wild Card spot and the teams that are chasing it. Their “tragic number” is the number of points gained by the final wild card team or lost by the team chasing it.
All playoff percentages are from Sports Club Stats; tragic numbers and other figures via the NHL. A team is eliminated from play-offs when their "Tragic Number" hits 0.
Here’s the Eastern Conference picture…
PENS AND SENS!!!!
The Ottawa Senators host the Pittsburgh Penguins in Tuesday night, with a chance to tie the Pens with 95 points. But Pittsburgh will still have the ROW advantage; in fact, the Sens can only match the Bruins and Red Wings in ROW, but would need a lot of help.
And that’s the bottom line: Ottawa can win out, but they’re going to need some help. And considering that the Penguins are the only team of the three they play before season’s end, this one’s essential.
The Senators could make this thing interesting with a win. They can’t be eliminated even if they lose and the Red Wings win, as the Bruins are idle.
The Red Wings host the Carolina Hurricanes, while the Islanders are in Philadelphia, trying to hop back in front of the Capitals and also clinch a playoff spot.
Meanwhile, in the West …
The Wild still haven’t clinched, and visit the Chicago Blackhawks tonight in a huge game for both. The Blackhawks are two points in back of the Predators for No. 2 in the Central; the Preds are in Colorado tonight, one point in back of St. Louis, who hosts the Jets.
The Blues, incidentally, are 3-0-1 against the Jets, and control their own destiny for the Central Division lead.
The Blackhawks are 3-1-0 against the Wild this season.
The Kings are 3-0-1 against the Oilers.
The Flames are 4-0-0 against the Coyotes, outscoring them 17-6.
If the playoffs started today …
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