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NHL Playoff Death Watch: Tortorella out, Vigneault in; huge night for wild cards
Since we're down to the final moments of postseason life for teams in contention, Puck Daddy solemnly begins a daily countdown to annihilation.
Fare thee well, Vancouver Canucks. May you enjoy Alain Vigneault’s Cup run with the Rangers while pondering what anger management lobotomy the NHL gave John Tortorella after the Calgary Flames incident …
From Daniel Sedin last night, via The Province, on the “FIRE GILLIS” chants:
“You see that in a lot of buildings where teams miss the playoffs. The fans are as frustrated as we are.
“They were booing the players too. That’s understandable. We should be in the playoffs. … If you can’t take boos, you shouldn’t play in the league.
Of course, the delicious symmetry on Monday night was that the Devils’ loss clinched a playoff spot for the Rangers … on the night Tortorella’s playoff hopes ended.
Hockey Gods, you so cray-cray.
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:
Team | Place/ Pts./ROW (Games Remaining) | Tragic # | % Chance 1st Wild Card | % Chance of 2nd Wild Card B |
Detroit Red Wings | WILD CARD 1/88/32 (1H/3A) | - | 57 | 38 |
Columbus Blue Jackets | WILD CARD 2/87/35 (1H/3A) | - | 31 | 41 |
New Jersey Devils | 9th/84/34 (2H/1A) | 3 | 1 | 6 |
Toronto Maple Leafs | 10th/84/29 (3A) | 3 | 0 | 2 |
Washington Capitals | 11th/83/25 (2H/2A) | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Ottawa Senators | 12th/80/28 (2H/2A) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Carolina Hurricanes | 13th/79/33 (1H/3A) | 1 | - | 0 |
From yesterday’s Death Watch:
“The Devils host the Calgary Flames on Monday night, which is just the sort of weeknight game against a non-conference opponents where the Devils typically lay an egg.”
In fairness, the Devils had their share of injuries and Karri Ramo was a brick wall. But this was a must-win, and they did not.
Detroit hosts Buffalo tonight, while the Blue Jackets begin their incredible, season-defining back-to-back games vs. the Coyotes and at Dallas – the “Rich Peverley game,” in which the Jackets already have a 1-0 lead.
The Leafs are in Tampa, the Capitals are in St. Louis, Ottawa is at the Islanders and Carolina is at the Rangers – all of them potentially facing elimination tight
Meanwhile in the Western Conference:
Team | Place/Pts./ROW (Games Remaining) | Tragic # | % Chance Wild Card A | % Chance of Wild Card B |
Minnesota Wild | WILD CARD 1/94/34 (3H) | - | 99 | 1 |
Dallas Stars | WILD CARD 2/87/35 (3H/1A) | - | 5 | 73 |
9th/86/30 (2H/2A) | 7 | 0 | 25 | |
10th/81/33 (2H/2A) | 1 | - | 0 |
After beating the Jets and increasing their hold on the first wild card to near-lock status, the Wild host Boston.
Dallas hosts Nashville as the Coyotes are in Columbus. Once again we remind you that these teams play each other in the season finale.
Nashville faces elimination tonight.
For the Presidents’ Trophy, the Bruins (113 points) lead the Blues by two points and in ROW. Both teams have four games left. The Ducks have 110 points but only three games left.
