Do the Habs even make the playoffs

[rataylor22]

Let's just say that I've seen enough to know when a team is doomed. But please elaborate about your first season as a hockey fan - it sounds quite recent.

Bookmarked for later. Regardless of how I feel about MTL, naively thinking 5 games is a big enough sample size to make any type of judgement is ridiculous. Last year that would have you assuming Calgary, Nashville, and Columbus would be bottom feeders, Anaheim and Toronto as non-playoff teams, Vancouver and Detroit as top teams, and Tampa and Colorado as playoff teams. Quite assuredly, 5 games of the season tells us nearly nothing, regardless of how much hockey you've watch or how long you've followed the game.

[StuntMan12]

Bookmarked for later. Regardless of how I feel about MTL, naively thinking 5 games is a big enough sample size to make any type of judgement is ridiculous. Last year that would have you assuming Calgary, Nashville, and Columbus would be bottom feeders, Anaheim and Toronto as non-playoff teams, Vancouver and Detroit as top teams, and Tampa and Colorado as playoff teams. Quite assuredly, 5 games of the season tells us nearly nothing, regardless of how much hockey you've watch or how long you've followed the game.

Agree with most points here. I notice a lot of people are overreacting even when it comes to the production of certain players early on. It's something like 5 or 6% into the season. A lot of hockey to be played yet, but with that being said, I still don't think Montreal makes the play-offs. Their defence isn't that great, hard time scoring goals and the weight of having to carry a team might be weighing too heavily on the shoulders of Carey Price. I could be wrong but am sure hoping Montreal turns it around, there is nothing more fun than to watch Montreal in the play-offs.

[rataylor22]

Agree with most points here. I notice a lot of people are overreacting even when it comes to the production of certain players early on. It's something like 5 or 6% into the season. A lot of hockey to be played yet, but with that being said, I still don't think Montreal makes the play-offs. Their defence isn't that great, hard time scoring goals and the weight of having to carry a team might be weighing too heavily on the shoulders of Carey Price. I could be wrong but am sure hoping Montreal turns it around, there is nothing more fun than to watch Montreal in the play-offs.

v subjective lol

[StuntMan12]

v subjective lol

LOL ... ah, I love the atmosphere and the pre-game ceremonies are legendary

[tweetdrivr]

Let's just say that I've seen enough to know when a team is doomed. But please elaborate about your first season as a hockey fan - it sounds quite recent.

No, you see it's a joke. I'm not literally wanting to tell stories about my first season as a fan. It's meant to expose the paucity of sense in your comment by likening your hockey knowledge to that of first year fan. It's funny...sort of like saying a team is doomed after seeing 5 games.

[ShawneePanthers]

No, you see it's a joke. I'm not literally wanting to tell stories about my first season as a fan. It's meant to expose the paucity of sense in your comment by likening your hockey knowledge to that of first year fan. It's funny...sort of like saying a team is doomed after seeing 5 games.

Oh fancy! I know you're trying but the line between diss and essay has been blurred. Next time I'll look for references XD

[Mr. Guru]

So Price goes down with an injury and Montreal is 4-1 in that stretch. After starting the year 3-8.

Raise your hand if you predicted that.

*no one raises hand

[evans334]

Bump.

4-0 since Price is back.

Back to a 500 record. 12-12-3

Back in the playoff mix.

[2014olympicgold]

27pts, played 27 games.

Bruins 26pts, played 23 games
Sens 22pts, played 23 games

They need roughly 68pts in the next 55 games. AKA 34-21 record to finish the year.

Still slow your roll.

[evans334]

27pts, played 27 games.

Bruins 26pts, played 23 games
Sens 22pts, played 23 games

They need roughly 68pts in the next 55 games. AKA 34-21 record to finish the year.

Still slow your roll.

My roll will never slow down

Not sure why you think that is a not achievable pace by this team.

[2014olympicgold]

My roll will never slow down

Not sure why you think that is a not achievable pace by this team.

I'm not saying it's not. But they've used up their one bad streak every team is allowed, but they've spent it early. It's doable, but the margin for error is almost 0 now.

[ericdaoust]

I'm not saying it's not. But they've used up their one bad streak every team is allowed, but they've spent it early. It's doable, but the margin for error is almost 0 now.

Is this a rule in the CBA somewhere?

They have more margin for error than the teams behind them. That's how standings work.

[2014olympicgold]

Is this a rule in the CBA somewhere?

They have more margin for error than the teams behind them. That's how standings work.

The chances (and conventional thinking because they have to play other teams, and there's a winner and loser) are crazy thin to think they can go on a 7-10 game losing streak, while teams around them go on a similar streak.

Eastern conference 8^th playoff spot points the last 5yrs:
2016-17: TML – 95pts
2015-16: Flyers – 96pts (final spot in the Atlantic was Detroit with 93)
2014-15: Pitts – 98pts
2013-14: Detroit – 93pts
2012-13: NYI – 55pts (lockout) or a 94pt pace

Average points to get in 94.6pts (I used Detroit’s 93 for this average). Like I said before they need roughly 68pts to get in, or a record of 34-21. Or let’s be more realistic and throw in OTL. Roughly 10 games lost to OTL or shootout loss seems average right?

30.5-17.5-7 to finish the yr. Round that to 30-18-7. They go on another losing skid of let’s say 3-7 over 10games. Pulling their target record to make the playoffs to 27-11-7, meaning they need to win 60% of their games moving forward after that losing skid. That’s a higher winning percentage than when they won the Atlantic last yr (103pt team).

It can be done to sneak into the playoffs, but the battle is major uphill, and we all know they can’t afford to go onto a losing skid like they had already.

How's that for an outline? It's not impossible, but it's tough. Like I said in the post you quoted, it's doable, just tough, plus teams behind them right now have played less games, so actually your statement isn't exactly true, would be if they all played 27games, but they haven't. Geez louise

[ericdaoust]

How's that for an outline? It's not impossible, but it's tough. Like I said in the post you quoted, it's doable, just tough, plus teams behind them right now have played less games, so actually your statement isn't exactly true, would be if they all played 27games, but they haven't. Geez louise

You stated they had their one bad streak out of the way and that's why they have no margin for error which is laughable. Your other statement about GP and what their record will have to be moving forward works though, assuming 93 is actually the benchmark.

[tweetdrivr]

Here’s the other thing...they don’t have to out-point the metro div teams who will almost certainly take those wild card spots... they are going to need to out play Boston, Ottawa, and the Wings for 3rd in the Atlantic. That’s the goal. Will they be better than those three teams (who do have games in hand) the rest of the way? This is a 4 team race now.