The NHL Thread

So Stars have the Central locked up (yes) and home ice throughout?

Think that's right.

Yup and all the playoff teams are accounted for as Vegas clinched in the west

Lots of great teams in the East and West. Playoffs gone be lit!

I don't think they've clinched conf. If they lose reg and van wins out, van conf

yes I think that is correct. it's still a massive long-shot but mathematically correct.

also addressing the elephant in the room today...

winnipeg 7 colorado refalanche 0

whoa...I guess the refalanche don't care about facing winnipeg in the playoffs home or away???

the last 24 hours not too fun for colorado...lose 7-0 and then blow a 3-0 3rd period lead to vgk today. I almost feel bad for them...almost

that should just about wrap up home ice for winnipeg for that series..

Winnipeg's magic number is 1.

That's great for Dallas to win the Division, and your prize...Vegas. Oh, damn.

So let me get this straight.

Coyotes owner is going to sell the team to the Utah Jazz owner for a billion dollars. Team relocates to SLC. But then the NHL gives the current owner 5 years to build an arena somewhere in the PHX area and guarantees him an expansion team at the cost of a billion dollars.

Mind boggling.

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/sports/coyo...

Gary Bettman is so obsessed with making teams work in the Sun Belt it's honestly embarrassing.

I just don't understand why they couldn't play in their old building. Both sides are that petty?

team has over 2 million dollars of unpaid rent to the arena owners which they were not paying which is why the arena refused to let them continue to play there

the only lol side here is the coyotes org, frankly, the NHL should have stepped in, sold the team out from under him a la LA Clippers and taken 3 million out of the sale to go to the arena owners

Maple Leaf Square getting set up boys!

Are you all going to be around on Saturday? Rafiki? Scott C?

Absolutely. Nothing better than the first round of playoff hockey.

Leafs supplying Duff's Wings for Rafiki and anyone who cheers for the Leafs.

the battle for the last 2 Eastern playoff spots is crazy. Islanders are in if they get 2 points in their last 2 games but I have no idea about anyone else. I would think making the playoffs probably means Patrick Roy will get to serve out his entire 3 year contract.

If you are confused don't worry, I know I am! LOL

EASTERN CONFERENCE
The New York Rangers will clinch the Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference and Presidents' Trophy:

If they defeat the Ottawa Senators in any fashion (7:30 p.m. ET; MSG, TSN5, RDS2).

The Boston Bruins will clinch the Atlantic Division:

If they defeat the Washington Capitals in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; MNMT, NHLN, NESN).

The New York Islanders will clinch a playoff berth:

If they defeat the New Jersey Devils in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; MSGSN2, MSGSN) OR if they get one point AND either of the following occurs:

-- The Detroit Red Wings lose to the Montreal Canadiens in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; BSDETX, SN, RDS)

-- The Capitals lose to the Bruins in any fashion

OR if any of the following occurs:

-- The Red Wings lose to the Canadiens in regulation AND the Capitals lose to the Bruins in regulation

-- The Red Wings lose to the Canadiens in regulation AND the Pittsburgh Penguins lose to the Nashville Predators in any fashion (7 p.m. ET; SN-PIT+, BSSO)

-- The Capitals lose to the Bruins in regulation AND the Penguins lose to the Predators in any fashion

The Islanders will clinch the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division:

If they defeat the Devils in any fashion OR if they get one point AND the Capitals lose to the Bruins in any fashion

OR

If the Capitals lose to the Bruins in regulation AND the Penguins lose to the Predators in any fashion

WESTERN CONFERENCE
The Vancouver Canucks (idle) will clinch the Pacific Division:

If the Edmonton Oilers lose to the San Jose Sharks in any fashion (9:30 p.m. ET; TVAS, SNW, SNOL, NBCSCA).

The Predators will clinch the first wild card:

If they get at least one point against the Penguins.

First-round matchups that can be locked today:
Carolina Hurricanes (M2) vs. New York Islanders (M3) – Locked in with the Rangers' AND Islanders' playoff seed clinching scenarios outlined above.

Boston Bruins (A1) vs. Tampa Bay Lightning (WC1) – Locked in with the Bruins' AND Rangers' playoff seed clinching scenarios outlined above.

Florida Panthers (A2) vs. Toronto Maple Leafs (A3) – Locked in with the Bruins' playoff seed clinching scenario outlined above.

re: Coyotes

I can't imagine them being given an expansion team unless the new owner is a Bill Foley-type of guy with deep pockets that is willing to spend money on the team. They already had a new arena built for them in the early 2000s and that has not worked out. I don't blame the Phoenix-area fans - the team has been s**t since forever. Way back when I remember they signed Jeremy Roenick and made the playoffs a few years. Other than that, nothing.

I was living in Phoenix with the Coyotes originally moved there from Winnipeg in 1996. There was a lot of excitement and they played at an arena in downtown Phoenix. That is important because it was not too difficult to get to.

Their new arena out in Glendale (at the time), otoh, was out in the boonies. I can't imagine trying to drive from eastern Phoenix (i.e. the predominately affluent area) to a game in Glendale after work on some random week night. It would have taken forever...and this is before that area got massively built up. Couple that with a team that sucks and I can understand why their isn't much interest. The Arizona Cardinals did the same thing...but NFL is king and planning to spend an entire Sunday out at the stadium is an easier prospect to swallow.

for no real reason at all other than for sentimental reasons, I dug out some coyotes memorabilia from 1996-2000 that I had saved from going to games back then when I lived there:

tl;dr RIP coyotes :(

thx for posting...that is some MIT-level smarts to figure these scenarios out

I know LA doesn't want to play Edmonton.

I know Vancouver doesn't want to play LA.

LEAFS already, amazing what happens when you show up for the start of a game.

Doh a penalty!

Well so much for that....

fwiw I feel ur pain. lately anytime vgk gets a 2-0 lead on the road this is what happens

also I am only realizing now that no one has scored 70 goals in a season since 1992-1993. Unlike in Canada I assume, we don't get much Maple Leafs coverage here. I have been totally oblivious to what Auston Matthews is doing.

He has also hit 20 posts this year, so he would be pushing 80 goals if half those went in.

If Boston loses and Florida wins tonight, I think Leafs vs Boston if I read it right.