Too true. Just to underscore this flirtation with absurdity, merely one or two more wins this season by non-Southeast Division Rangers or Sabres, and a win or two less by Carolina, would mean that Carolina had qualified as the third playoff seed despite having fewer points than not only all other Wales Conference qualifiers but also fewer than a team or two that didn't have enough points to qualify at all.
By the way, I'd also like to add the sound of my gagging as a reaction to The Hockey News' lobbying, at the behest of the NHL itself I'm sure, for an increase in the number of teams allowed to qualify for the playoffs. Just what we've been pining for since the 1980s -- teams with sub-.400 records comporting themselves as challengers for the Stanley Cup. Not to mention a *fifth* round of playoffs, extending the post-season into July.
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Looking at the Eastern Conference it's interesting to see that the final playoff spot to be decided is actually for 3rd place.
In the NHL's world, this makes sense.
Stu
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Carolina Panthers indeed. Wonder where my brain was that day. That's the problem with not having enough sleep.
Now it looks like the Canucks are in, and bully for them. They have played incredibly well since the Olympics. And the Canadiens are in. And Washington is just short, unless the Hurricanes (which is a dumb name for a hockey team, since everyone knows that a blizzard is hockey weather, a hurricane is not) lose the last few and Wash wins. Right now, 1 pt and Carolina and its 4 fans have something to celebrate.
-Alex K
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This is more a question of which of the on-the-bubble teams you think will make it.
I'm thinking that Edmonton will, Montreal will, but Vancouver will fall short. As for the south-of-the-border teams, I don't really want Washington to make it, but I can see them almost overtaking Carolina and knocking the Panthers out.
