OT - Red Wings Finish 6th, What Playoff Predictions

Submitted by xtramelanin on

Mates,

Looks like the Wings will finish 6th with 100 points.  I would think they'd be playing Washington which only has 101 points, but maybe they have changed up the formula this year and their opponent is.....  I noted earlier that they sat Datsyuk, Kronner, Franzen (concussion), Z, Abelkader, etc. for this last game and have no idea what they'll look like in a playoff series.  

Knowing they stumbled pretty significantly the last month, the Question is:  Who will the Wings play and how do you think they'll do?

 

WMUgoblue

April 11th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^

I'm surprised people don't seem to grasp the concept of the new playoff format. We aren't 6th, we're 3rd in our division so we will play the 2nd place team in our division the Tampa Bay Lightning. If we win that series then we will face the winners of the Montreal-Ottawa series.

bluewings

April 11th, 2015 at 9:56 PM ^

Rather play Tampa over Montreal. Hopefully we can beat Tampa and that gives us confidence going forward. Need a goalie to step up because petr and jimmy both not doing well

Yostbound and Down

April 11th, 2015 at 10:00 PM ^

Yes, as of now the Canadiens game is in OT so they clinched the top spot in the Atlantic. The matchups are

Sens vs Habs

Wings vs Lightning

Pens vs Rangers

Islanders vs Caps (have to wait until end of the shootout to see who gets home ice)

 

Wings could knock off Tampa but I don't see them getting past the Habs.

Edit: OP the playoff formula is actually pretty simple. Top 3 in each division make it. If the 5th place team in one division has more points than the 4th place team in the other, they make it as well as a wild card...otherwise it is just the 2 4th place teams. Lower of the 2 wild cards goes to the division of the Conference Champ (in this case the Pens and the Rags respectively) and then playoffs are within the division until the conference finals.

flashOverride

April 11th, 2015 at 9:58 PM ^

As I said in the other thread, I think this is better. If they lose to Montreal they'll say they just ran into a hot goalie. A series against Tampa is, unfortunately this year but maybe better for the long run, going to demonstrate just how much work the Wings need defensively.

flashOverride

April 11th, 2015 at 10:01 PM ^

In any case, I have to say I don't see any huge upsets in the East. Normally I'd pick the Rangers for that but they seem like a pretty complete team possibly headed for a special spring. They'll come out of the East and probably meet St Lou. I feel a choke coming from the Ducks. 

enlightenedbum

April 11th, 2015 at 10:04 PM ^

The advantage of playing in Tampa is it's less of a home ice advantage.  Tampa's been desperately trying to make sure Wings fans don't get those tickets.  Easier to win there than in MSG or Montreal.

Not that home ice is a big deal in hockey and the Wings don't really have the defense or goaltending to make a deep run.

Perkis-Size Me

April 11th, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^

"Easier to win there than in MSG or Montreal."

While you may be right from an intimidation standpoint (and these are professional athletes, so intimidation doesn't really count for much), Tampa has the best home ice record in the league. And that's still considering the fact that at least a quarter of the arena is filled with transplant fans any time a team like the Wings come to town.

Have to beat them on the ice, not in the stands. And they've been really tough to take down this year, even with recent injuries.




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Achilles

April 11th, 2015 at 10:31 PM ^

Exactly my worry. Wings were killing it a couple of months ago, but the goaltending has been horrific lately. Howard has been allowing too many easy goals. Mrazek has been shaky at times, but more consistent compared to Howard; he should start.

mgoblue0970

April 12th, 2015 at 2:04 AM ^

Hmmmm... just *exactly* how has Mrazek been more consistent?

Here's some *FACTS* from the last 12 games...

Mrazek
 
Thu, Mar 26 vs San Jose L 6-4
Sat, Mar 28 vs Tampa Bay W 4-0
Tue, Mar 31 vs Ottawa L 2-1 SO
Thu, Apr 2 vs Boston L 3-2
Sun, Apr 5 vs Washington L 2-1
Sat, Apr 11 @ Carolina W 2-0 
 
Howard
 
Sun, Mar 22 vs St. Louis W 2-1 OT
Tue, Mar 24 vs Arizona L5-4 OT
Sun, Mar 29 @ NY Islanders L 5-4
Sat, Apr 4 @ Minnesota W 3-2 SO
Tue, Apr 7 vs Carolina W 3-2 
Thu, Apr 9 @ Montreal  L 4-3 OT
 
Mrazek has gone L-W-L-L-L-W in the same span that Howard is 3-1-2
 
Clearly Mrazek is more consistent
 
/s
 
 
 
 

 

teldar

April 12th, 2015 at 8:59 AM ^

How you can look at those scores and see Jimmy as being more consistent. More consistent at allowing pucks in the net behind him maybe.

Howard allowed 19 goals in 6 games. Not exactly stellar. 

Mrazek had two shut outs, the only games he won, and allowed 13 goals in total. I'll take a goalie with AN ENTIRE GOAL AGAINST LESS on average. And 1/3 of his games he wins by shutout.

Mrazek

2.16gaa, 2 SO in 6 games, 1 game 5+ goals against

Howard

3.16 gaa 0 SO in 6 games, 2 games 5+ goals against

 

 

Howard has OBVIOUSLY been better and more consistent. /s

mgoblue0970

April 12th, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^

Your proved my point for me!  Ha ha ha ha!  Both goalies are 16gaa in the same span but yet one posted that Mrazek is somehow more consistent. 

Troll on!!!

bleed_trueblue17

April 12th, 2015 at 12:31 PM ^

Are you seriously that blind? Or are you the troll. You provide a win loss record hardly indicative of a goaltender in and of itself. Before Howard's latest streak of terrible he was like 15-6 and something. But you could tell he was shaky and I didn't like his play.



You must take into account Save percentage, GAA(which actually is derived from D play also not just goalies), and wins.



Mrazek clearly has a much better goals agains average, so either he's much better or the team plays better in front of Mrazek. Neither bodes well for Jimmy.

Win loss record would be heavily in favor of mrazek if the offense wouldn't have disappeared as soon as he got the call up. This is no coincidence either we've lost Cole Abby, datsyuk, Z, sheahan for stretches. All major contributors.



Your analysis is far too ignorant of other AT LEAST equally important variables. The stats as a whole point in Mrazeks favor. Whether that's due to him or the team(it's both IMO) doesn't matter. I won't draw a conclusion cuz there would be positives to both, but your conclusion is so biased and lacking critical data it's funny

mgoblue0970

April 12th, 2015 at 8:53 PM ^

Blah blah blah... never has so many words been written but something cogent never said.  How the hell did you get into Michigan with reading comprehension like that???  Oh, I get it, you're a Walmart Wolverine.

Anyone who uses "lol" and "cuz" in critical thinking should probably just shut the fuck in the first place.

I'll spell it out for you junior.  I was responding to the comment that Mrazek has been more consistent.  This has nothing to do with whether  I like Mrazek or don't like Mrazek.  It has nothing to do with whether or I like Howard or don't like Howard.  

<

Mrazek clearly has a much better goals agains average,

Ummm I hate to break this to you princess but Mrazek's GAA is 2.38. Howard's is 2.44. If you think 0.06 is "clearly better" you're delusional.

Again, I deal in facts -- not emotion. Despite your attack, and writing all that drivel above, you *still* haven't illustrated how Mrazek is more consistent.

flashOverride

April 11th, 2015 at 10:14 PM ^

Glad to hear Babcock say Marchenko is in for the playoffs. Though I hope it doesn't mean Kronwall is hurt. I figured his scratch tonight was just for rest, be a bummer if that isn't the case.

GoBlueBill

April 11th, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^

Call me crazy but I would rather the Wings open against the Canadiens .  For some reason I just dont want them to face Stamkos and that giant Bishop in goal. 

I know Carey Price, Vezina and possible league MVP . But i just have a hunch . He is tired and the Canadiens may be without their top scorer for several games . The Habs lose the opening game  and the media pressure starts .

Unless the Wings can return to being  the team that played the first 60 games. I dont think it will matter anyways  .

Mrazek, maybe in goal = rookie.

Howard in goal = just not consistent enough  .

 Since I think they will lose to TB. Id rather see Mrazek start in goal to get Playoff experience .

 I hope we have seen Daniel Cleary play his last game in a Red Wings jersey. We better have .

Win or lose Lets Go Red Wings !!

bleed_trueblue17

April 12th, 2015 at 12:09 PM ^

And I agree with it. We don't want to play either of MTL or Tampa. Insane goalies and solid D cores. We know we are iffy at defense and goaltending so we need goals. They will be much harder to come by with these two teams.



Teams like OTT or NYR or NYI or PIT we Match up way better with. Either streaky goalies or iffy D cores even if forwards are strong

Clarence Beeks

April 11th, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^

Best matchup possible for the wings. Everyone is acting like they are scared of Tampa, but Tampa isn't built for the playoffs. Weak, inexperienced defense and completely playoff unproven forwards.

Perkis-Size Me

April 12th, 2015 at 8:53 AM ^

I don't know, but that wasn't really the point of my post.

I don't follow the NHL enough to know who the better matchup would be, scheme-wise and all of that. Either way, once you get into the playoffs, what happened in the regular season doesn't mean squat. It's a whole other experience, and everyone ups their game that much more.




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bleed_trueblue17

April 12th, 2015 at 12:04 PM ^

Rangers: We match up well against them for whatever reason, won the season series and besides Nash no insane pure goal scorers. And I'd rather face talbot than bishop.



Islanders: young D core besides boychuk who's old. Young forwards but good depth. However if you shut down Tavares line they tend to faulted and halak has been iffy of late



Ottawa: I think almost anyone would disagree and I get why. But one team simply doesn't keep a streak like that going forever. They are due for a comeback to reality. Also iffy d core beyond Karlsson and Hamburgler will catch the same phenomena as the team. Their forwards don't scare me at all and look for their rookies(Hoffman, stone, etc) to hit a playoff wall similar to the likes of Tatar and nyquist. They've never experienced the atmosphere before.



Beyond those teams obviously the Pens but that wasn't even a remote chance of playing them. Or the islanders either I guess. But I'd play those four teams before Tampa, MTL, or WAS. Those teams D core and tampas quick strike offense scare me. We need to be able to score cuz I don't fully trust D and not goaltending at all.

Achilles

April 11th, 2015 at 10:26 PM ^

Wolverine Devotee sure hates pro sports. He was freaking out in the NCAA thread about a meaningless game (to us) and has nothing to say about the Red Wings.

Stringer Bell

April 11th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ^

Both TB and Montreal beat us like a drum in the regular season.  I'm thinking it's gonna be a fairly short playoff run for the Wings this year.  Defense and goaltending just aren't there.

bleed_trueblue17

April 12th, 2015 at 11:52 AM ^

You mean price swept us.. Don't get me wrong we are the worse team but without price we pick up 2 wins against them this year I bet. A split would have been the case. Price is a MONSTER and if the habs don't choke like usual he will be the reason

UofM Die Hard …

April 11th, 2015 at 10:58 PM ^

Every game is going to be a barn burner, pumped for the awesomeness that is about to occur. 

 

Montreal is too good in my opinion, but I always give the Wings a shot to win, if we can stay healthy we got a solid chance.  

bluenoteSA80

April 11th, 2015 at 11:05 PM ^

I have no huge expectations for a deep playoff run from this year's Detroit Red Wings, but I would like to point out one interesting and telling statistic. This current playoff run has lasted nearly 25% of the entire history of the National Hockey League. That is just insane in the modern era of any sport. We are watching a machine at work here and I have thoroughly enjoyed being a Wings fan.