Best case scenario from the weekend that was
2nd Atlantic: Ottawa: 45 GP – 54 PTS
3rd Atlantic: Boston: 50 GP – 52 PTS
2nd Wild Card: Toronto: 44 GP – 50 PTS
In the Hunt
Detroit: 47 GP – 50 PTS
Philadelphia: 48 GP – 50 PTS
Carolina: 46 GP – 49 PTS
Actual standings
2nd Atlantic: Ottawa: 45 GP – 55 PTS
3rd Atlantic: Boston: 50 GP – 52 PTS
2nd Wild Card: Philadelphia: 48 GP – 52 PTS
In the Hunt
Toronto: 44 GP – 51 PTS
Carolina: 46 GP – 49 PTS
Florida: 48 GP – 49 PTS
New Jersey: 48 GP – 49 PTS
Detroit: 47 GP – 48 PTS
NY Islanders: 45 GP – 47 PTS
Buffalo: 46 GP – 47 PTS
Tampa Bay: 48 GP – 47 PTS
Detroit started the weekend (Friday morning) with a 4.5 percent chance to make the playoffs (sportsclubsstats.com). Ended the weekend at 5.1 percent. So a net positive. I’m not thoroughly convinced with the maths that the website uses as an accurate prediction tool, but I think it is an interesting measure to keep in mind. Some of the games that moved the percentage the most were Boston 0 Chicago 1 (+0.3), Carolina 1 Pittsburgh 7 (+0.2), Buffalo 3 Detroit 2 OT (-0.2), Toronto 2 Ottawa 3 SO (-0.2)
Teams to focus on
Detroit! Two huge weekday games against teams they are chasing for a playoff spot.
Los Angeles – On an East Coast swing, could help out the Wings with some road wins.
Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto – Detroit needs to close the gap on these teams to make it.
Red Wings – games this week
Detroit @ Boston – 1/24 7 PM
Toronto @ Detroit 1/25 7 PM
The weekday schedule
I ranked the games on a scale of 1 to 4. 1+ is least important to 4+ for most important
+++Carolina @ Washington 1/23 7 PM – Carolina in the mix for a playoff spot, Washington currently top of the Metropolitan
+Los Angeles Kings @ NY Rangers 1/23 7 PM – West over the East
++++Calgary @ Toronto 1/23 7:30 PM – West over the East. Very important game for Detroit.
++Florida @ Arizona 1/23 9 PM – West over East
++Columbus @ NY Islanders 1/24 7 PM – Columbus on top of the Metropolitan, NY Islanders still battling for a playoff spot
+St. Louis @ Pittsburgh 1/24 7 PM (NBCSN) – West over East
+++LA Kings @ New Jersey 1/24 7 PM – You understand by now
+++Washington @ Ottawa 1/24 7:30 PM – Ottawa putting some distance between themselves and the pack for second in the Atlantic
+Calgary @ Montreal 1/24 7:30 PM
+Buffalo @ Nashville 1/24 8 PM
+Tampa Bay @ Chicago 1/24 8:30 PM
+++Philadelphia @ NY Rangers 1/25 8 PM (NBCSN) – National game worth paying attention to
+++Washington @ New Jersey 1/26 7 PM
++Montreal @ NY Islanders 1/26 7 PM
+++Los Angeles @ Carolina 1/26 7 PM
++++Pittsburgh @ Boston 1/26 7 PM – Boston has been sliding, a team Detroit must pass to make the playoffs
+++Toronto @ Philadelphia 1/26 7 PM – Rooting for a 2 point game. Picking Philadelphia because they are in the Metropolitan.
+Tampa Bay @ Florida 1/26 7:30 PM
+++Calgary @ Ottawa 1/26 7:30 PM
+Columbus @ Nashville 1/26 8 PM
+Buffalo @ Dallas 1/26 8:30 PM
Best case scenario
2nd Atlantic: Ottawa: 47 GP – 55 PTS
3rd Atlantic: Detroit: 49 GP – 52 PTS
2nd Wild Card: Philadelphia: 50 GP – 54 PTS
In the Hunt
Boston: 52 GP – 52 PTS
Toronto: 47 GP – 51 PTS
Carolina: 48 GP – 49 PTS
Florida: 50 GP – 49 PTS
New Jersey: 50 GP – 49 PTS
Tampa Bay: 50 GP – 49 PTS
NY Islanders: 47 GP – 47 PTS
Buffalo: 48 GP – 47 PTS
So as you can see a perfect weekend would result with Detroit in 3rd before the break.