After 29 played games this year, we sit at 32 pts....10 shy of Division Leaders Toronto. We have 2 games in hand, but what is more important to Sens fans
- Win the NorthEast ~ or ~
- Finish top 4 in the Conf. for home ice advantage, and worry more about the boys getting down to 60 minute hockey games, consistent runs, steadier goaltending, and getting in tune right before the playoffs?
We've done the NorthEast Champion thing before, we've done the Presidents Trophy thing before, what has it gotten us?
Yes they can still win the Northeast division as well as the conference. There is alot of hockey to be played. Teams like the Leafs and Philly NJ will cool off and when they do Ottawa has to get hot and that 12 point can disappear in a hurry.
Winning the division is crucial, unless they come 6th in the conference. If Ottawa finishes 4th or 5th, that is almost guarenteed to be the Devils or Flyers in the 1st round because of the weak sister in the Southeast taking the 3rd overall spot in the East. Odds are you'll have to play either of those 2 teams anyway to reach the Finals, but to meet them in the first round is not desired at all. Ottawa either has to avoid coming 7th or 8th, drawing the best 2 division winners, or 4th or 5th for a real tough first round match. It would be such a risk trying to fight for 6th. Ottawa has to win their division, its that simple!!! The same problem exists in the West for Detroit, Vancouver, Colorado and St. Louis. Odds are, 2 of those teams will meet in the first round again if the teams maintain their paces as is.
The only important thing that must happen for the Sens it to start playing hockey the way that they are capable. They need to play 60 minute games and pay attention to the defensive zone responsibilities. If they do that than the team should have some success.
There are 53 games left including 5 with the Leafs and 4 against the Bruins so if they get back to a level of playing good hockey they could win the division and maybe the conference.
I would definitely like to see them in 1 of the top 3 seeds going into the playoffs but if it doesn't happen it will not be the end of the world, no matter what, you have to beat whoever you face in the playoffs and if you don't get any easy series or home ice is not worth worrying about, only how you play each game. At the moment, the team is making too many mistakes and has cost them in the standings but there is plenty of time to get going but it does need to start now.
If you take a look at their goals for (88 ) 3rd in the conference,
AND their goals against (65) 4th in the conference, you get some idea at where they should be(position wise)
If they had won half of their one-goal games (currently 1-10), they would be in the thick of things.
BUT, they didn't!!!
The sens, as a whole, need to get very hungry, :twisted:
Looking ahead at their schedule, I feel they can win the next 13 games.
That would right their ship
Winning 13 games would right anyone's ship. Look what happened to the Leafs all of a sudden. I do howeer doubt that the Sens will win 13 straight. Especially when the Leafs are in that span. The Leafs gopt the monkey off the back (finally) and it'll make for a hell of a game. But back to the original question. Sure, they CAN win the division. However, if they don't, the smart move would be to stay behind Boston, and take 6th, to play the SE winner. Who would you rather play? Tbay/ATL, or Philly/NJ? Kinda a no-brainer. Now it's not necessarily a gimme if they're in 6th, but it's a lot better of a chance. With the way the Leafs are playing, and their soft schedule for especially the next 10 games, I can't see Ottawa making up that many points.
anything is possible. If toronto keeps up this keep pace they will win it for sure. Ottawa has to start winning more games and they will be in contentions....i want Ottawa to win though. I think they will end up in the top 4 in the east conference. If they don't beat toronto they will end up 4th...and only because of that stupid south eastern conference who reserves 3rd.
I'm going to keep this simple, blunt, and to the point..please forgive me if it seems like a short one word post..but thats all I really think is needed in a thread such as this.
anything is possible. If toronto keeps up this keep pace they will win it for sure. Ottawa has to start winning more games and they will be in contentions....i want Ottawa to win though. I think they will end up in the top 4 in the east conference. If they don't beat toronto they will end up 4th...and only because of that stupid south eastern conference who reserves 3rd.
I think you are dismissing 1 of Philly or Nj a bit too quickly. If Ottawa doesn't catch the Leafs, the odds right now would be that the Sens would be the 5th seed at the highest with 1 of NJ or Philly looking more like the 4th seed. Totally agree about the SE comment, the teams should not get ranked for winning a weak division. You get seeded only based on points.
Totally agree about the SE comment, the teams should not get ranked for winning a weak division. You get seeded only based on points.
The idea was to have all divisions represented with at least one team.
OK that's fine, but it come down to pints(oops points).
If, say tampa wins their divison but finishes 6th, that should be their position, and therefore, no home ice advantage.
What if tampa wins their division and ends up in 9th, well then they get 8th.
That is the only time a team should move up in position, just because they won a weak division
Can we still win the NorthEast?
Can we still win the NorthEast?
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