Aethernum

Still over 80%. Boston has to beat Ottawa in regulation/OT AND we have to lose to NYR to miss out on the third spot in the Atlantic. And then Philly would need three points in its final two games to knock us out of the wild card spot.

Whole team is getting dominated at the faceoff dot tonight...except Glendening, who has won 9/10.

Watching Larkin manuever (or try to) around Chara is amusing...

A loss today would mean we need to beat NYR to clinch the playoffs (assuming Boston wins). If Boston loses against Ottawa, we're in regardless based on ROW. If we go to a shootout today, we only need a point against NYR.

That's fair.

Kronwall seems like he is having a rough game. Lots of mistakes with the puck, getting beaten on chances...anyone else noticing or is that just me?

Hate the DoG penalty, but since we're on the Power Play we have to convert. Need to get one back before the end of the period so that they can go into the locker room with some confidence.

Too close to call, had to go with the call on the ice.

Have to get the next one. And soon.

Splash of cold water to the face. Wake up, boys!

That's probably to guarantee the playoffs for them. In other words, if tonight went to a three point game, and then Boston and Detroit both won their last games, THEN Philly would need those points. But if Boston doesn't win tonight and loses their last game, Philly doesn't need any more points at all. Because of their game in hand, Philly can't be eliminated tonight. The only thing that can happen tonight is Detroit can clinch third in the division.

Right. There's almost no scenario at this point where we make it in as a wild card. It's either Boston or us, unless Philly decides to collapse these last few games. A regulation win tonight or on Saturday clinches third in the division. Alternatively a SO loss and a point against NYR would do it.

I'm more worried about a third period collapse, from the fatigue. They showed a lot of heart in last night's game and it probably has them spent now. I want at least a two goal cushion going into the third.

It's really simple: Win and we're in. Let's see if THAT motivates them.

Just don't give one up early in the period. That was a problem a few weeks ago, although mainly when Mrazek was in goal. Would love a three goal cushion, because you know Philly will get at least one.

Alright so this Mason guy is actually pretty good. If we can go into the third period with a two goal lead, I feel really good about our chances. Just keep up the effort! Yeah, that was a trip. Unfortunate.

Look at that foot race - Gostisbehere was absolutely pumping his legs, while AA is just smoothly cruising along ahead of him. So much power in the legs! Also I love that Eddie can't even give the kid or the team some credit. AA just got a "fortunate bounce," but Philly's chance right after the goal was skillful and physical even though it didn't result in a goal? Come on, at least try to sound neutral...

A goal and an octopus (maybe from one of our own?) and OF COURSE Gudas responds by trying to start something. Keep it up, boys! Edit - And of course NBCSN rushes to remind us how much better Philly is, we promise...*fingers crossed*

Not necessarily. If we win tonight in regulation and against NYR, the Boston game is irrelevant. But yes, beating Boston simplifies everything.

Nope, can't clinch tonight. And a regulation win tomorrow clinches the playoffs no matter what happens tonight. Here's the breakdown for all the playoff scenarios moving forward. Please, someone correct me if something is wrong: If we win tonight in regulation/OT: Any kind of win in Boston - Clinch the playoffs. SO loss in Boston - Need one point against NYR. Regulation/OT loss in Boston - Have to win against NYR. If we win tonight in a shootout: Any kind of win in Boston - Clinch the playoffs. SO/OT loss in Boston - Have to win against NYR. Regulation loss in Boston - Have to win against NYR, and have Boston lose their last game. If we lose in OT/SO tonight: Regulation or OT win in Boston - Clinch the playoffs. SO win in Boston - Need one point against NYR. SO loss in Boston - Have to win against NYR in regulation/OT. OT loss in Boston - Have to win against NYR, and have Boston lose their last game. Regulation loss in Boston - Have to win in regulation/OT against NYR, and have Boston lose their last game. If we lose in regulation tonight: Regulation win in Boston - Clinch the playoffs. OT win in Boston - Need one point against NYR. SO win in Boston - Have to win against NYR. SO loss in Boston - Have to win against NYR, and have Boston lose their last game. OT loss in Boston - Need to win in regulation/OT against NYR, and have Boston lose their last game. Regulation loss in Boston - Need to win in regulation/OT against NYR, and have Boston lose their last game in regulation.

If we beat Philly tonight it would go a long way towards clarifying the stakes for the Boston game. As amato said, it's entirely possible that we lose both games in these next two days and still make the playoffs if Boston doesn't win their last game. Same thing with Philly. But winning tonight would be huge because it would give us two opportunities to clinch. A regulation win tonight would mean that even if we lost to Boston tomorrow, we could still clinch the playoffs with a win against the Rangers.

Good catch! For some reason I thought we were ahead of them by two in ROW. Edited to reflect your corrections. So it's this: Detroit regulation win - We're in the playoffs. Boston is out. Detroit overtime win - Have to go at least 0-1-1 to guarantee the playoffs. Detroit shootout win - Have to go at least 0-0-2 to guarantee the playoffs. Boston regulation win - Have to go 2-0 to guarantee the playoffs (both wins in regulation/OT). Boston overtime win - Have to go 2-0 to guarantee the playoffs. Boston shootout win - Have to go 1-0-1 to guarantee the playoffs (win has to be regulation/OT).

Of course I didn't account for the possibility of a shootout...Okay, so with the shootout loss by Boston today, here's what things come down to for us against Boston later this week: Detroit regulation win - We're in the playoffs. Boston is out. Detroit overtime win - Have to go at least 0-1-1 to guarantee the playoffs. Detroit shootout win - Have to go at least 0-0-2 to guarantee the playoffs. Boston regulation win - Have to go 2-0 to guarantee the playoffs (both wins in regulation/OT). Boston overtime win - Have to go 2-0 to guarantee the playoffs. Boston shootout win - Have to go 1-0-1 to guarantee the playoffs (win has to be regulation/OT). In other words, even if we lose to Boston later this week our playoff destiny is still under our control. By losing tonight, Boston has put themselves in a situation to need outside help to make it.

Someone can tell me if any of this is wrong. But I believe I've worked out the following scenarios: If Boston loses tonight, the implications for our game against them are pretty huge. This is what would be at stake (if Boston loses) in our game against them later this week: - Detroit win of ANY KIND: We're in the playoffs, they're out. - Detroit overtime loss: We need one win in the remaining two games to make the playoffs. - Detroit shootout loss: We need two points in the remaining two games to make the playoffs. If Boston wins tonight, here's what is at stake later this week: - Detroit regulation win: Need one point in the remaining two games to clinch playoffs. - Detroit overtime win: Need two points in the remaining two games to clinch playoffs. - Detroit shootout win: Need one ROW in the remaining two games to clinch playoffs. - Detroit regulation loss: Can't guarantee playoffs. Would need someone to beat them and deny them at least one point. - Detroit overtime loss: Can't guarantee playoffs. Would need someone to take them to a shootout and deny them a ROW. - Detroit shootout loss: Need two wins in the remaining two games to clinch playoffs. In each of the above scenarios obviously we could still get in over Philly, but since they have a game in hand our fate against them is largely not up to us. Any scenario where we get in over Philly but not Boston (i.e. - as the second wild card) involves Philly losing more than one game, including the one against us.

They can still catch Pittsburgh. Five points in three games guarantees us the playoffs if our loss is to Boston. If we beat Boston in overtime, we need another win. If we beat Boston in regulation, we only need one point between the other two games. Looking more and more like the Boston game decides the season.