Wings clinch Central Division title (whew!)

[LucRobitaille20 0]

Actually, the event of clinching a spot in the playoffs is an interesting probability problem. It's not as straightforward as letting the ninth place team "win" the rest of their games and comparing their point total to current Wings point total. Consider a simple example:

There are four teams, A, B, C and D that play a 12 game season. At the end of the season, the top two teams make the playoffs. Current standings are as follows:

Team GP W/L/OT Pts

A 10 8-2-0 16

B 9 4-3-2 10

C 9 5-4-0 10

D 10 0-8-2 2

The remaining schedule is as follows:

A vs B

A vs C

B vs C

B vs D

C vs D

Now, using conventional wisdom, we cannot conclude that A has a guaranteed spot in the playoffs, since B and C can win their games and A lose its games and be tied with B and C. By analyzing the possible results of the remaining schedule, however, we can conclude that A has clinched a playoff spot.

In each of the remaining games, there is a maximum of 3 points awarded to the teams involved (2 for the win, 1 for the OT/SO loss). Since we want to see if A can make the playoffs, lets see what happens when A loses its remaining games:

A vs B: B wins

A vs C: C wins

Team GP W/L/OT Pts

A 12 8-4-0 16

B 10 5-3-2 12

C 10 6-4-0 12

D 10 0-8-2 2

Since D has no chance of making the playoffs, we let them lose their games against B and C:

B vs D: B wins

C vs D: C wins

Team GP W/L/OT Pts

A 12 8-4-0 16

B 11 6-3-2 14

C 11 7-4-0 14

D 12 0-10-2 2

We now have one more game to play: B vs C. Either way, only one of those teams will come out with two points, enough to tie team A. The losing team can only get a single point, putting it one point below team A. Thus, we see that A was already guaranteed a playoff spot.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. I'm a math major with a big interest in sports statistics. Hope this helps!

[Lidsyukerberg 0]

Excellent, a math major. You can help me with a word problem that has been nagging at me for a long time.

Bobby, mows his lawn in 3 hours. His lawn is 14ft X 20ft.

Billy mows his lawn in 30 min. His lawn is 20ft X 14ft.

What is wrong with Bobby?

Nothing is so complicated that it can't be further confused by math

I'm just kidding. I'm glad we have you math guys around, because if it was left to me we'd be in a lot of trouble.

[eva unit zero 271]

Actually, the event of clinching a spot in the playoffs is an interesting probability problem. It's not as straightforward as letting the ninth place team "win" the rest of their games and comparing their point total to current Wings point total. Consider a simple example:

The only math we need...based on average occurence of each type of win or loss, the Wings have slightly over a 70% chance of officiallly clinching the division on Thursday.

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

My face is ready for the beard.

[Nero 20]

Detroit has won the division and clinched a playoff spot. Congratulations Red Wings! Thank you for the wonderful season thus far!

[Gordie Howe hat trick 110]

And so begins the beard.

[Statts 4]

And so begins the beard.

I already have one, so I have to shave then start from scratch. Hell yeah.

[RedWingedKitten 9]

Whats that, seven consecutive 100 point seasons?

[eva unit zero 271]

Whats that, seven consecutive 100 point seasons?

Eight. But even more impressive is that it's 12 of 15 that the Wings have hit 100, and one of the 3 misses was 70 points in 48 games.

[cirov19 1]

It's annoying they haven't marked us our nice little 'X' on nhl.com standings. They gave us our points, but not our X.

I am not impressed.

[Kp-Wings 3]

It's annoying they haven't marked us our nice little 'X' on nhl.com standings. They gave us our points, but not our X.

I am not impressed.

Yet, I guarantee that when the league darling San Jose Sharks clinche their spot, they'll already have their championship DVD on sale and everything.

Besides Anaheim, there is no team I want to see crushed more in the playoffs than San Jose. They are easily the most overrated team in the league. It's so funny how everyone hated Joe Thornton in Boston, but now in San Jose, he's regarded as a world hero. I hate that stupid team, just because the media overrates them to such a ridiculous high regard, when they flat out don't deserve it.