[8-MAR-2019] 14 games to go...

The playoffs are starting to shape up, just a teensy bit. 

I started my spreadsheet today, as I typically do this time of year. I would not bet on Ottawa, Detroit, or the Devils from New Jersey making the playoffs this year. I also wouldn't bet on the Ducks or the Kings, who have a handful more points than the basement-dwelling Sens. 

Poor, hapless Ottawa has played 68 games, and have only 52 points to show for it. Their 23-39-6 record is bad enough to put them in last place. The Kings aren't doing much  better, at 24-35-8 in 67 games played (56 points). But when it comes to goal differential, Anaheim is the one in the basement, with -58. 

Ouch.

The Caps have come a long way from 1974-75 with their 8-67-5 record. That season, the Caps scored 181 goals, and were scored on 446 times. They hold the record, one they never wanted, for the worst start in the NHL. 

The question this year is, can they go back to back, win another Stanley Cup? 

If the playoffs started today... 

Cripes. This playoff format stinks!

"The top seed in each division plays one of the wild-card teams in its conference. The division leader with the most points plays the wild-card team with the fewest points. The second and third seeds in each division face each other in the first round." (S/T ESPN.com). 

Tampa Bay is hands down the top seed in the Eastern Conference, and in the Atlantic Division. That gives them Montreal, currently 8th seed.

The Islanders are top seed in the Metropolitan Division. That gives them Carolina, currently the 7th seed.

Boston gets Toronto... Which sticks the Caps with the Penguins, ugh!

14 games remaining. 28 possible points. 

The first of those is tonight, when the Caps face the Devils.

New Jersey is, quite frankly, in trouble, injury-wise. 

• Pavel Zacha (C, 11G, 6A) is out from an upper-body injury. 
• John Quenneville ((C, 0G, 0A), first cousin, once removed of Joel) is day-to-day, with a hand injury.
• Kevin Rooney (C, 4G, 2A) is day-to-day, illness.
• Nico Hischier (C, 17G, 27A) is day-to-day, upper body.
• Kyle Palmieri (RW, 26G, 22A) is day-to-day, lower body.
• Nathan Bastian (RW, 1G, 0A) has an upper body injury. 
• Jesper Bratt (LW, 8 G, 25A) is out, lower body.
• Taylor Hall (LW, 11G, 26A) is out, knee surgery. 
• Miles Wood (LW, 8G, 13A) is out, fractured ankle.
• Mirco Mueller (D, 1G, 9A) is out, upper body (shoulder).
• Will Butcher (D, 4G, 20A) is day-to-day, upper body.

In a word? Ouch! 

So, for centers, the Devils have:

• Blake Coleman, 18G, 12A
• Michael McLeod, 0G, 0A
• Travis Zajac, 15G, 23A

By contrast, the Caps are icing their full roster. So, will they take the Devils seriously? Or will they coast. It's a damned good question... 

All About the Jersey calls Ovi the "Great Ape." 

*narrows eyes* We shall see. We. Shall. See. 

As a side note, I truly wish that Miroslav Satan had played at least one game for the Devils before he retired. He'd have been their natural captain!