After having traveled the somewhat rocky road which intersected Elation and Despair Streets on Tuesday, there’s nothing I can add to the drama and buildup of this evening’s Main Event in the Eastern Conference – a game which has been added to the NHL Network’s lineup, BTW. The only certainty is Michal Neuvirth will start for the Washington Capitals, while rumors abound of Jose Theodore’s return to the Florida Panthers net after a less-than-impressive outing against Winnipeg.
So that’s where we are. You all know the significance of what’s on the table tonight. Blaze on…
The Eastern Front
|
Rk |
Team |
GP |
W |
L |
OT |
ROW |
PTS |
GF |
GA |
Home |
Away |
L10 |
Stk |
|
1 |
y-NY Rangers |
80 |
51 |
22 |
7 |
47 |
109 |
223 |
178 |
27-11-2 |
24-11-5 |
7-3-0 |
Won 1 |
|
2 |
y-Boston |
80 |
47 |
29 |
4 |
39 |
98 |
262 |
198 |
23-14-3 |
24-15-1 |
7-2-1 |
Lost 1 |
|
3 |
Florida |
80 |
37 |
25 |
18 |
31 |
92 |
197 |
222 |
20-9-11 |
17-16-7 |
3-2-5 |
OT 2 |
|
4 |
x-Pittsburgh |
80 |
49 |
25 |
6 |
40 |
104 |
273 |
217 |
27-10-2 |
22-15-4 |
5-4-1 |
Won 1 |
|
5 |
x-Philadelphia |
80 |
46 |
25 |
9 |
42 |
101 |
260 |
227 |
21-13-6 |
25-12-3 |
5-3-2 |
Lost 1 |
|
6 |
x-New Jersey |
80 |
46 |
28 |
6 |
34 |
98 |
222 |
206 |
23-13-4 |
23-15-2 |
6-3-1 |
Won 4 |
|
7 |
x-Ottawa |
80 |
41 |
29 |
10 |
35 |
92 |
246 |
233 |
20-16-4 |
21-13-6 |
5-4-1 |
Lost 1 |
|
8 |
Washington |
80 |
40 |
32 |
8 |
36 |
88 |
214 |
227 |
25-11-4 |
15-21-4 |
4-4-2 |
Lost 1 |
|
|
|||||||||||||
|
9 |
Buffalo |
80 |
39 |
31 |
10 |
32 |
88 |
214 |
224 |
21-12-8 |
18-19-2 |
6-2-2 |
Won 1 |
*
Why last night rocked/jonesed:
- No outcomes affected FLA/WSH/BUF, though Montreal poured five on the Bolts; Stamkos held scoreless/
Panthers Playoff Update:
- 99.5% (no change) per Sports Club Stats
- Caps / Sabs at SCS
- Remaining games:/
|
Rk |
Team |
Pts |
ROW |
GR |
80 |
81 |
82 |
|
3 |
FLA |
92 |
31 |
2 |
OTL |
@WSH (7pm) |
CAR (SAT) |
|
8 |
WSH |
88 |
36 |
2 |
L |
FLA (7pm) |
@NYR (SAT) |
|
9 |
BUF |
88 |
32 |
2 |
W |
@PHI (7pm) |
@BOS (SAT) |
Why tonight is a Big Deal in SoFla, beyond the obvious:
- BUF at PHI, 7 p.m.: Sabres have allowed 14 GA in past three games (1-2); 0-2-1 vs Flyers this season
Next up for the Cats:
- You may be shocked – perhaps stunned – to learn they play tonight (FS-FLA, NHL-N). From Washington. No, really, it’s true. LBC Game Thread will have the difibrillator fired up and pads greased down at 6:30. Meanwhile, there’s a slight tremor of anticipation brewing over at Japers’ Rink, so do check them out.
- Need Tickets for Saturday’s regular season closer? Seats starting at $6 (for now) via TiqIQ./
Did you know:
- One of the very few Eastern clubs which Florida has not yet taken to overtime, all five games vs Washington in 2011-12 have wrapped in regulation (2-3). Cats have yet to earn a point in D.C.
- Caps are 1-for-19 on the power play over last seven matches (none of which involved the Panthers)/
Wednesday’s Organizational News
- Scott Timmins was the most recent hero as the Rampage squeaked past Chicago, taking over fifth place in the AHL’s Western Conference
- High praise for the Cats in a Coyotes roundtable from our pals at Five For Howling
- And this just in…
Harvey Fialkov @hfialkov
Panthers-Hurricanes not originally scheduled on local TV [Saturday] is back on Fox if meaningful #nhl #flapanthers