The Central is Good, Real Good
This week of games against the Central is big. Not only because divisional games are inherently important; of course they are. But because the Central is dominating the NHL right now.
Other than the dead body that is Columbus, every other Central team right now is in the playoffs. That’s even more impressive when you look at the game played numbers and see that teams outside the central generally have played more games as well.
In the West, the Central is #1, #3, and #4 in points earned per game. Only Vancouver is up around this area as well.
What does this mean? Well what it likely means is that #1 in the division means more this season than others. If things ended the way they are today, Detroit would be playing St. Louis in the first round. Not terrible, but not easy either (at least until Elliot comes back to Earth). Yet if they win tonight, Detroit takes #1 in points per game percentage and would be facing Nashville or Dallas, a huge difference.
Detroit’s a bit beat up going into tonight’s game. But I hope they realize just how important these games are. Both because of the points issue, and because I want nothing more than to see Chicago lose, and lose big.
And to add to this - 6 of the top 8 teams will be in our conference next year. CBJ and WPG (playoff team in the East) will round out the group.
That is the scariest thing about the realignment. a team in conference D could get in with 95 points while a team in conference B may be sitting outside the playoffs with 102 points @DetCapC19
Agreed, that's going to be the biggest issue with this new realignment. That and the unbalanced schedule the conferences with 8 teams will have to play.
However, on the bright side, none of these teams outside of Chicago have ever challenged Detroit (or at least not over the past decade). Some of these teams are small market and likely won't be cap teams every year. And if history is any indication, have not traditonally been cities that marquee free agents flock too.
So given that we only have to finishe 4th to make the playoffs each year, I still think our chances are good every year as long as we keep pumping out draft-day steals and great management.
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@DetCapC19 Which will be terrible for the league when two of their top market and top placed teams don't get in.
