Wild MUST win in regulation Friday, with an asterisk of course; Pull goalie in tie game in third?
As you know, to have a chance, the Wild must win its final two games. However, now, the Wild MUST win in regulation against Nashville or its playoff chances are really, really, really in even more trouble than it is now
Here?s why: If Friday?s game goes to overtime, it means Nashville gets a point ? or 89 points. The Preds already have 40 wins, meaning even if the Wild won its final two games with Friday being in overtime, it would finish with 40 wins.
Then it would go head-to-head. If the Wild wins in overtime, the Wild would be 2-2 vs. Nashville for four out of eight points. However, Nashville would be 2-1-1 against the Wild for five out of eight points, and thus would win the tiebreaker.
What does this mean? If the game?s tied with say a minute left in regulation Friday night, coach Jacques Lemaire might have to consider pulling the goalie for an extra attacker to keep it from going to overtime.
Only way Wild could go to the playoffs by winning in OT is if it also won in Columbus and Anaheim and St. Louis lost their final two games (Anaheim in regulation both, St. Louis 0-2, or 0-1-1).
As Eric Belanger likes to say, all the stars must align.
And guess what folks? Nashville plays almost every game close. Eight of the Predators? last 18 games have gone to OT since March 3, and 12 of their last 18 games have been one-goal games.
As you know, to have a chance, the Wild must win its final two games. However, now, the Wild MUST win in regulation against Nashville or its playoff chances are really, really, really in even more trouble than it is now
Here?s why: If Friday?s game goes to overtime, it means Nashville gets a point ? or 89 points. The Preds already have 40 wins, meaning even if the Wild won its final two games with Friday being in overtime, it would finish with 40 wins.
Then it would go head-to-head. If the Wild wins in overtime, the Wild would be 2-2 vs. Nashville for four out of eight points. However, Nashville would be 2-1-1 against the Wild for five out of eight points, and thus would win the tiebreaker.
What does this mean? If the game?s tied with say a minute left in regulation Friday night, coach Jacques Lemaire might have to consider pulling the goalie for an extra attacker to keep it from going to overtime.
Only way Wild could go to the playoffs by winning in OT is if it also won in Columbus and Anaheim and St. Louis lost their final two games (Anaheim in regulation both, St. Louis 0-2, or 0-1-1).
As Eric Belanger likes to say, all the stars must align.
And guess what folks? Nashville plays almost every game close. Eight of the Predators? last 18 games have gone to OT since March 3, and 12 of their last 18 games have been one-goal games.
