I think so. So with the current standings, the Metro playoffs would be:

Pittsburgh v Detroit
Rangers vs Philly

With the winners playing each other for the division championship, and a spot in the Eastern conference finals. It's a dumb system, and I would much prefer they go back to the top 8 from each conference making the playoffs with the two regular season division leaders getting the top two seeds.
- Feanor

I am not overly negative when it comes to this scenario. Beating the Rangers is absolutely doable for this team. Pit too, with couts shutting down Malkin, and Fleury hitting playoff form combined with Bylsmas matching of lines. this is very very doable.

I just hope we get that far. Not an easy ending to this season even with the majority of the games being on home ice.

Boston is a terrible matchup for us this year, but I like the variety of being able to play any team in the conference. And I have always liked the reseeding in the NHL playoffs.

I am not overly negative when it comes to this scenario. Beating the Rangers is absolutely doable for this team. Pit too, with couts shutting down Malkin, and Fleury hitting playoff form combined with Bylsmas matching of lines. this is very very doable.

I just hope we get that far. Not an easy ending to this season even with the majority of the games being on home ice.
- Bearintheforest

"YOU CAN'T BEAT US" clap clap clap-clap-clap

Second best chant I've been a part of besides the absolutely BOOMING "OLE" chant in game 1 vs. Montreal in 2010.

Thoresen's best chance to get back into the NHL would be to sign an AHL-only contract and hope that there is a spot for him in the lineup that gets him an NHL contract, much like what happened with Vandevelde.

- jmatchett383

Based on what I've read this scenario is highly unlikely. As mentioned he wants both the money and the terms, not a ''work-your-way-up'' contract. Also read he got offers from NHL clubs this summer, but turned them down due to poor terms.


I think that he could make a good appearance given the chance, much like Zuccarello has in NY.

"YOU CAN'T BEAT US" clap clap clap-clap-clap

Second best chant I've been a part of besides the absolutely BOOMING "OLE" chant in game 1 vs. Montreal in 2010.
- jmatchett383

This is magic!

I don't know what brings me the most satisfaction: seeing Malkin in rage mode or Fleurys turning into spasms.

So I just ran a correlation between shot differential and a team's place in the standings and there is a slightly negative correlation. Meaning teams with a worse shot differential are doing better in the standings.


I mention this because Corsi uses shots for and shots against as a means to evaluate defenseman sometimes.
- PhillySportsGuy

Possession stats take into account all shot attempt events -- missed shots, shots blocked -- not just the shots themselves.


To illustrate how strong the correlation between possession and winning is, here's a chart somebody cooked up late last season before the PO's, showing every team's Fenwick-close since 07-08 and how they fared:



The worst possession teams are in the top-right quadrant, and get better as you move counter-clockwise. You'll notice that strong possession teams (bottom quadrants) tend to make the PO's and tend to go very deep.

(Fenwick = Corsi without blocks, Fenwick-close = Fenwick in 1-goal situations to correct for score effects)

I think so. So with the current standings, the Metro playoffs would be:

Pittsburgh v Detroit
Rangers vs Philly

With the winners playing each other for the division championship, and a spot in the Eastern conference finals. It's a dumb system, and I would much prefer they go back to the top 8 from each conference making the playoffs with the two regular season division leaders getting the top two seeds.

Then the current Eastern playoffs would be:

1 Pittsburgh v 8 Detroit
2 Boston v 7 Philly
3 Tampa v 6 Rangers
4 Montreal v 5 Toronto
- Feanor

it's remarkable to me the flyers and rangers haven't met in the playoffs since 1997.

i'd take the rangers over the bruins in a playoff match. i think boston would steamroll them.

it's remarkable to me the flyers and rangers haven't met in the playoffs since 1997.

i'd take the rangers over the bruins in a playoff match. i think boston would steamroll them.
- hammarby31

Yeah, Boston is the only team that I think they have basically no chance to beat.

Yeah, Boston is the only team that I think they have basically no chance to beat.
- jmatchett383

they're usually down 3-0 inside of 10 minutes. especially at home. especially in the afternoon. man, it's ugly.

Possession stats take into account all shot attempt events -- missed shots, shots blocked -- not just the shots themselves.


To illustrate how strong the correlation between possession and winning is, here's a chart somebody cooked up late last season before the PO's, showing every team's Fenwick-close since 07-08 and how they fared:



The worst possession teams are in the top-right quadrant, and get better as you move counter-clockwise. You'll notice that strong possession teams (bottom quadrants) tend to make the PO's and tend to go very deep.

(Fenwick = Corsi without blocks, Fenwick-close = Fenwick in 1-goal situations to correct for score effects)
- Tomahawk

This chart makes me very angry, only because it seems like such bullpoop. Not a shot at Corsi, and I don't doubt its validity. It just makes me angry that someone actually took the time to do it. It's like a Venn diagram on 26 levels, like theoretical physics.

This chart makes me very angry, only because it seems like such bullpoop. Not a shot at Corsi, and I don't doubt its validity. It just makes me angry that someone actually took the time to do it. It's like a Venn diagram on 26 levels, like theoretical physics.
- jmatchett383

Flyers Fenwick-close on the season so far is at .477... making the PO's is going to be tough.

Not surprisingly, LA, CHI, SJ and BOS are between .540-.560... safe to say that one or more of those teams will probably be in the in the Finals again.

http://www.extraskater.co...t&sit=5v5close&type=total

Flyers Fenwick-close on the season so far is at .477... making the PO's is going to be tough.

Not surprisingly, LA, CHI, SJ and BOS are between .540-.560... safe to say that one or more of those teams will probably be in the in the Finals again.

http://www.extraskater.co...t&sit=5v5close&type=total
- Tomahawk

You know what? I really don't give a (frank) what these made-up possession stats say. I just don't, and never will. I'm done arguing it. It's all black magic and doesn't really mean a god damn thing other than an indicator of probability. So i really don't give a (frank) about them.

Flyers Fenwick-close on the season so far is at .477... making the PO's is going to be tough.

Not surprisingly, LA, CHI, SJ and BOS are between .540-.560... safe to say that one or more of those teams will probably be in the in the Finals again.

http://www.extraskater.co...t&sit=5v5close&type=total
- Tomahawk

Those aren't exactly mind blowing predictions. A blind fan could tell you the same thing based on the eyeball test.

You know what? I really don't give a (frank) what these made-up possession stats say. I just don't, and never will. I'm done arguing it. It's all black magic and doesn't really mean a god damn thing other than an indicator of probability. So i really don't give a (frank) about them.
- jmatchett383

Oh.

You know what? I really don't give a (frank) what these made-up possession stats say. I just don't, and never will. I'm done arguing it. It's all black magic and doesn't really mean a god damn thing other than an indicator of probability. So i really don't give a (frank) about them.
- jmatchett383

Those aren't exactly mind blowing predictions. A blind fan could tell you the same thing based on the eyeball test.
- BulliesPhan87

What? No way. I thought it's only because some ratio says so.

I mean, I'm not sure if the Sabres are any good or not because I haven't looked at their Corsi stats. That's the only true way to know.

- Tomahawk

Congrats, I'm happy for you. That was necessary.

Those aren't exactly mind blowing predictions. A blind fan could tell you the same thing based on the eyeball test.
- BulliesPhan87

Of course it's not... team with the puck the most wins.

What? No way. I thought it's only because some ratio says so.

I mean, I'm not sure if the Sabres are any good or not because I haven't looked at their Corsi stats. That's the only true way to know.
- jmatchett383

I left that part out, it was integral to my post. I'm sure Fenwick says that the Oilers won't make the playoffs.

I actually kind of like Corsi and Fenwick, I think they're good in context. They beat the pants off +/-, and look a little closer than shots on goal. But they're still just stats. Nothing more, nothing less.

Of course it's not... team with the puck the most wins.
- Tomahawk

Huh, well they'll have to make drastic changes to all the NHL scoreboards. That's bound to upset a LOT of Leafs fans.

That was necessary.
- jmatchett383

Was just trying to lighten things up... you seemed on the verge of another meltdown.

Was just trying to lighten things up... you seemed on the verge of another meltdown.
- Tomahawk

Not at all. You seemed to take it personally, like I was trying to rile you up. And I'm just telling you that I don't really give a flying (frank) about magic ratios being the leading factor when determining if a player or team is good or not.

And thus begins a battle of "Calmer than you are, dude."

I think so. So with the current standings, the Metro playoffs would be:

Pittsburgh v Detroit
Rangers vs Philly

With the winners playing each other for the division championship, and a spot in the Eastern conference finals. It's a dumb system, and I would much prefer they go back to the top 8 from each conference making the playoffs with the two regular season division leaders getting the top two seeds.

Then the current Eastern playoffs would be:

1 Pittsburgh v 8 Detroit
2 Boston v 7 Philly
3 Tampa v 6 Rangers
4 Montreal v 5 Toronto
- Feanor

i can live with that.

And thus begins a battle of "Calmer than you are, dude."
- BulliesPhan87

i literally just doused myself in gasoline at a wawa. i certainly will not be winning the calmer award.