East Rank	Team	Points	GP	Point Percentage	Projected Points
1	New York Rangers	23	17	0.676	111
2	Boston Bruins	22	18	0.611	100
3	Florida Panthers	23	19	0.605	99
4	Philadelphia Flyers	25	19	0.658	108
5	Pittsburgh Penguins	25	20	0.625	103
6	Buffalo Sabers	24	20	0.600	98
7	Washington Capitals	21	18	0.583	96
8	New Jersey Devils	21	18	0.583	96
9	Toronto Maple Leafs	24	21	0.571	94
10	Tampa Bay Lightning	20	19	0.526	86
11	Montreal Canadiens	21	20	0.525	86
12	Ottawa Senators	22	21	0.524	86
13	Winnipeg Jets	19	20	0.475	78
14	Carolina Hurricanes	17	21	0.405	66
15	New York Islanders	13	17	0.382	63

West Rank	Team	Points	GP	Point Percentage	Projected Points
1	San Jose Sharks	25	18	0.694	114
2	Minnesota Wild	27	20	0.675	111
3	Chicago Blackhawks	27	21	0.643	105
4	Phoenix Coyotes	23	18	0.639	105
5	Nashville Predators	24	19	0.632	104
6	Detroit Red Wings	23	19	0.605	99
7	St. Louis Blues	22	19	0.579	95
8	Dallas Stars	22	19	0.579	95
9	Edmonton Oilers	22	19	0.579	95
10	Los Angeles Kings	23	20	0.575	94
11	Vancouver Canucks	21	20	0.525	86
12	Colorado Avalanche	19	21	0.452	74
13	Calgary Flames	17	18	0.472	77
14	Anaheim Ducks	16	20	0.400	66
15	Columbus Blue Jackets	10	19	0.263	43

Updated every Monday morning

leafs are toast if it takes 96 points to make the playoffs

leafs are toast if it takes 96 points to make the playoffs
- senstroll

I doubt that's the case though. It would be a record.

I doubt that's the case though. It would be a record.
- prock

chicago had 97 last year and finished 8th. unless you just mean the eastern conference. with 3 point games its very conceivable that 96 points is the threshhold for the playoffs.

I doubt that's the case though. It would be a record.
- prock

i want to ga back to norris smyth etc.. when you could have 46 points and make the playoffs

chicago had 97 last year and finished 8th. unless you just mean the eastern conference. with 3 point games its very conceivable that 96 points is the threshhold for the playoffs.
- sens rock

That's a fair point. That said, most years it's quite a bit lower. Maybe 90 to 93 points. A couple have been lower, a couple have been higher. The other point is, you'll probably never see a season where both conferences require point totals in the 95+ range to make the playoffs. Any time you see one, the other is likely significantly lower, due to one conference generally winning many games over the other.

That's a fair point. That said, most years it's quite a bit lower. Maybe 90 to 93 points. A couple have been lower, a couple have been higher. The other point is, you'll probably never see a season where both conferences require point totals in the 95+ range to make the playoffs. Any time you see one, the other is likely significantly lower, due to one conference generally winning many games over the other.
- prock

currently the east has a record of 38-24-14 against the west, so its looking like the east could be the higher point conference at this point based on that arguement.

currently the east has a record of 38-24-14 against the west, so its looking like the east could be the higher point conference at this point based on that arguement.
- sens rock

Nail in the coffin leafs fans

and not Yakupov

currently the east has a record of 38-24-14 against the west, so its looking like the east could be the higher point conference at this point based on that arguement.
- sens rock

Maybe. I still doubt it takes 96. I also very much doubt it takes that much on both sides, as the charts seem to indicate.

leafs are toast if it takes 96 points to make the playoffs
- senstroll

their current chances of making the playoffs are 37.7%.

Perhaps there is a need for a veteran Goaltender?

their current chances of making the playoffs are 37.7%.

Perhaps there is a need for a veteran Goaltender?
- Doppleganger

or our starter not being injured anymore

or our starter not being injured anymore
- senstroll

Your "Starter" was a rookie last season (35 games) and, as you say is injured. From what I've been hearing there is no projected time of return to the line up.

I've also been hearing that the "Monster" may be traded for a veteran goaltender, to shore up the goaltending situation for the season.

Although I did not see the game, but from what I've read, he played well against the Capitals, and perhaps his value is at it's highest, and given the fact the fact that the leafs have been sliding in the standings since Reimer has been out of the line up, maybe someone (veteran) should be brought in to stop the slide.

Your "Starter" was a rookie last season (35 games) and, as you say is injured. From what I've been hearing there is no projected time of return to the line up.

- Doppleganger

A week to 10 days, unless there is some sort of setback.

A week to 10 days, unless there is some sort of setback.
- prock

Thanks, did not know that.

Still seems like a bit of a gamble, to hang the team's playoff hopes on one player, who could get injured again once he returns to the line up.

Your "Starter" was a rookie last season (35 games) and, as you say is injured. From what I've been hearing there is no projected time of return to the line up.

I've also been hearing that the "Monster" may be traded for a veteran goaltender, to shore up the goaltending situation for the season.

Although I did not see the game, but from what I've read, he played well against the Capitals, and perhaps his value is at it's highest, and given the fact the fact that the leafs have been sliding in the standings since Reimer has been out of the line up, maybe someone (veteran) should be brought in to stop the slide.
- Doppleganger

I would be fine if Gus never played for the leafs again... and hope they get a Vet to come in and help... I just dont see BB making any quick moves, he will wait for Reimer to come back and see how that goes. If its any longer than they say (10 days) we will be out of the playoff picture soon. We have 5 points out of a possible 16.. we are hemorrhaging points bad.

Thanks, did not know that.

Still seems like a bit of a gamble, to hang the team's playoff hopes on one player, who could get injured again once he returns to the line up.
- Doppleganger

I don't think they are "pinning their hopes on one player". They've got a borderline playoff team with just passable goaltending. The problem is they're not getting that, as they haven't for many years, until he came along. As a goaltender, and one that has give the Leafs pretty solid tending, there is no doubt he (or some other goalie), is a key part to the team. When you've got the first and third leading scorers in the entire league, one of the top scoring Dmen in the league, it's not like he's doing it all alone.

Your "Starter" was a rookie last season (35 games) and, as you say is injured. From what I've been hearing there is no projected time of return to the line up.

I've also been hearing that the "Monster" may be traded for a veteran goaltender, to shore up the goaltending situation for the season.

Although I did not see the game, but from what I've read, he played well against the Capitals, and perhaps his value is at it's highest, and given the fact the fact that the leafs have been sliding in the standings since Reimer has been out of the line up, maybe someone (veteran) should be brought in to stop the slide.
- Doppleganger

.920 save % thus far in his career.

Maybe there is some hope for Columbus to get back in the race. It will be sad after Christmas if it is only a one team race for Yakupov.

.920 save % thus far in his career.
- RogerRoeper

That may be so, but he's still just 43 games into his NHL career.

It should be noted you gain/lose about 3-5 projected points for every win/loss, so this is a poor predictor of how many point it'll take to make the playoffs. Next monday it could be 90.

It should be noted you gain/lose about 3-5 projected points for every win/loss, so this is a poor predictor of how many point it'll take to make the playoffs. Next monday it could be 90.
- Morris

can you elaborate on this? not sure I follow you

can you elaborate on this? not sure I follow you
- senstroll

for example: right now the oilers have 22 points in 20 games, or 22 out of a possible 40 points. They're projected to have 90 points. If they win next game they'll have 24 points in 21 games and be projected to have 94 points. If they lose, they'll be projected to have 86 points. Kind of a drastic swing, isn't it? If hypothetically, all or most of the fringe playoff teams lost to either conference leaders or cellar dwellers this week, they'd all swing down in projected points and we'd be talking about how 86 points seems low for an 8th seed.

for example: right now the oilers have 22 points in 20 games, or 22 out of a possible 40 points. They're projected to have 90 points. If they win next game they'll have 24 points in 21 games and be projected to have 94 points. If they lose, they'll be projected to have 86 points. Kind of a drastic swing, isn't it? If hypothetically, all or most of the fringe playoff teams lost to either conference leaders or cellar dwellers this week, they'd all swing down in projected points and we'd be talking about how 86 points seems low for an 8th seed.
- Morris

Not sure I agree with that completely, If Edm is losing someone is winning, sure if you want to take a small sample like that.... The average points to make the playoffs since the lockout us 93, and this year it looks like so far the East is a bit stronger.

Not sure I agree with that completely, If Edm is losing someone is winning, sure if you want to take a small sample like that.... The average points to make the playoffs since the lockout us 93, and this year it looks like so far the East is a bit stronger.
- senstroll

All I'm saying is the 93 since the lockout average is probably a better indicator than the 96 projected points at this point. Especially because each game still means so much to projected points.

Mathematically, as the number of games played approaches 82, the number of points you're projected to earn per win approaches two. Obviously, when you're 1-0, with this model you're projected to earn 164 points in a season. I'll trust this projections of what it will take to make the playoffs when we get about 40 games in, and each game won/lost is closer to two in projected points.

All I'm saying is the 93 since the lockout average is probably a better indicator than the 96 projected points at this point. Especially because each game still means so much to projected points.

Mathematically, as the number of games played approaches 82, the number of points you're projected to earn per win approaches two. Obviously, when you're 1-0, with this model you're projected to earn 164 points in a season. I'll trust this projections of what it will take to make the playoffs when we get about 40 games in, and each game won/lost is closer to two in projected points.
- Morris

There is lot more than just projected points that go into figuring out the playoff chances of any given team.

For example, last season at the end of November, 7 of the 8 teams in the Eastern Conference that held playoff spots at that time, held on to them and made the playoffs.

Sites like SportClubStats do a pretty good job of projecting playoff chances using the season schedule and scores for past games, simulation of the season, home ice advantage and many other factors.