Upcoming Must Win Games to make the playoffs

[hockey jedi]

Sure, it doesn't have to be considered a must win. If you look at my original post, I was just blueprinting a plan to 95 points. I am pleasantly surprised that we have been making quick work of the teams that have better records than us in my third paragraph. It's a winnable game and I would like to see us win those. Out of the next nineteen games, the Blues have six games against teams with better records. This is a very manageable situation for the Blues.

[PPG]

We need to stop even thinking abbout catching LA or Colorado. That Ain't happening. Colorado is too good and LA is just about ready to break out of their slump.
We have to catch both Calgary and Vancouver, simple as that. AND unfortunately, both teams have 2 games in hand on the Blues. We can certainly hope they both lose those 2 games, but it is much more likely that one or both of them get at least 2 points in those games.
And don't forget that Utah also has 2 games in hand. If they win both then they are also ahead of us.

I love how the Blues are playing now, just hope it's not too late. All those points they gave away the last few months may end up costing them a playoff spot.

[hockey jedi]

I don't think we should look at catching any team. If we just shoot for getting 96 points, that will be good. We can root against the teams in front of us.

[JoshInFenton]

I mostly post it as a "these are the teams within reason that we can root against, here's how much we should care", and it's up to you to determine whether or not it's of interest to you

The Kings are most definitely not out of the realm of possibility of catching. 5 points difference with a few games in hand sure, but the blues can put a pretty significant hit on that along with the Capitals and Golden Knights who face them shortly thereafter. Could be down to just a games in hand difference seperating them rather than a point difference in about a week and change. Minnesota and Colorado are further out for sure, but i include them for those wanting a semblance of playoff success chance. We won't sniff more than 4-5 games if we face Winnipeg

[hockey jedi]

We have one game left against Vancouver and Utah, who are in the second wildcard hunt. Absolutely no three point games. Obviously those are must win four-point games, meaning you gain two points on each team and eliminate one game for them to get points. = 4 points

You have to win your games against lesser opponents. We have three games against Nashville, two against Anaheim, two against Pittsburgh, and single games against Seattle, Chicago and Montreal. = 20 points Blues now have 2 points out of 20 points with nine games to go

Then we need to play .500 hockey and no three point games in the three games against Los Angelas, two games against Colorado, and single games against Detroit, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Minnesota, Washington and Dallas. = 11 points Blues now have 6 points out of 11 needed with seven games to go.

That gives us 95 points and puts us knocking at the door.

[JoshInFenton]

3/7 Games:

Utah @ Chicago - Utah came back to get a point, but Bedard took the 2nd point away from them, so i won't complain.
Minnesota @ Vancouver - Vancouver won this one which we'd probably have rather seen it go the other way, but they didn't 3 point game which was the outright worst case scenario. I still think Minnesota and their lack of top end depth is going to bring them crashing down close to the WC1-2 spots, whether they actually get there is another question.
Blues @ Anaheim - We got the win, doesn't matter how it was achieved, we got the 2 points.

The blues in the last 6-7 games have roughly doubled their probability of making the playoffs, so significant progress.

3/8 Games:

Toronto @ Colorado - This is a fringe case that is becoming less likely to matter, but Toronto winning would have a very small impact on our chances.
Montreal @ Calgary - Both teams in basically the same position in opposite conferences, here's to hoping Montreal wants it more.
St Louis @ LA - If they can win this game, i'll believe that they can overcome the loss of Parayko to some degree.

3/9 Games:

Pittsburgh @ Minnesota - Pittsburgh winning this keeps them at 76 points, and unlikely most teams they wont have many games in hand against the blues.
LA @ Las Vegas - Vegas beating LA would keep them in range, but mostly if the blues win on 3/8. without that win, this game has less importance.
Dallas @ Vancouver - Rooting for Dallas to keep Vancouver in striking distance if we lose on 3/8 and make it truly a 50/50 scenario imo if we win on 3/8.

[JoshInFenton]

3/8 Games:

Toronto @ Colorado - Colorado won, was fringe help anyways.
Montreal @ Calgary - Calgary won, no help from montreal at all.
St Louis @ LA - OT loss for the blues, so a 'we kinda helped ourselves out, but nobody else did' night.

3/9 Games:

Pittsburgh @ Minnesota - Pittsburgh winning this keeps them at 76 points, and unlike most teams they wont have many games in hand against the blues.
LA @ Las Vegas - Vegas beating LA would keep them in range, but now less useful as the blues are falling behind them.
Dallas @ Vancouver - Vancouver losing makes it easier to get past them and after Calgary.

[hockey jedi]

We have one game left against Vancouver and Utah, who are in the second wildcard hunt. Absolutely no three point games. Obviously those are must win four-point games, meaning you gain two points on each team and eliminate one game for them to get points. = 4 points

You have to win your games against lesser opponents. We have three games against Nashville, two against Anaheim, two against Pittsburgh, and single games against Seattle, Chicago and Montreal. = 20 points Blues now have 2 points out of 20 points with nine games to go

Then we need to play .500 hockey and no three point games in the two games against Colorado, and single games against Detroit, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Minnesota. = 2 points Blues need 2 points out of the six games left against teams with better records.

That gives us 95 points and puts us knocking at the door.

[LuvthaBlues]

We don’t play until Thursday and the other teams play twice during that time, so this week we’ll need some help.

VAN/CAL play each other, so we get help and get hurt at the same time

[2forDiving]

We don’t play until Thursday and the other teams play twice during that time, so this week we’ll need some help.

VAN/CAL play each other, so we get help and get hurt at the same time

Just need that game to finish in regulation, no matter who wins

[JoshInFenton]

We don’t play until Thursday and the other teams play twice during that time, so this week we’ll need some help.

VAN/CAL play each other, so we get help and get hurt at the same time

Just need that game to finish in regulation, no matter who wins

This. that would be a brutal 3 point game to suffer.

There are going to be gaps where teams get their games in hand out of the way. We're still roughly 3-4 points behind if you factor those in at a rough rate of gain. We'll need to roughly win 2 more games than both of them down the stretch (or ~9 points behind LA/Minnesota. LA probably not happening, but i am gonna keep an eye on the Wild who are not healthy at all).

[TheJackBurton]

We don’t play until Thursday and the other teams play twice during that time, so this week we’ll need some help.

VAN/CAL play each other, so we get help and get hurt at the same time

Just need that game to finish in regulation, no matter who wins

This. that would be a brutal 3 point game to suffer.

There are going to be gaps where teams get their games in hand out of the way. We're still roughly 3-4 points behind if you factor those in at a rough rate of gain. We'll need to roughly win 2 more games than both of them down the stretch (or ~9 points behind LA/Minnesota. LA probably not happening, but i am gonna keep an eye on the Wild who are not healthy at all).

Minny is coming dangerously close to falling out of the playoffs all together.

After the start they had that is likely to get someone fired.

[hockey jedi]

We don’t play until Thursday and the other teams play twice during that time, so this week we’ll need some help.

VAN/CAL play each other, so we get help and get hurt at the same time

Just need that game to finish in regulation, no matter who wins

This. that would be a brutal 3 point game to suffer.

There are going to be gaps where teams get their games in hand out of the way. We're still roughly 3-4 points behind if you factor those in at a rough rate of gain. We'll need to roughly win 2 more games than both of them down the stretch (or ~9 points behind LA/Minnesota. LA probably not happening, but i am gonna keep an eye on the Wild who are not healthy at all).

Minny is coming dangerously close to falling out of the playoffs all together.

After the start they had that is likely to get someone fired.

I saw that too. I would love it. I don't like them at all.

[JoshInFenton]

3/9 Games:

Pittsburgh @ Minnesota - Pittsburgh wins, Minnesota is really tumbling.
LA @ Las Vegas - LA wins on the 2nd of back to backs, taking them very close to out of sight at this point.
Dallas @ Vancouver - Currently Dallas is leading 3-1 with 10ish to go.

3/10 Games:

Toronto @ Utah - Really the only game that has much impact, Utah is not far behind us. We root for Toronto to win here.

3/11 Games:

Colorado @ Minnesota - Far more likely to catch Minnesota, so we root for Colorado.
Montreal @ Vancouver - Rooting for Montreal to beat Vancouver. Vancouver losing this one and then winning the game the next day would be the biggest benefit to us, but i'll save wednesday setup for another night.

[hockey jedi]

Good read Josh. I'm already missing Blues hockey on Tuesday, but the boys have been competing hard. Hopefully this will recharge their batteries and they continue to play .800 hockey. Eleven on the seventeen games are against teams that have records worse than ours, and we've been playing well against better teams. Tall order to make the playoffs, but doable.

[Tiger-Blue]

Good read Josh. I'm already missing Blues hockey on Tuesday, but the boys have been competing hard. Hopefully this will recharge their batteries and they continue to play .800 hockey. Eleven on the seventeen games are against teams that have records worse than ours, and we've been playing well against better teams. Tall order to make the playoffs, but doable.

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If the Blues make the playoffs, I would be so pumped !

After their sell off in 2023, I figured they’d miss the playoffs in 2023-24; and they did.

But if they make it back into the post season in 2024-25, I would be beside myself with disbelief and joy !

~~~