This may just be one of those late surges for Edmonton when the games don't matter, but they've been looked really good lately that makes me think that they may finally put things together next year and break out.
They did just get Taylor Hall back, so that's likely part of why they've looked better. I still think they have too many holes to really break out - though, they could be like the Islanders and really just be a goalie away from looking like a decent team.
We don't need them to break out... just to win 2 games, cause you know we're tanking out the rest of the season...
We also play Buffalo and Columbus down the stretch and those are not going to be guaranteed losses. It is possible that Game 82 against Montreal could be a meaningless game for them too. The rest of their games are certainly heavy for playoff implications.
Edmonton sits 3 points back (4 really) has Colorado and what looks like San Jose playing meaningless games down the stretch and otherwise play good Western conference teams playing for their playoff lives.
Arizona sitting 5 points (6 really) has one game against Buffalo and two against San Jose so while they are horribly bad they too have a very outside chance of grabbing a handful of points down the stretch.
It's highly unlikely that the Leafs lose out the rest of the year so I'm figuring on 64 to 66 points by season end. That is likely too many points to move into the top 3 but will leave them comfortably in 4th.
Strome/Marner is a fantastic consolation prize.
