Oilers vs. Leafs - Feb. 3rd, 8:30pm - SN

[CarltonTheBear]

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Edmonton Oilers 28-20-8, 64 points​	vs.​	Toronto Maple Leafs 26-21-9, 61 pts​

Projected Line-ups​

RNH-McDavid-Hyman Podkolzin-Draisaitl-Kapanen Savoie-Samanski-Roslovic Janmark-Lazar-Frederic Ekholm-Bouchard Nurse-Walman Stastney-Emberson Jarry​

McMann-Matthews-Domi Maccelli-Tavares-Nylander Knies-Roy-Robertson Lorentz-Laughton-Jarnkrok McCabe-Carlo OEL-Stecher Benoit-Myers Stolarz​

Scratches​

Andrew Mangiapane Alec Regula Calvin Pickard​

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Easton Cowan Morgan Rielly Marshall Rifai​

Injuries​

Adam Henrique - Undisclosed - Injured Reserve​

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Morgan Rielly - Upper Body - Out Dakota Joshua - Upper Body - Injured Reserve Chris Tanev - Lower Body - Injured Reserve​

Game Notes​

EDM -Tristan Jarry will likely start for the Oilers

TOR -Anthony Stolarz will start for the Leafs

Streams​

Sportsurge OnHockey NHL66​

 

[Arn]

Stolarz to play the game of his life and shutout the Oilers with a 73 save performance while the Leafs win 1-0 with their goal coming from a shot that isn't even actually a shot but a pass from a partially retrieved dump in behind the net that banks in off Ekholm's left buttcheek while the Leafs muster only 11 total shots in their drive to finish 6th last in the standings.

 

[Frank E]

I have a question, when the Leafs indeed finish 6th last, but the pick gets lottery'd up to top-5, would that count as a top 5 pick?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

I have a question, when the Leafs indeed finish 6th last, but the pick gets lottery'd up to top-5, would that count as a top 5 pick?

As far as we know, yes. That means the flip side too though: even if the Leafs finish the season with a top-5 pick they could still get bounced out and lose it if a team behind them wins the lottery.

 

[Bender]

As far as we know, yes. That means the flip side too though: even if the Leafs finish the season with a top-5 pick they could still get bounced out and lose it if a team behind them wins the lottery.

I think we're probably in for the mushy middle. At this point I'm hoping for like 15th overall but selling assets at the deadline to restock the cupboard and maybe a 1st rounder or two in 27.

 

[L K]

I know the season is very likely over. I know this team dug a hole that is far too deep. I also know that they probably aren't bad enough to truly finish bottom 5. So I just want good moves to recoup assets.

Just as a thought experiment. They have 2 games left. What happens if the absolute best case (winning) scenario takes place over the last three days.

Leafs beat Oilers heading into the break.
New Jersey beats Columbus. Flyers beat Capitals. Hurricanes beat Senators. Lightning beat Sabres. Penguins beat Islanders. Panthers beat Bruins. Chicago beats Columbus. Winnipeg beats Montreal. Utah beat Detroit. Penguins beat Sabres. Devils beat Islanders. Hurricanes beat Rangers. Flyers beat Senators. Nashville beats Washington. Lightning beat Panthers.

A1: Tampa 37-14-4 78 points
A2: Detroit 33-19-6 72 points
A3: Montreal 31-18-8 70 points
WC1: Buffalo 32-20-5 69 points
WC2: Boston 32--21-4 68 points
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Toronto 27-21-9 63 points
Washington 28-23-7 63 points
Philly 26-20-10 62 points
New Jersey 30-25-2 62 points
Columbus 27-22-7 61 points
Ottawa 27-23-7 61 points
New York R 22-29-6 50 points

Even in the best case scenario the Leafs will be 5 points back of a playoff spot and while they could be the first loser, having 5 teams with 2 points makes things just a 1-2 losing streak to be back at the bottom of the Eastern Conference.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

You know I don't think anyone should really feel bad for the Leafs because they've clearly done themselves zero favours by sucking for large portions of the season but it's crazy how strong the Eastern conference, specifically the Atlantic, is right now. If we win tonight not only would we be in a WC spot in the West, we'd be tied with the 3rd place team in the Pacific. Yet getting into a playoff spot in the East would still feel like a pipe dream.

 

[bustaheims]

You know I don't think anyone should really feel bad for the Leafs because they've clearly done themselves zero favours by sucking for large portions of the season but it's crazy how strong the Eastern conference, specifically the Atlantic, is right now. If we win tonight not only would we be in a WC spot in the West, we'd be tied with the 3rd place team in the Pacific. Yet getting into a playoff spot in the East would still feel like a pipe dream.

Every playoff team in the East would be leading the Pathetic . . . I mean Pacific division. It's nuts how top-heavy the West is and how balanced the East is.