So, playoff scenarios. First, standings:
1. Pitt, 102 pts, 47 wins, 1 game left
2. Montreal, 102 pts, 46 wins, 1 game left
t3. Carolina, 92 pts, 43 wins, 0 games left
4. New Jersey, 97 pts, 45 wins, 1 game left
5. New York R, 96 pts, 42 wins, 1 game left
6. Ottawa, 94 pts, 43 wins, 0 games left
7. Boston, 94 pts, 41 wins, 1 game left
8. Phil., 93 pts, 41 wins, 1 game left
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t3. Washington, 92 pts, 42 wins, 1 game left
Second, tiebreaker rules:
Quote:
In the event teams are tied in the standings, the following tiebreakers are applied to determine which team receives the higher seeding.
1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
2. The greater number of games won.
3. The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied, and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any "odd" games, shall be used to determine the standing.
4. Goal differential
First things first: What Washington does is irrelevant to the B's -- if Wash. gets at least 1 pt, then they're in and are the 3 seed; if they lose and don't get a pt., Carolina is in and is the 3 seed.
Bruins Scenarios:
- Bruins win, Rangers lose, doesn't matter what else happens: Bruins are the 5th seed
- Bruins win, Rangers win, doesn't matter what else happens: Bruins are 6th seed
- Bruins lose in OT/shootout, Flyers win: Bruins are 7th seed
- Bruins lose, Flyers lose in OT/shootout: Bruins are 7th seed
- Bruins lose, Flyers lose: Bruins are 7th seed
- Bruins lose, Flyers win: Bruins are 8th seed
As an FYI, in this scenario:
"Bruins win, Rangers lose, doesn't matter what else happens: Bruins are the 5th seed"
...Bruins and Rangers both have 42 wins to finish the season, so the next rung down on the tiebreaker hierarchy is the greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs, which is advantage --> Bruins, because they won the head to head series against NYR this year.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong.