Setting The Stage For Tomorrow

(Originally published at Broad Street Hockey)

Tomorrow is the day when all questions will be answered. We all know that the Rangers-Flyers game is win or go home, but on days like this, there always seems to be massive confusion of who will get what seed and who will play who in the Eastern Conference with given results. Seeing as I am someone who compulsively must know this, I figured why not post it here tonight instead of trying to do math in the midst of the tension tomorrow. There are 2 playoff important games in the east tomorrow, the first one being the obvious Rangers-Flyers win or go home game, the 2nd being the Sabres-Devils game which will be a battle for the 2nd place seed. However there is a twist in that game and that is the Devils need only to force overtime in order to clinch the 2nd seed, whereas the Sabres must win in regulation to overtake the Devils for the 2-seed.

So without further ado, here is a breakdown of what the playoff matches will be with given any combination of results in those games tomorrow.

If the Flyers win and the Devils at least force overtime:

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Philadelphia Flyers
#3 Buffalo Sabres vs. #6 Boston Bruins
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Ottawa Senators

If the Flyers win and the Sabres win in regulation:

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 Montreal Canadiens
#2 Buffalo Sabres vs. #7 Philadelphia Flyers
#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Boston Bruins
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Ottawa Senators

If the Rangers win and the Devils at least force overtime:

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 New York Rangers
#2 New Jersey Devils vs. #7 Montreal Canadiens
#3 Buffalo Sabres vs. #6 Boston Bruins
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Ottawa Senators

If the Rangers win and the Sabres win in regulation:

#1 Washington Capitals vs. #8 New York Rangers
#2 Buffalo Sabres vs. #7 Montreal Canadiens
#3 New Jersey Devils vs. #6 Boston Bruins
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. #5 Ottawa Senators

I think I've got it all right here. If I have overlooked or forgotten something as I did earlier when I mistakenly thought the Devils had already clinched the 2-seed, then please let me know. Due to our owning the tiebreaker over Montreal, we have successfully avoided the Capitals, but all of that won't matter if we do not beat the Rangers tomorrow. Go Flyers!!!

(FYI, I will have a live blog up tomorrow and will likely be starting in time for the start of the 12:00 meaningless Bruins-Caps game. You say why live blog a meaningless hockey game? I say, why not live blog a meaningless hockey game?)