Dan
03-19-2007, 08:28 PM
http://www.wgr550.com/fullstory.php?id=2249
Sabres Clinch Playoff Berth
Brad Riter - Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 12:02 PM
Elias Sports Bureau has now confirmed what WGR550.com reported last night-- the Sabres can finish no worse than eighth in the Eastern Conference. This officially puts Buffalo into the postseason.
A playoff spot is clinched when no more than 7 teams can pass the Sabres. Right now, 8 teams fit that description. (Carolina can catch up in points but loses on the first tiebreaker, which is "wins.")
Two of the teams still mathematically alive are the Rangers and Leafs, but each has no wiggle room. Each needs to earn all of its available points (coupled with the Sabres losing out) to move past Buffalo. Toronto and New York play against one another on April 1.
Since they can't BOTH earn 2 points in that game, they can't BOTH pass the Sabres. This reduces the number of teams that could conceivably beat out Buffalo to 7, putting the Sabres in the playoffs.
Officially, the NHL and the Elias Sports Bureau may choose to wait until either the Leafs or Rangers lose a point (or the Sabres earn one) to put a "star" next to the team in the standings.
Tonight, the Leafs visit Montreal and the Rangers host the Bruins. The Sabres visit Atlanta tomorrow afternoon.
Sabres Clinch Playoff Berth
Brad Riter - Saturday, March 17, 2007 - 12:02 PM
Elias Sports Bureau has now confirmed what WGR550.com reported last night-- the Sabres can finish no worse than eighth in the Eastern Conference. This officially puts Buffalo into the postseason.
A playoff spot is clinched when no more than 7 teams can pass the Sabres. Right now, 8 teams fit that description. (Carolina can catch up in points but loses on the first tiebreaker, which is "wins.")
Two of the teams still mathematically alive are the Rangers and Leafs, but each has no wiggle room. Each needs to earn all of its available points (coupled with the Sabres losing out) to move past Buffalo. Toronto and New York play against one another on April 1.
Since they can't BOTH earn 2 points in that game, they can't BOTH pass the Sabres. This reduces the number of teams that could conceivably beat out Buffalo to 7, putting the Sabres in the playoffs.
Officially, the NHL and the Elias Sports Bureau may choose to wait until either the Leafs or Rangers lose a point (or the Sabres earn one) to put a "star" next to the team in the standings.
Tonight, the Leafs visit Montreal and the Rangers host the Bruins. The Sabres visit Atlanta tomorrow afternoon.