Fantasy Hockey RoundtableFantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Connor McDavid (133), Nikita Kucherov (128), Nathan MacKinnon (126) and Macklin Celebrini (110) all have crossed the century mark in points. Leon Draisaitl, if he had not gotten hurt, also would have easily hit that mark, as he is just three points shy due to missing the last 12 games and out the rest of the season. Four points are at 99 points as we head to the last four days of the regular season.
Martin Necas, Mark Scheifele, David Pastrnak and Nick Suzuki all are at 99 points. Colorado and Winnipeg have three games remaining while Boston and Montreal only have two contests to go. The Avalanche, Bruins and Canadiens all have clinched a playoff berth while the Jets need a miracle to make the postseason. Necas, Scheifele and Suzuki have never hit that mark previously; Pastrnak is aiming for his fourth straight season of that total.
Boston and Montreal both play at 6pm today while Colorado and Winnipeg skate late Monday night. Due to the schedule, I am going with both Pasta and Suzuki hit that round number around the same time today with Necas and Scheifele reaching that milestone tomorrow. Elite scoring is certainly not down across the NHL. 4mo Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Friday, my question, which one of the nine teams that clinched a playoff berth already is the biggest surprise. Mine was Buffalo over Pittsburgh. Today, my question is which one of the teams currently out of a playoff spot sneaks in.
In the East, all three Atlantic Division spots are locked up. The Red Wings (91 points) are three points back of the Senators (94 points) for the second Wild Card spot with three games remaining. The Islanders are tied with Detroit in points with the Blue Jackets one point back and Capitals two shy. New York, Columbus and Washington all still have a shot at surpassing Philly for third in the Metro Division.
Out West, craziness could ensue. All three Central spots have ben determined with Utah also clinching a Wild Card berth. Edmonton (90 points), Vegas and Anaheim (89 points) currently are 1-3 in the Pacific with all three playing 79 contests. Looming, however, are the Kings (85 points) who currently see are in the second Wild Card spot and have a game in hand on the three Pacific teams.
On the outside looking in are the Predators (84 points, 79 games), Jets (82 points, 78 games) and Sharks (81 points, 78 games). St. Louis (78 points, 78 games) and Seattle (77 games, 78 games) technically are alive but would need to run the table and have every in front of them basically lose every game, making that possibility remote.
From the seven teams I listed as currently out of the playoffs, I give the Islanders the best chance to earn berth. Los Angeles would have been the choice but they recently passed Nashville. New York has an outside chance aided by the recent replacement of Patrick Roy by Pete DeBoer, vibe created by Matthew Schaefer and presence of Ilya Sorokin. My big concern is that Sorokin has been overworked, which could rear its head the next few games.4mo Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable As we sit here on April 10, with no NHL games on the calendar tonight - which mensa student came up with this one - my thoughts turn to the standings. Nine teams have clinched. Carolina, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Montreal and Tampa with Boston on the verge of being the sixth in the Eastern Conference. Out West, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota and Utah all have punched their ticket. Barring a complete collapse, Edmonton, Vegas and Anaheim should all be in the party.
From those already in, or soon to be in, which one is the most surprising?
If a poll was created, the answer (s) should be easy, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Buffalo was left for dead prior to the GM search while Pittsburgh came into the season expecting to sell at the deadline. Fast forward, and both are in the postseason. While the Penguins making the playoffs is surprising, they still have the core from prior runs who provide experience, aiding their quest.
As such, Buffalo, based on where they were in the standings and length of their drought (2011-12), get the nod. What's your view?4mo Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable Fantasy Hockey Roundtable 
