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The 2018 Playoff Chase: Post-deadline blues

Photo credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

By Ryan Pike

Mar 2, 2018, 12:00 ESTUpdated: Mar 2, 2018, 03:05 EST

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When we last checked in on the playoff chase, we noted that the Calgary Flames needed to get some traction in the standings. They didn’t seem to get the memo, basically running in place since last week. Unfortunately, seemingly everybody else made up ground and their postseason odds are gradually worsening.

Let’s take a quick look at who’s alive, who’s dead, and who’s somewhere in between.

Where they stand

(Sorted by points percentage.)

Team	GP	W	Pts	Pct.	ROW	Div	Chances	% Change
Predators	63	40	89	.706	35	CEN	100%	+0.1%
Golden Knights	63	41	87	.690	39	PAC	100%	none
Jets	63	37	83	.659	35	CEN	99.9%	+0.4%
Wild	64	36	79	.617	33	CEN	90.8%	+16.4%
Sharks	65	35	79	.607	31	PAC	86.1%	+7.3%
Stars	64	36	77	.602	32	CEN	79.5%	+3.0%
Kings	65	36	77	.592	34	PAC	89.0%	+11.5%
Avalanche	63	34	73	.579	33	CEN	46.8%	+7.8%
Ducks	64	31	74	.578	27	PAC	50.0%	-13.7%
Blues	65	35	74	.569	32	CEN	29.8%	-28.6%
Flames	65	32	73	.561	30	PAC	28.0%	-4.9%
Blackhawks	64	27	62	.484	26	CEN	0.1%	-0.1%
Oilers	64	27	58	.453	24	PAC	0.0%	none
Canucks	64	24	56	.438	24	PAC	0.0%	none
Coyotes	63	19	48	.381	18	PAC	0.0%	none

(Chances courtesy Sports Club Stats.)

Minnesota’s surge in the last week is probably enough that they can coast the rest of the way. They join Vegas, Winnipeg and Nashville in the “in” group. That probably ties up all three Central divisional spots and one Pacific spot.

On the other end, Calgary and St. Louis basically have zero margin for error now. Everybody else can afford a couple losses and still survive, but those two teams really need to string points together in order to stay with the pack. But within the pack, there’s standings chaos as many teams fight for two Pacific spots and two wild card spots.

The Flames are four points back of the Kings for the last divisional spot and one point back of the Ducks for the last wild card spot.