Which Jackets Opponent Has The Toughest Schedule Left?
The Jackets are in an Eastern Conference Playoff battle that is as close as it gets. They currently trail the Flyers, Rangers and Capitals for spots in the Metropolitan Division, and are just two points behind Detroit for the Wild Card spot in the East. These five teams will all be competing in the next few weeks to see who will make it and who will fall behind. So out of these five, who has the toughest schedule to close the year? How about the easiest? Here’s a breakdown of the remaining games for these teams this season.
Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Flyers
Home Games: Maple Leafs, Bruins, Blue Jackets, Sabres, Hurricanes
Away Games: Rangers, Blues, Bruins, Panthers, Lighting, Penguins
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The Flyers certainly have it rough. They have to play the best team in the league twice before the season ends. The Boston Bruins were the first team to clinch their Playoff spot, and the Flyers will face them twice. The Flyers will also face the Blues, who are in the same place as Boston but in the Western Conference. They too have clinched a Playoff spot with 103 points. Safe to say those will be three tough games for the Flyers.
Then, their final away game of the season will be against the Metropolitan Division leader in Pittsburg. This would usually seem daunting, but Philadelphia has embarrassed the Pens recently, beating them back-to-back last weekend. The Flyers’ schedule looks pretty tough, but if they play the way they have been they could tackle it with ease.
Overall, the Flyers have a very difficult schedule coming up, but they have proven themselves able to beat these tough teams this time of year. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.
New York Rangers
Home Games: Flyers, Senators, Hurricanes, Sabres
Away Games: Flames, Oilers, Canucks, Avalanche, Canadiens
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The Rangers vs. Flyers game will be a big one for New York. A win there would pretty much guarantee a Playoff spot. But, as mentioned, Philly has been on fire lately. Because of their recent success, it could prove a difficult game for the Rangers.
The rest of their home games should be pretty easy. They face three opponents who are already out of the Eastern Conference in Ottawa, Carolina and Buffalo. The Oilers and Flames hold the last and second-last places in the West, respectively, so those games should also be a breeze.
Colorado will present New York’s first real challenge for the rest of the season. They have an impressive 94 points, 12 more than the Rangers. Lastly they face Montreal, who are only 3 points ahead of the Rangers. That should be a fairly even matchup.
Overall, I think it’s safe to say New York has it pretty easy to finish this year.
Detroit Red Wings
Home Games: Canadiens, Lighting, Bruins, Sabres, Hurricanes
Away Games: Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Sabres, Penguins, Blues
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Tuesday’s game against the Jackets will be an absolutely critical game for both teams. I think it will be a pretty even matchup, if both teams play at their best. The Jackets crushed the Wings last time these two met, but if the Wings see the same Jackets that played on Long Island on Sunday, I think the Wings have a good chance.
Past that, Detroit will face Montreal, which I think will be a fairly good game as well. Detroit is currently five points behind Montreal and ties with Toronto, so they have a chance to win both of those games, but it won’t be easy.
The Bruins will be a tough opponent for Detroit, but then they get to play Buffalo twice. That shouldn’t be too hard for them. Then there’s Carolina, which Detroit is more than capable of beating. They finish out the season with two tough away games, though. Playing in Pittsburg and St. Louis will be two really hard games for Detroit. Overall, I think they have a pretty balanced schedule.
Washington Capitals
Home Games: Kings, Bruins, Stars, Blackhawks, Lighting
Away Games: Predators, Devils, Islanders, Blues, Hurricanes
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The Kings will be a pretty tough opponent for the Capitals. The Caps have 79 points this season, while Los Angeles has 86. That’s not a huge deferential, but it’s enough to say that game will be a challenge for Washington. The Bruins, however, will be a much bigger challenge. As mentioned before, they have an impressive 103 points and have already clinched a Playoff spot. That game will certainly be a tough one for the Caps.
The Predators and Devils, however, are two easier teams that Washington should be able to handle. Both teams trail Washington in points and are likely already out of the Playoffs. The Islanders are behind the Caps as well. Washington should be able to handle those three games with relative ease.
Then, they face two more tough opponents in Chicago and St. Louis. These two teams currently lead the Central Division, with the Blues already clinching a spot in the post season and the Hawks not far behind.
Lastly, the Caps play the Lighting and Hurricanes. These two games should be pretty easy for Washington as well. Overall, the Caps face two hard teams, two easier teams, two more tough teams and then two much easier teams. Pretty much an even schedule to finish out the year.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Home Games: Red Wings, Penguins, Avalanche, Blackhawks, Islanders, Coyotes
Away Games: Hurricanes, Flyers, Stars, Lighting, Panthers
Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY Sports
Last but not least, the Jackets. As mentioned before, the Jackets game against Detroit will be absolutely critical. They have shown they are capable of beating Detroit this season, but they’ll have to bring their best game tomorrow night to make it happen. They need that win, because facing the Penguins will be a significantly tougher game for the Jackets.
On the stat sheet, the Jackets should definitely be able to beat Carolina. However, they proved incapable of beating the Canes at home last week, losing a disappointing and staggering loss last Tuesday. After they face the Canes again, the Jackets have another must-win game against the Flyers. That should be a fairly even game, but it is likely the Jackets will be playing an absolutely desperate game against Philadelphia.
The Avalanche and Blackhawks will both present a daunting challenge for Columbus, and the Jackets will need to find a way to pull off some home wins against them if they want to keep their Playoff hopes alive. Then they will face the Islanders, a team they should be able to beat but lost to yesterday. They’ll have to pull off a win there and likely a win at home against the Yotes as well. Phoenix is only one point better than the Jackets on the stat sheet, so that should be a pretty even game as well.
Then The Jackets go on the road to face the Dallas Stars in the makeup of the game that was postponed earlier this season. The good news for the Jackets there is that they will be going into a full 60-minute game already ahead by one goal. They need to win that one.
Lastly, the Jackets finish out the regular season in Florida, against a tough Tampa Bay team and an easier opponent in the Panthers. Overall, the Jackets have some hard opponents coming up, and some opponents who they should be able to beat but have dropped games to recently. Hopefully they can put the past behind them and scrape together some wins and make it into the Playoffs this year.