Standings Analysis

Posted 10:09 PM ET | Comments 1

Rags2Riches' regular blogs will return after the holidays

It is hard to figure out the real meaning of the standings when teams have played different amount of games. Its impossible to predict what a team will do with games at hand, so that analysis may be faulty. The point-per-game tool is handy but less simplistic than the regular points system and again bases ranking upon projected pace in the games in hand.

The tool I use avoids these problems, and while it can only give us a good look at the standings after every team has hit a "milestone" game, it can provide a decent barometer of where each team stood at various marks along the way. Next to each team is the point total at that mark, and the change in standing since the previous mark five games prior.

Below each set of standings will be my quick observations, because I could not bear to keep my opinion out of this short, little work needed blog.

Enjoy.

5 Games
1. WAS 10
T2. TOR 9
T2. PHI 9
T4. BUF 8
T4. PIT 8
6. NJD 7
T7. NYI 6
T7. NYR 6
T7. FLA 6
10. CAR 5
T11. BOS 4
T11. TBL 4
T13. MTL 3
T13. WPG 3
15. OTT 2
Washington and Toronto start off strong, while the defending Stanley Cup Champion Bruins seem to be suffering the dreaded hangover.

10 Games
1. WAS 16 ---
2. TOR 15 ---
3. PIT 14 +1
T4. BUF 12 ---
T4. FLA 12 +3
T6. NYR 11 +1
T6. PHI 11 -4
8. CAR 11 +2
T9. TBL 10 +2
T9. OTT 10 +6
11. NJD 9 -5
T12. NYI 8 -5
T12. MTL 8 +1
14. WPG 7 -1
15. BOS 6 -4

Early fallers include the Flyers and Devils of the Atlantic Division. Meanwhile, Ottawa went on a run suggesting they may be contenders for a playoff spot.

15 Games

T1. NYR 21 +5
T1. PIT 21 +2
T1. WAS 21 ---
4. BUF 20 ---
T5. TOR 19 -3
T5. PHI 19 +1
T5. FLA 19 -1
8. TBL 18 +1
9. NJD 17 +2
10. BOS 16 +5
11. OTT 15 -2
12. MTL 14 ---
T13. CAR 13 -5
T13. WPG 13 +1
15. NYI 11 -3
The Rangers streak to the top of the standings, although they never appeared atop the actual tables because of playing fewer games. The expected Toronto slump seems to be in full effect, while Boston seems to be rounding into form

20 Games
1. NYR 27 ---
2. BOS 26 +8
T3. PIT 25 -2
T3. FLA 25 +2
T3. WAS 25 -2
T3. PHI 25 +2
T7. TOR 24 -2
T7. BUF 24 -3
9. NJD 23 ---
T10. OTT 21 +1
T10. MTL 21 +2
12. TBL 20 -4
13. WPG 19 ---
14. CAR 15 -1
15. NYI 14 ---

The Bruins are now dominating, jumping up to 2nd in the standings. Buffalo, a strong starter seems to be fading, while the Habs look to begin a turnaround from a poor start.
25 Games

1. BOS 35 +1
2. NYR 34 -1
3. PHI 33 ---
4. PIT 32 -1
T5. TOR 30 +2
T5. FLA 30 -2
T7. BUF 27 ---
T7. WAS 27 -4
9. OTT 26 +1
10. NJD 25 -1
T11. MTL 24 -1
T11. WPG 24 +2
T11. TBL 24 +1
14. NYI 23 +1
15. CAR 20 -1
Boston claims the top spot, while Toronto tries to rejuvenate and silence the critics with a good stretch of their own. Washington continues to slide down the standings and looks to be in long term trouble.

30 Games
1. PHI 43 +2
2. BOS 41 -1
3. NYR 40 -1
4. PIT 38 ---
5. FLA 37 ---
6. TOR 35 +1
T7. BUF 33 ---
T7. NJD 33 +3
T7. WAS 33 ---
10. WPG 32 +1
11. Mtl 31 ---
12. Ott 30 -3
T13. NYI 26 +1
T13. TBL 26 -2
15. Car 22 ---
30 games in the teams have divided into three packs. The top 6 has remained fairly stable, with the Flyers, Rangers, and Penguins battling in the Atlantic, the Leafs and Bruins contending in the Northeast, and Florida in the safest position with little competition from the Southeast. These teams are a cold streak away from falling into the vicious fray going on below. The Sabres, Devils, Capitals, and surprising Jets seem to be set for a year-long battle for the lower playoff seeds, though the Caps can explode at any time and the Jets may go in the tank. At the bottom are the Habs, Senators, Islanders, Lightning and Hurricanes, who have not looked impressive at all this year and barring a turnaround, most likely coming from Les Habitants, should be on the outside looking in come playoff time.

Filed Under: rags2riches rags2riches standings eastern conference