curtisports2
Favorite Answer
They MUST win the two games against the teams they are battling with for the two wild card slots. Those are Anaheim and Colorado. Those are 'four point games'. Right now they sit 2 points behind Anaheim, 1 behind Colorado and tied with St Louis, who they can do nothing about. Colorado and St Louis each have played one less game and LA and the Ducks have played 76.
In theory, if they win all six, they will be automatically in because even if Anaheim wins their other five and are tied with LA at 101 points, LA wins the tiebreaker due to greater ROW and goal differential.
In actuality, if they win both of those must-haves, they can probably afford two regulation losses in those other four games. I would say the fact that five of their last six are at home is a big plus, except for the fact that they have been better on the road this year than at home. Of all the teams in the league that are either in or still have a chance, they are tied with New Jersey for the worst home record and have the fourth best record on the road.
If they lose both of those crucial games, they'll definitely be out, even if they get the other 8 points.