The Blues have a good chance to gain home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs by passing either Nashville or Winnipeg in the standings.
They also have a lesser chance of winning the division by passing both those teams , which could mean home ice advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs & weaker opponents.
The Avs are in better form, though the Blues are at home & have the Avs number. The Avs are fighting to gain a playoff berth, so have the greater motivation. The Blues would like to be healthy entering the playoffs, so do you risk injury in a game like this? St Louis just returned from an Eastern road trip & are playng their 3rd game in 4 days.
They also have a lesser chance of winning the division by passing both those teams , which could mean home ice advantage in the first two rounds of the playoffs & weaker opponents.
The Avs are in better form, though the Blues are at home & have the Avs number. The Avs are fighting to gain a playoff berth, so have the greater motivation. The Blues would like to be healthy entering the playoffs, so do you risk injury in a game like this? St Louis just returned from an Eastern road trip & are playng their 3rd game in 4 days.
It is being reported that the Flames are resting 6 of their regular players tonight vs the LAK:
http://lakingsinsider.com/2019/04/01/quick-kovalchuk-in-calgary-resting-players-lineup-notes/
http://lakingsinsider.com/2019/04/01/quick-kovalchuk-in-calgary-resting-players-lineup-notes/
Well all three teams that I thought might just go thru the motions won, hell Calgary with players sitting won, on the road, big.
TB won big, also, they did not go easy on the road with everything locked up for the playoffs.
Blues won in a shootout. I still think teams in this situation, that have come from way back to get into the playoffs, do not really focus on home ice advantage, deep in their hearts, until maybe the last game when it is clear. But the Blues still seem motivated...
I just needed one to win $$$, took big odds. Ouch. No big wagers, though, will follow up with the same approach last few games.
TB won big, also, they did not go easy on the road with everything locked up for the playoffs.
Blues won in a shootout. I still think teams in this situation, that have come from way back to get into the playoffs, do not really focus on home ice advantage, deep in their hearts, until maybe the last game when it is clear. But the Blues still seem motivated...
I just needed one to win $$$, took big odds. Ouch. No big wagers, though, will follow up with the same approach last few games.
Columbus playing to get in and playing well. Boston can rest knowing they get toronto and nothing left to play for.
Minnesota is all but eliminated and actually has a losing record at home which is surprising for a team over .500. winnipeg fighting for the division so hard to really see who would be more motivated. winnipeg did play on ot game last night though.
detroit has been hot, dont know if they are playing loose or what and pitt has some positioning to play for but overall i doubt they really care as long as they are in which they almost certainly are. they of course want home ice in the first round but they are a veteran team which doesnt overly need it.
Montreal with everything to play for tonight against tampa
montreal, columbus, Arizona and dallas look like motivated at home vs opponents who may not care tonight
Minnesota is all but eliminated and actually has a losing record at home which is surprising for a team over .500. winnipeg fighting for the division so hard to really see who would be more motivated. winnipeg did play on ot game last night though.
detroit has been hot, dont know if they are playing loose or what and pitt has some positioning to play for but overall i doubt they really care as long as they are in which they almost certainly are. they of course want home ice in the first round but they are a veteran team which doesnt overly need it.
Montreal with everything to play for tonight against tampa
montreal, columbus, Arizona and dallas look like motivated at home vs opponents who may not care tonight
your right its probably built into the line
the more you look at it you could find out more but as a general rule it probably doesnt pan out but you gotta find your spots with it.
the montreal/tampa game is unique though because it could be a first round matchup between the two. tampa may want to show up and knock montreal out but they also may have a mentality that they play a straight up game with more 3rd and 4th lines and no real strategy meaning they dont want to show their hand prior to a first round matchup. someone more in tune with the team would know that and that could add significant value. otherwise its a guess--my guess would be that tampa rests players and lets younger guys log some minutes, especially on a back to back. play a rather simple game where nothing could be used on film for montreal to try to use in the first round should the matchup happen. if i were tampa i would rather see montreal over carolina or columbus so i think tonight you see a simple tampa gameplan.
the more you look at it you could find out more but as a general rule it probably doesnt pan out but you gotta find your spots with it.
the montreal/tampa game is unique though because it could be a first round matchup between the two. tampa may want to show up and knock montreal out but they also may have a mentality that they play a straight up game with more 3rd and 4th lines and no real strategy meaning they dont want to show their hand prior to a first round matchup. someone more in tune with the team would know that and that could add significant value. otherwise its a guess--my guess would be that tampa rests players and lets younger guys log some minutes, especially on a back to back. play a rather simple game where nothing could be used on film for montreal to try to use in the first round should the matchup happen. if i were tampa i would rather see montreal over carolina or columbus so i think tonight you see a simple tampa gameplan.
TB starting #3 goalie Pasquale in net tonight. Resting Varlamov. The backup G is injured.
"[FONT="]It will mark the second career appearance for Pasquale, who stopped only 19 of 24 shots but still managed to pick up the win in his NHL debut back in December against the Red Wings. The 28-year-old will likely stick around with the parent club so long as top backup Louis Domingue continues to deal with a lower-body injury. With the Lightning already having secured the Presidents' Trophy, it's possible that Pasquale could pick up an additional start beyond Tuesday as the team looks to give extra rest to top netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy prior to the playoffs."[/FONT]
"[FONT="]It will mark the second career appearance for Pasquale, who stopped only 19 of 24 shots but still managed to pick up the win in his NHL debut back in December against the Red Wings. The 28-year-old will likely stick around with the parent club so long as top backup Louis Domingue continues to deal with a lower-body injury. With the Lightning already having secured the Presidents' Trophy, it's possible that Pasquale could pick up an additional start beyond Tuesday as the team looks to give extra rest to top netminder Andrei Vasilevskiy prior to the playoffs."[/FONT]
