The Isles magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 3 points. Two wins or a win and an OT loss in their final two games will do it. It looks like the Caps are playing the B-team tonight. No excuses not to come away with 2 points. Look at who is out for the Caps tonight. Tarik El-Bashir on Twitter: "To recap, the #Caps tonight vs. the NYI figure to be without Ovechkin, Oshie, Mantha, TvR and Dowd, who also did not skate this morning. That means WSH will have 17 skaters again. Man, cap issues on top of everything else seems to be only way this season could end." / Twitter
We finish with the Lower Cases and Canadiens; the Panthers have the Maple Leafs and Hurricanes. The table is set to get 4 pts in those and leap the Panthers.
This game is primarily an indictment on Lambert’s ability to prepare and motivate this team. It’s been there all season but this leaves no doubt.
Fans have been rumbling about it all year, this game simply cements it. Three losses to non-playoff teams down the stretch leaves the team no choice, with one of those being against the worst team in the league. No way they can bring him back and expect there to be any enthusiasm from the fan base next year.
Worse than missing the playoffs is I don’t even care if they do or don’t make it at this point. They can’t even point to injuries as an excuse when the Caps beat them with half a team. I don’t see how Lou can keep his job if they miss the playoffs; he went all in this year with this roster and didn’t get it done.
Agree. Lou has to go. Honestly missing is probably better than playing the Bruins. They would probably get swept. Maybe they win a game but that would be it.
What a joke. Lamoriello should have been fired after last season, and Lambert should have been fired weeks ago. I'm going to the game on Wednesday, and instead of it potentially being a clincher to make the playoffs, it will probably a clincher to be eliminated from them.
That was a painfully sad performance.....never thought I'd fall asleep on the couch sober during a must-win game that started at 7:30
Because Lou not only stuck with the roster going into the season but doubled down on it by trading away our top prospect, the best case scenario for the team going forward is to miss the playoffs. Lou could look validated in his handling of the roster, even with a first round loss to a historic Bruins team, because they are likely going to beat everybody, but missing the playoffs entirely is the only way his belief that this was a playoff quality roster reflects how out of touch he is.
Is there another 80-year old (81 later this year) GM in all pro sports? I doubt it. He's way past his expiration date.
Let's Go Blackhawks. If they win then the Isles control their own destiny. A win or even a point tomorrow against Montreal and they would clinch.
Unless the Panthers lose and we can face the Canes getting into playoffs only validates Lou’s management even though we would have next to no shot at beating the Bruins. I’d rather miss the playoffs.
Wow, it’s a tie and they’re in game anyway. Will at least make it more fun. And with some help from Carolina, which is clearly a better team than Florida, they could even avoid the big, bad, Bruins in the first round.
