Projections are fun. Anyone can make a prediction at the start of the season on who they think will make the playoffs and who won’t. For years there have been some obvious projections, like the New England Patriots making the playoffs in a brutal AFC east, or the Pittsburgh Penguins making the playoffs in the NHL. There are usually top teams who most expect to make it and of course there are always surprises, both positive and negative, in who makes the postseason or doesn’t.

Making predictions based on a gut feel is how most people do it. You research the off-season moves, look at the roster, and then take a stab at which 16 teams will make the NHL playoffs and which 15 won’t. Lately, more people are digging deeper and coming up with a formula and basing it on previous results, health and schedule.

Dom Luszczyszyn from the Athletic has created his own model. He’s clearly put a lot of work into it. He explains how it works during the season.

The projections are based on 50,000 simulations of the remainder of the season, which factors in each team’s projected strength, current health, and their strength of schedule (which includes opponent strength, venue and rest). You can read more about the model here.

It is important to note this isn’t his opinion. He uses data only. He sent out this tweet yesterday and it caught my eye.

2019-20 NHL Standings projections as of American thanksgiving, updated daily at @TheAthleticNHL https://t.co/LpaIaWuRaw pic.twitter.com/G4nrMfG2EA

— dom luszczyszyn (@domluszczyszyn) November 28, 2019

I glanced at it and was surprised by Vegas having a 21% higher chance of making the playoff than Edmonton, and a 26% better chance than Arizona, despite being seven and six points behind those teams. It sent me down the usual online rabbit hole, that I seemingly can’t avoid when it comes to stats and numbers, and I ended up looking at every team and their projections.

ATLANTIC DIVISION…

Tampa Bay has been really good for years, and they were 45-9-3 from November 29th to the end of the season last year, but this is a different team. I still understand why they are ranked this high, as most of us expect them to be better than they have been. Last season the Maple Leafs had a better start and they finished 28-20-8 down the stretch. A coaching change makes it very difficult to predict what a team will do.

His model has Boston, Tampa Bay and Toronto making the playoffs.

METRO DIVISION…

The model has the Penguins really heating up and the Islanders winning just under half of their remaining games. The Islanders have been the best team in the Metro division (in the regular season) from November 29th, 2018, up to today. Last year they went 36-18-5 and have continued that pace, going 16-5-2. They were 52-23-7 in their last 82 games, but this model has them going 29-23-7. It seems odd to me.

The Capitals, Islanders, Penguins, Hurricanes and Flyers will be in the playoffs. The Flyers will finish eighth with 92 points.

CENTRAL DIVISION…

Based on these projections the Blues win the division with 102 points followed closely by Colorado and Dallas with 100. The Avs have played quite well despite major injuries and I can see why they are projected to win the most games from here on in the West. Speaking of the Avs, last year they limped home from November 29th, winning only 23 of their final 57 games (23-24-10), but they still made the playoffs and then absolutely dominated the Calgary Flames in round one. They are a great example of how a team can ride a good start all the way to the post season.

However, Nashville winning 31 (possibly 32 when the projection is fixed) seems high to me. I recognize past success has something to do with it, but their goaltending has been brutal. Pekka Rinne has a .889sv% in 14 starts and Juuse Saros has a .891 in 10 starts. That would be a major turnaround for the Preds to win 31 (or 32 when projection is fixed).

The model has the Blues, Stars, Avalanche, Predators and Jets making the playoffs, with Winnipeg getting the second wildcard at 92 points.

PACIFIC DIVISION

According to the model only Vegas and Calgary are going to win at least half, or more, of their remaining games. Past seasons clearly hurt the Oilers and Coyotes in this model, and I have no doubt that the acquisition of Dave Tippett and Ken Holland doesn’t factor in much to this type of equation.

Currently, teams in the Western Conference are on pace to have the second wildcard spot be 85 points, which is quite low. I agree with the model that has a team needing 92 points to get in. It is interesting that this model has the Oilers, despite having a below average second half, still finishing second in the Pacific Division.

It is hard to say who will get the third spot, as Arizona is currently missing a game in their projection and Vancouver has one too many. They will need to fix that. But it has the Flames and Sharks both missing the postseason.

WRAP UP…

Like any predictions, there will be some we disagree and agree with, even if it is based solely on emotion and stats, or a computer based equation running 50,000 simulations. I understand why some think there is a bias when the Maple Leafs are projected to lose the same amount of games as the Bruins and Lightning from now on, and that the Eastern Conference is home to the top four teams with the most victories — Tampa, Boston, Pittsburgh and Toronto — the rest of the way. That rarely happens where one conference has the top-four teams for that long, so it is unlikely.

On November 20th I wrote why I felt the Oilers would be a playoff team. I based my prediction solely on what I’ve seen this year, combined with their remaining schedule and how the rest of the Pacific Division was playing.

I only focused on the Pacific Division, and while Dom and my prediction methods are different, we came to the same conclusion on the Oilers. Oilersnation, plan your April accordingly.

PARTING SHOT…

Our 9th annual Month of Giving begins on Monday. This year I have outlined most of the packages we will be auctioning off. I have a few more to add. I’m just waiting on confirmation, but you can click here to see the different packages for each day. We have some unique coaching and dinner experiences, some fun evenings out, golf packages, a few necessities for your house and more.

Thank you so much for all the sponsors who graciously donated their package and to the individuals who donated their time. It is awesome. And thanks in advance to all of you who will make bids and donate money to help others so they can have some more happiness and enjoyment in their life.

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