Time to Stave

According to Webster, "stave off" has been around for nearly four centuries. Funny, I didn't realize that there were playoffs then.

It seems like the only time I ever hear the word stave is when a sports team is one game away from elimination-- usually in the playoffs--which we know will not feature the Isles this season.

After what happened last season, it would be ironic if the Isles were eliminated on Easter Sunday. But that is what will happen with a regulation loss in Philadelphia on Sunday.

If the Isles lose in regulation, the Flyers will have 86 points while the most that the Isles could finish with is 85. Boston would have 84 points and still hold 8th, but the Isles would be eliminated.

Here's how:
Boston has 84 in 75 games
Buffalo has 81 in 75 games
Toronto has 80 in 76 games

...but Boston has two games left with both Buffalo and Toronto. If the Bruins lost all 4, it would be Bos 84, Buf 85, Tor 84....but Buffalo and Toronto also have a game to play against each other, which guarantees that at least one of the 3 teams would finish with at least 86.

Forever1940 is the nom de plume of Eric Hornick. Eric has worked the Stanley Cup Finals four times, and celebrated his 26th anniversary as the statistician on Islander home telecasts on January 21, 2008.