Magic Number Tracker: Saturday, March 10

Each day for the remainder of the regular season, we’ll update two things – what the Preds’ magic number is for playoff positioning, and which results are preferential for the best possible playoff positioning.

(One caveat: every game assumes a regulation or overtime result for tiebreaker purposes. Shootouts will muddy the waters a bit, so the fewer, the better. We will, however, consider them when they are an immediate concern.)

How the magic number is calculated

The magic number is the difference between the Preds’ current point total and the maximum point total of whatever team is in the spot of reference (i.e., whichever playoff spot is in question), plus one point to avoid tiebreakers.

For example, Nashville currently sits at 97 points, and second-place Winnipeg’s maximum possible point total is 121, so the Preds’ magic number to clinch the Central Division title is 25 (121-97+1). It’s a combination of points gained by Nashville, plus points lost by the other team in question.

That number seems like a lot, but it could drop by as many as four points if both teams play on the same night.

Yesterday’s impacts

The Ducks dropped one in regulation in Dallas, which means the Kings become the team to watch. Los Angeles can bypass Anaheim and put them in the second wild-card spot – which would match up against Nashville if the standings ended up that way.

Six teams are separated by five points in the wild-card watch, so things could change in the final four weeks.

Current magic numbers to clinch

These numbers are how many points the Preds need (either by their wins or others’ losses) to guarantee a finish in that spot, basically climbing the next rung up the ladder, if you will.

Playoff spot: 12

1^st wild card: 13

2^nd in Central, home ice in first round: 17

Win Central Division: 25

1^st in Western Conference: 25

Presidents’ Trophy: 30

Tracking the tracker

Past versions can be found here:

Friday, March 9

Thursday, March 8

Wednesday, March 7

Tuesday, March 6

Monday, March 5

Saturday’s rooting interests

Eleven games, including the Preds’ contest against New Jersey, make up Saturday’s slate, with lots to keep an eye on from noon to night…

Playoff interests

Arizona @ Colorado: Let’s see the Coyotes keep their tragic number from dropping today.

St. Louis @ Los Angeles: Depends on what you want to see in the first round. A Kings loss in regulation is only marginally more preferable, so the choice is yours.

Washington @ San Jose: The Sharks are still in that group that could potentially be wild cards, but they’d have to fall out of the top three in the Pacific. It’s close enough that it matters, though.

Central interests

Winnipeg @ Philadelphia: Philly for the win. In regulation, please.

Minnesota @ Edmonton: A repeat of yesterday. Side with the Oilers, who can put the Preds a couple of points closer to guaranteeing home-ice in the first round.

Top seeding interests

Chicago @ Boston: You know what, Boston can have those two points.

Vegas @ Buffalo: East over West.

Montreal @ Tampa Bay: I’ll take Montreal for $200, Alex.

Games of no consequence

Pittsburgh @ Toronto: No, thanks.

N.Y. Rangers @ Florida: Pass.

More goodies

Sports Club Stats does a great job of breaking down the percentages of where teams will finish and who they could play in the postseason. Check it out here.

Hockey Reference gives you more numbers to peruse, and it can be found here.