Doing some simple crunching, at their current pace the Senators are set for 65 points this season, with the Oilers, Islanders and Devils lying between 63 and 68. As anyone who remembers NASDAQ in 2000 knows streaks can go both ways.
It looks like Jersey is playing for respect now, so they might well play their remaining 35 games at above .500, leaving them with 70 points or more, but still a lottery pick. Respect with benefits.
Edmonton won last night, and is trying to win as a young team (Taylor Hall was sporadically brilliant with some sporadic mistakes, but man did he balls-out TRY) and even if they play .400 hockey they’ll end up with 66 points.
The Islanders, on the other hand, are gliding miserably along and at their current pace will likely end up with no more than 63 points, give or take one or two.
This leaves the Senators a point or two away from the first or third pick, depending on how things shake out.
