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Tragic Number Update: The Oilers Could Be Officially Eliminated Tonight

The Oilers host the Avalanche tonight. They could be officially eliminated when the game ends.

By ryan_batty
Derek Leung/Getty Images

In last week's tragic number update I explained how the Oilers could still win the Pacific Division. Then the Oilers went out and got lit up at home by the Coyotes, putting an end to that dream in a hurry; the Oilers now stand at 29 years and counting since their last division title.

It's not just the Pacific Division title that is now out of reach for the Oilers, so are the other two playoff spots guaranteed to Pacific Division teams, as you can see by looking at the standings below.

Team GP W L OTL ROW PTS Tragic Number
LOS ANGELES 71 44 22 5 42 93 -
ANAHEIM 70 39 22 9 36 87 -
SAN JOSE 71 40 25 6 37 86 -
ARIZONA 71 31 33 7 30 69 13
CALGARY 71 30 35 6 28 66 16
VANCOUVER 71 27 32 12 23 66 16
EDMONTON 74 29 38 7 25 65 -

All is not lost though, the team still has a chance to claim a wild card birth if a whole lot of things go right. In the NHL standing this morning, it's the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche in possession of those wild card spots. Nashville is already out of reach for the Oilers, leaving just that eighth and final playoff spot available to the team from Edmonton. And as luck would have it the Avalanche are in town tonight to take on the Oilers in pivotal four-point game.

To avoid being mathematically eliminated the Oilers will have to avoid a loss in regulation tonight. If they can't do that then the Oilers will officially be eliminated from playoff contention for a tenth straight season, a truly impressive accomplishment. That it's also fan appreciation night would make it even more special.

Team GP W L OTL ROW PTS Tragic Number
DALLAS 73 43 21 9 41 95 -
ST. LOUIS 73 42 22 9 37 93 -
CHICAGO 72 42 24 6 41 90 -
LOS ANGELES 71 44 22 5 42 93 -
ANAHEIM 70 39 22 9 36 87 -
SAN JOSE 71 40 25 6 37 86 -
NASHVILLE 72 36 23 13 33 85 -
COLORADO 72 37 31 4 33 78 4
ARIZONA 71 31 33 7 30 69 13
CALGARY 71 30 35 6 28 66 16
VANCOUVER 71 27 32 12 23 66 16
EDMONTON 74 29 38 7 25 65 -
WINNIPEG 71 29 37 5 27 63 19

And lastly, how about a look at the bottom of the standings, have the Oilers' recent wins hurt the team's chances of securing a fifth first overall pick? Not really. But today's lottery simulation gave some very interesting results.

Team GP W L OTL PTS 82 Game Pace 1st Overall Odds
TORONTO 71 25 35 11 61 70 20.0%
EDMONTON 74 29 38 7 65 72 13.5%
WINNIPEG 71 29 37 5 63 73 11.5%
VANCOUVER 71 27 32 12 66 76 9.5%
COLUMBUS 71 29 34 8 66 76 8.5%
CALGARY 71 30 35 6 66 76 7.5%
BUFFALO 73 29 34 10 68 76 6.5%
ARIZONA 71 31 33 7 69 80 6.0%
MONTREAL 72 33 33 6 72 82 5.0%
NEW JERSEY 72 34 31 7 75 85 3.5%
OTTAWA 73 34 31 8 76 85 3.0%
CAROLINA 72 31 27 14 76 87 2.5%
MINNESOTA 72 33 28 11 77 88 2.0%
PHILADELPHIA 70 34 24 12 80 94 1.0%

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