Well, that sucked

How many times can we fail to score in empty nets? What a mess.

So here's the situation. We now need a little help from either the Thrashers or Tampa Bay (or both the Flyers and the Blue Jackets). Here's the playoff bubble picture, with 1-2 games left:

7. Buffalo - 92 pts, 2 GR
8. NEW YORK RANGERS - 91 pts, 1 GR
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9. Carolina - 89 pts, 2 GR

And we're back to the last game of the regular season having playoff implications. Surprise, surprise. Here's how it breaks down for our game against the Devils on Saturday afternoon:

If we lose to the Devils in regulation: If the Hurricanes gain 2 or more points in their final two games of the season (tomorrow night against the same Thrashers that will be tired from beating our asses tonight, and Saturday night against the Lightning), we finish in 9th, out of the playoffs. If they gain 0 or 1 points in those two games, we still finish in 8th.

If we lose to the Devils in OT or a shootout: If the Hurricanes gain 3 or more points in their final two games of the season, we finish in 9th. If they gain 2 or fewer in those two games, we finish in 8th.

If we beat the Devils in a shootout: We want the following two things to happen:
a) The Hurricanes do not win both of their final two games.
b) The Sabres lose both of their final two games in regulation (tomorrow night against the Flyers and Saturday night against the Blue Jackets).
If both of these things happen, we finish in 7th; if exactly one happens, we finish in 8th; and if neither happens, we finish in 9th.

If we beat the Devils in regulation or OT: We want the following two things to happen:
a) The Hurricanes do not win both of their final two games, or they do but both wins are in the shootout.
b) The Sabres lose both of their final two games in regulation.
Again, if both of these things happen, we finish in 7th; if exactly one happens, we finish in 8th; and if neither happens, we finish in 9th.

There's the simplified breakdown for ya. Good night.