Is the NHL playoffs picture really set?
By Mike Majeski
It has already been suggested that the teams currently in the NHL playoffs will likely be the same ones come April, but is this really the case?
The first NHL games since the All-Star break were played last night and now all 30 teams are in the home-stretch to their final games of the regular season. It’s a given that teams like the Buffalo Sabres, Edmonton Oilers, and the Carolina Hurricanes are going to have their eyes on the first overall pick in the draft, but several teams are still in the playoff hunt.
Despite a one point gap separating the Los Angeles Kings from the Calgary Flames for the final Western Conference Wild Card spot and seven points separating the Florida Panthers from the Boston Bruins for the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot, many have suggested that the playoff picture is set in both conferences. All that the next three months will determine is seeding. If previous years have taught us anything it’s to never count the bubble teams out.
The Eastern Conference appears to be a little more finalized than the West. There is a chance that Boston could jump ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and finish in the top three in the Atlantic Division and the same could go for the Washington Capitals in the Metropolitan Division – both entered the All-Star break with winning records in their last 10.
However, I would not count the Florida Panthers out just yet. Their 50 points currently puts them seven points out of the Wild Card. They have a somewhat difficult schedule in February – they will face teams currently in the playoffs in nine of their 15 games, as well as nine games on the road. Things look a lot better in March with a string of seven consecutive home games to start the month. They also finish up April with five home games. The Panthers were one of the hotter teams in the Eastern Conference during the first half of the season, but cooled off going into the All-Star break (4-5-1 in their last 10).
The Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs are the next closest teams to the Wild Card with 47 points each – but it would really take a miracle for either team to make a playoff push. Therefore in the Eastern Conference the only hope of really shaking up the playoff picture is if the Florida Panthers can catch up to either the Bruins or Capitals. Otherwise, the only changes we should see is seeding.
The situation in the Western Conference is much more interesting – the Los Angeles Kings trail the Calgary Flames by just one point (52) and always somehow find a way into the playoffs. The Colorado Avalanche are also close with 50 points. Also keep in mind that both the Winnipeg Jets and the Calgary Flames only slightly trail their respective division leaders – Winnipeg is just two points behind the Chicago Blackhawks with 60 points and the Flames trail the Canucks by two with 55. There is a chance that both the Flames and Jets could shock everyone and actually hold one of the division playoff spots, rather than the Wild Card.
With dominant teams like the Islanders, Predators, and Ducks hold top spots in the playoff race it might appear that the playoffs are set, but this is a strange season. The reigning Stanley Cup champion is fighting for a Wild Card spot, the Nashville Predators with a new coach are leading the Central Division. There is plenty of hockey left and the NHL Trade Deadline, so the playoff picture could change between now and April. To suggest that what we have now is solid is foolish at best.
As I have said on here in the past, it is great to see some different teams holding the top spots in the divisions, rather than the same retreads we have been treated to the past few seasons. It will be interesting to see if these non-traditional teams can hold out over the next three months.
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