It’s the best time of the year in the NHL world. The regular season is beginning to come to a close, but for many teams, these games are the most important. Some franchises are tanking for Connor Bedard, but any team with a shot at the playoffs is doing everything they can at the moment to get in. Let’s take a deep dive into the upcoming NHL playoffs.
NHL Playoffs Wild Card Races
Eastern Conference
- WC1: Islanders, 87 pts.
- WC2: Penguins, 86 pts.
- Panthers, 85 pts, 1 back
- Sabres, 81 pts, 5 back
At the moment, this seems like a three-team race for two spots, with the Sabres as a distant fourth team. Buffalo has come on strong during the last couple of weeks, and for the first time in a while, they find themselves playing meaningful games come springtime. Buffalo’s 5-3-2 record in the past 10 games has made things interesting. The Sabres still have two games in hand on each team above them, so they absolutely have a chance here.
The Islanders and Penguins currently hold the two Wild Card spots. Those two teams are likely to earn a playoff berth over Florida, as well. The Islanders’ lead over Florida has trimmed down to two, but with Pittsburgh as a buffer, they’ve still got a good shot.
The Penguins have a tougher battle. Pittsburgh is just one point above Florida, and each team will play five more games. Yet, with the one point lead, they do still control their own destiny.
Western Conference
- WC1: Kraken, 92 pts.
- WC2: Jets, 89 pts.
- Flames, 87 pts., 2 back
- Predators: 84 pts., 3 back
In the Western Conference, things look complicated as well. The Kraken are virtually a lock for the playoffs at this point, sitting five points above Calgary with a game in hand.
The Jets and Flames will be fighting this battle until the season runs its course. Winnipeg has a two point lead, but both teams have five games left to play. Winnipeg had a handle on this race, but some recent tough losses have made this a lot more interesting. Still, the Jets hold their lead.
Finally, the Predators cannot be counted out. Nashville hasn’t been as impressive as they can be recently, winning just four of their last 10. They’re five points out with one game in hand. Nashville shouldn’t be counted out yet, but they will need some help.
Current NHL Playoffs Matchups
Eastern Conference
Wild card
- (1) Bruins vs Wild Card 2
- (2) Hurricans vs Wild Card 1
divisional
- (2) Devils vs (3) Rangers
- (2) Maple Leafs vs (3) Lightning
Here, we have essentially a dream playoff-slate. A lot of these matchups on the Eastern side of the bracket are very interesting, and some of these matchups may spark old rivalries back up — or potentially spark new ones.
Boston and Carolina have been dominant forces in the conference year, and they’ll each likely get a Wild Card team.
The divisional matchups are very interesting, though. The New Jersey/New York rivalry is obvious here, but this has the potential to be a very exciting series. New Jersey is a young team on the rise, while the Rangers have their own playoff experience. Meanwhile, the Leafs and Lightning had an intense seven-game series last year. A repeat of that would be ideal for hockey fans around the world.
Western Conference
Wild card
- (1) Golden Knights vs Wild Card #2
- (2) Stars vs Wild Card #1
Divisional
- (2) Wild vs (3) Avalanche
- (2) Kings vs (3) Oilers
This conference has a lot more parity than the East. The Knights and Stars each lead their division, but neither has much breathing room at all. Unlike the Eastern Conference, there is no runaway leader in the West. Both of these two teams could realistically struggle a bit against a Wild Card team.
Now, the Wild and Avalanche is an interesting series. The Wild jumped on the scene last year, and now will make their return with some playoff experience under their belt. Colorado is coming off a championship, and doesn’t seem as dominant as last year. Still, we all know how things change come playoff time. This series could be very exciting.
The Kings and Oilers seems like a very even matchup, with some star power. The hockey world will watch as Connor McDavid tries to inch closer to his first Stanley Cup, while the Kings’ young corps tries to advance in the playoffs for the first time in a long time.
NHL Playoffs Storylines
New Kids on the Block
These playoffs will feature some NHL franchises that haven’t been there in a while. Parity is always a good thing for the league, and there’s plenty of it this time around.
In just their second year as a franchise, the Kraken have made their way into the playoff picture. At the time of this writing, Seattle holds the first Wild Card slot with 92 points on the season. They have a game in hand on most teams in the playoff race, giving them a very solid chance at the playoffs.
New Jersey is another team flying far ahead of their expectations this year. The Devils were supposed to be in a rebuild, but have turned into a serious contender this season. They’ll likely play a Rangers team full of playoff experience in the first round.
Can These Teams Finally Cross the Finish Line?
While there are newcomers, there are also teams that have been here before. In this field, there are several. There are also a couple of teams with plenty of playoff experience, yet haven’t been able to lift the cup just yet.
One team that comes to mind is Carolina. The Hurricanes have found themselves in the playoff race on a yearly account recently, yet haven’t been able to make it past the conference finals yet.
Boston has had playoff success in the past, but have been unable to get over the hump in recent years. Las Vegas, Toronto, and the New York Rangers have all seen playoff failures in recent years, as well. One of the most compelling storylines during these playoffs will revolve around these teams, and which of them might finally life the Stanley Cup in 2023.
