NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
The New York Islanders are fighting for their wild card lives heading into the final stretch of the season. (Getty)
Metropolitan Division
Washington Capitals
Record: 54-16-5, Points: 113, Playoff Picture: The Caps clinched the Presidents’ Trophy with a 4-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday and continue to be so far everyone else that it’s almost funny at this point. Washington is the only Eastern Conference team that has actually clinched a playoff spot at this point. The only one. It is March 29.
New York Rangers
Record: 43-24-9, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: Another dramatic finish, another loss for the Rangers on Sunday night. New York dropped an OT matchup to the Pittsburgh Penguins are Garden ice and while the game won’t exactly hurt the Rangers’ postseason chances, it shouldn’t inspire any confidence. The Blueshirts have had trouble holding onto leads all season and a projected first round matchup against the Pens won’t making turning that trend around any easier.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 42-25-8, Points: 92, Playoff Picture: Even with Sunday’s victory over the Rangers, Pittsburgh is still sitting in third in the Metropolitan Division, but don’t let that lull you into thinking the Penguins aren’t dangerous. Quite the opposite. In fact, since March 11, the squad has lost just one game. One. That’s one heck of a streak to take into the playoffs.
New York Islanders
Record: 40-25-9, Points: 89, Playoff Picture: The Islanders need to win. Badly. That seems almost obvious to point in a story about playoff berths and postseason livelihoods, but it particularly true when it comes to New York. The squad has the most points and the most remaining games of the four teams currently vying for the Eastern Conference wild-card spots, but they aren’t easy matchups. Those upcoming games? Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington and the New York Rangers. Yikes.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 37-25-13, Points: 87, Playoff Picture: Right now, the Flyers are playing some of the best hockey in the league and, certainly, the best hockey of any possible wild card teams. Monday’s OT victory was dramatic in the best way possible and Philadelphia is now 6-2-2 in its last 10 games. The biggest opponent for the Flyers right now may actually be the Detroit Red Wings, particularly since they have one game in hand on the Atlantic Division foe. However, the key is winning in those upcoming games. After all, the first tiebreaker at the end of the season is regulation and overtime wins; the Red Wings have one more.
LIKELY NOT IN: New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes,
ELIMINATED: Columbus Blue Jackets
Atlantic Division
It hasn’t always been pretty, but the Boston Bruins are still likely heading to the NHL playoffs. (Getty)
Florida Panthers
Record: 42-24-9, Points: 93, Playoff Picture: The Panthers helped their own cause in a big way last week with victories over both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins; the two teams closest to them in the division standings. It also helps that Florida has seven games left, while Tampa Bay has six and, most importantly, a pretty darn favorable schedule. Of their seven upcoming games, the Panthers play two teams already eliminated from postseason contention; twice.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 44-27-5, Points: 93, Playoff Picture: Tampa Bay is tied with the Panthers in the Atlantic standings with 93 points, but the Lightning have also already played one more game than Florida. That doesn’t bode well for the chances of moving into the top spot. Also not helping? A four-game road trip to wrap up the regular season that includes games against the Islanders and Rangers.
Boston Bruins
Record: 40-28-8, Points: 88, Playoff Picture: It was not a particularly good week for the Bruins. Or, rather, a good few weeks. From March 15 to March 24, Boston went winless and the offense struggled mightily, scoring just seven goals in five games. The Bruins did snap the losing streak with a 3-1 win at Toronto on Saturday, but, now, sitting at 88 points in third place, they’re unlikely to make much movement in the standings. Boston will, most likely, make the playoffs, but it could very easily be as a wild card.
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 38-27-11, Points: 87, Playoff Picture: The Red Wings hung on for their playoff lives on Monday with a 3-2 victory over the Sabres and, now, have the same 87 points as the Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan. But – and this is a big but – Detroit is just one point behind the Bruins, who face a tough schedule to wrap up the regular season. The next few games are going to be crucial for the Red Wings, particularly with the way the end of the season is shaping up. Detroit’s last three games? Home against the Flyers, on the road against the Bruins and Rangers.
LIKELY NOT IN: Ottawa Senators
ELIMINATED: Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs