NHL Eastern Conference Playoff Picture
The Detroit Red Wings are fighting for their playoff lives heading into the final stretch of the regular season. (Getty)
Metropolitan Division
Washington Capitals
Record: 55-17-6, Points: 116, Playoff Picture: There’s not really much to say about the Capitals at this point. Washington has already clinched the Presidents’ Trophy and notched a record 55 wins this season. The Caps are good. They’re really good. That’s about all there is to say, really, it’s just kind of waiting for the postseason at this point. At this point, Washington is slated to play the Flyers in the first round.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Record: 46-26-8, Points: 100, Playoff Picture: What happened to the Penguins? We mean that in a good way, because, right now, the Penguins are really good. Like one of the most dangerous teams in the playoffs good. Pittsburgh is 9-1-0 in its last ten games and, coming into Monday, is riding a six-game win streak. Hockey gods help whatever team has to play the Pens in the first round – we’re looking at you New York Rangers.
New York Rangers
Record: 43-26-9, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: Three straight losses have dropped the Rangers into third place in the Metropolitan standings and added a bit of murkiness to New York’s postseason future. The Blueshirts still haven’t clinched yet and now, sitting five points behind Pittsburgh, the chances of getting back to the No. 2 seed seem rather unlikely. We’re not here to condone losing games, but it might actually help New York if the squad just happened to fall into the first Wild Card.
New York Islanders
Record: 42-26-9, Points: 93, Playoff Picture: After notching three straight wins and maybe gaining back a bit of much-needed confidence, the Islanders dropped a disappointing 5-0 loss to Pittsburgh on Saturday. New York, the current first Wild Card, still has five games left on the schedule including a Monday night tilt against the Lightning and Thursday’s game against the Rangers could be huge for the Islanders chances of moving up in the standings.
Philadelphia Flyers
Record: 39-26-13, Points: 91, Playoff Picture: The Flyers refused to die. Philadelphia, currently sitting in the last Wild Card spot, may have dropped a disappointing game to Pittsburgh on Sunday, but the Flyers are still one of the most physical squads in the league and they’re not going to go down without a fight. They’re also still one very important point ahead of the Bruins in the Wild Card race. Also we’d really like to see a Caps-Flyers first round, so if Philly could make that happen, that would be great.
ELIMINATED: Columbus Blue Jackets, New Jersey Devils, Carolina Hurricanes,
Atlantic Division
Florida Panthers
Record: 44-25-9, Points: 97, Playoff Picture: The Panthers are very much in control of their own playoff fate with four games left on the schedule and a two-point cushion on first place in the Atlantic. Florida clinched a postseason berth on Sunday after the Bruins loss and odds are pretty good that the Panthers will secure home ice advantage sooner rather than later as well.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Record: 45-28-5, Points: 95, Playoff Picture: The news that Steven Stamkos will miss the next one to three months with a blood clot sent shockwaves through the entire NHL world and also did a number to the Lightning’s Atlantic title hopes. Tampa Bay is four points ahead of the Red Wings in the standings, but fans have plenty of reason to be worried heading towards the end of the regular season.
Detroit Red Wings
Record: 40-28-11, Points: 91, Playoff Picture: It was basically move in to third place or sit on the outside, looking in when it came to Detroit’s postseason chances and the Red Wings didn’t disappoint this weekend. Detroit notched back-to-back wins and, of course, the Bruins loss helped as well. That being said, Wednesday’s game against the Flyers is going to have some serious playoff implications on both sides.
Boston Bruins
Record: 41-30-8, Points: 90, Playoff Picture: Boston staged one heck of a comeback attempt on Sunday after falling behind six goals to the Chicago Blackhawks. But six is one heck of a deficit to make up and despite scoring four straight, the Bruins couldn’t grab a victory. It’s now got them on the outside of the postseason bubble, one point behind the Red Wings for the final spot in the Atlantic and one behind the Flyers for the final Wild Card in the East.
ELIMINATED: Montreal Canadiens, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators