NHL Playoffs: What to look forward to
Photo courtesy of Collin Gallagher/Wikimedia Commons
The National Hockey League (NHL) regular season is coming to a close, and playoff hockey is just around the corner. This is the time that every fan and player lives for—the intensity, the rivalries, and the ultimate dream of raising the Stanley Cup.
In the Eastern Conference, by far the biggest storyline is the Buffalo Sabres clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2011. After years upon years of disappointment, the Sabres finally broke the longest playoff drought in NHL history. This season, they finished with a record of 47-23-8 and 102 points, making them one of the best teams in the Atlantic Division all season. Let us just say that the fans are thankful!
Sabres defenseman and captain Rasmus Dahlin spoke on the ending of the playoff drought, saying, “I'm happy for the city. I'm happy for all the guys that have been grinding here for years, like the equipment manager, trainers, my teammates, most of the people in the city. Wow, this is going to be special, that's for sure.”
Now for the not-so-fortunate Florida Panthers: after winning back-to-back Stanley Cups and holding a six-year playoff and three-year final streak, the Panthers faltered. They finished second-to-last in the Eastern Conference, just ahead of the New York Rangers. I fully believe that this was just an off year, plagued by injuries, and next season they will be back in the playoff conversation.
Panthers head coach Paul Maurice said, “The most dangerous job in sports right now is to play for the Florida Panthers.” It is easy to see why “three-peating” is a feat that very few teams, if any, can achieve. Just imagine the pressure.
In the Western Conference, the teams that have already clinched a spot in the playoffs are no surprise. The Colorado Avalanche, Dallas Stars, and Minnesota Wild have dominated the West and established themselves as serious Stanley Cup contenders.
The Colorado Avalanche are currently the top team in the league with a 50-16-10 record and 110 points, poising themselves as the undeniable President’s Trophy winner, an annual award given to the team that finishes the regular season with the best overall record. If the Avalanche want to hoist the Stanley Cup, they will need to overcome the long-standing superstition surrounding President’s Trophy winners.
The biggest what-if is the Wild Card race. It can be any team’s game, but really, it is going to come down to the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators in the Eastern Conference. The Bruins have the first spot with 95 points, putting them five points ahead of the Senators, who are not guaranteed the second wild card spot. The New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils, and the Columbus Blue Jackets all still have a chance to slide into the playoffs.
The Wild Card race in the West is more tightly contested, with the teams being separated by less than five points. Currently, the Utah Mammoth are occupying the first wild card spot with 86 points, and the Los Angeles Kings are right behind with 83 points. Trailing ever so closely are the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, and the Winnipeg Jets.
No matter how the regular season standings shake out, one thing is for sure—playoff hockey never fails to deliver. From long-awaited returns to the playoffs, like the Buffalo Sabres, to powerhouse contenders like the Colorado Avalanche, it will shape up to be one hell of a postseason.