As teams approach their final weeks of the season, very few playoff matchups can be predicted. Both conferences have interesting Wild Card races, as well as some jockeying for seeding that will come down to the very end. There are teams surging at the right time, as well as teams struggling to keep their seasons together amidst injuries and poor play. Let’s take a look at the drama brewing in this week’s playoffs picture. 

Vegas Golden Knights hold the top spot for the Pacific Division

With the Edmonton Oilers injury issues mounting, a push for the division lead is fading away quickly. For their part the Vegas Golden Knights have held court, and should cruise to a division title, though the Oilers and the Los Angeles Kings still have a shot at catching them. The Oilers seemed poised to square off against the Kings once again, though the Kings appear to have the inside track for home ice advantage. The Kings have a big difference in win percentage on home ice versus the road, a fact that could be costly for the Oilers. 

Though the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames both have a chance to make the playoffs, their path to a divisional spot is much more unlikely. The Oilers injuries might open the door in this respect, though the Oilers would have to implode. 

Winnipeg Jets still Central Division leaders

The Winnipeg Jets have cooled off a bit, but their grip on the division lead is still tight. The Colorado Avalanche have powered up the standings after their trade deadline upgrades, surging towards a divisional playoff spot. Between them are the Dallas Stars, who will likely faceoff against the Avs in a titanic first round playoff series. The Central Division does have other potential playoff teams, though the strength of this top three means that they should be targeting a Wild Card spot. 

Wild Card spot still up for grabs 

The St. Louis Blues have been scorching hot since hiring Jimmy Montgomery as coach, and have blown past the peloton of Wild Card hopefuls in recent weeks. It might not be long until they surge past the Minnesota Wild for the top Wild Card spot. The Western Conference’s top Wild Card will face the Golden Knights, while the second will face the Jets. A first round series between the Blues and Knights is becoming more probable. 

Meanwhile, the Wild are losing ground amidst their own injury issues. The team has been without two of their top forwards, Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson-Ek, for some time now. The Wild collapsing is likely the best hope for teams on the outside looking in. 

The trio of the Canucks, Flames, and the Utah Hockey Club are in pursuit, though their hopes are growing thin. Utah is the furthest back, closer to the Anaheim Ducks than they are a playoff spot at this point. The Canucks seem to be the most legitimate of the three, though they will need some luck and some help from others to get in. 

Three team race for the Atlantic Division

It is a three team race for the division, as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, and Tampa Bay Lightning are neck and neck. These three could easily finish in any order, the winner facing off against the first Wild Card, the others left to face each other in the opening round. The Ottawa Senators are still in the picture for a divisional spot, though they will likely remain as the first Wild Card. 

Metropolitan Division led by the Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals have the division in hand, and will likely remain the conference’s top seed. The Carolina Hurricanes are comfortably in second, most likely to face off against the New Jersey Devils in the opening round. For their part the Devils have been struggling, and growing more frustrated, without two of their top players in Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton. 

The Devil saving grace, for the time being, is the lack of pressure behind them. The New York Rangers and New York Islanders are a ways back, despite being in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. Every point will be crucial for the Devils as they limp towards a divisional spot, but a continuation of their disaster over the next couple of weeks might see them fall out of the playoffs altogether. 

How many Canadian teams will occupy the Wild Card spot?

As previously mentioned the Senators are in a good spot to take the first Wild Card. For now the upstart Montreal Canadiens sit in the second spot, though they are firmly within striking distance of the peloton of playoff hopefuls. The Islanders and Rangers are right on their tail, though the faint chance of a divisional spot still exists. 

The Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings have had tough stretches, their playoff hopes vanishing before them. There have been positive strides taken for these rebuilding teams, who should feel better about their chances next season. This year is not over for them, but the volume of teams between them and a playoff spot is a bigger hurdle than the number of points they are behind. 

Still, it should be a thrilling race to the end of the season for all these teams. The Isles find themselves in a strange spot given that they sold at the deadline, though their veteran team might still have the resolve and structure to emerge. Similarly, the Rangers have faced a lot of turmoil and roster turnover this season, still with the chance to salvage their year. Neutral observers might prefer younger options, like the Canadiens, for a change of pace. 

Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire

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